By KELLI FONTENOT
Published June 23, 2008 by The Dalles Chronicle
When Luanna Odom waves at her husband, Dan, the bright smile on her face could convince anyone that she has led a life without suffering. Odom’s strength is evident, and few would guess from her positive attitude that 12 years ago she faced a life-altering diagnosis.
Odom is a 12-year survivor of breast cancer and an 11-year survivor of lung cancer. When she entered the hospital for treatment, Dan was by her side all along.
“My husband was my biggest support. I’d have exercises to do, and he’d come home from work and say, ‘Well, have you done them?’”
Odom is a member of the Cancer Crushers, one of the 22 teams that registered for the eighth annual Relay For Life this year. At Wahtonka High School on Saturday, supporters from the tri-city area walked the track and donated money to cancer treatment organizations in the hopes of coming closer to a cure. Odom stood in the shade of her team’s tent and waved at her husband as he passed by on his motorcycle.
“He gets to go play for awhile,” she said, laughing.
She and Dan have been married for 32 years.
Odom’s cancer was first detected during a mammogram procedure. She began going to a medical facility for regular bloodwork and treatment. One year after her mastectomy, she went to a checkup and a chest X-ray revealed cancer in her lungs.
Odom praised the Celilo Center for Cancer Care, where she said she received excellent care from her doctor.
“When you walk in there, they treat you like you’re a human being, and they treat you with dignity. They treat you like you’re an individual,” Odom said.
Odom said one of her favorite moments in the Relay was the luminaria ceremony, which began at 10 p.m. Saturday. People purchased and decorated white paper bags in memory of their family members and friends affected by cancer. Once it was dark outside, small candles were lit inside the bags, creating a line of glowing bags all around the walking track. Approximately 346 bags had been purchased by 4 p.m.
Teammate Mary Brann said the ceremony is a very important part of the relay.
“We’re here because cancer has touched so many people in our family,” Brann said. Odom lost her brother-in-law to colon cancer three years ago and her father to lymphatic cancer in 1969.
Louise Gruver leads the Cancer Crushers team (from Dallesport), which has been a fixture at the Relay since 2000. In 1988, Gruver defeated cervical cancer after her doctor found cancer cells during an annual checkup. Early detection is now a vital part of Gruver’s advocacy for the American Cancer Society.
This year’s fundraising goal was set at $90,000. Francene Nash, who has been the Chair of the planning committee for two years, said by around 4 p.m. the event had already brought in $50,000.
Nash said she — as well as many others — planned to stay at the event until the next morning.
“This is nothing, giving up a few hours of my time. Just to spend the time honoring the survivors that are here, it’s just a great thing.”
No comments:
Post a Comment