Daddy Daughter Dance

RICK HENSLEY AND TOMMI ENJOY ICE CREAM

CHRIS PETERS AND EMMA

EVENT COVERED BY CRYSTAL DAWN CARTER

If you want an event that can be kid friendly, elegant yet simplistic and tons of fun, you can always count on Jamie and Kristin at The Bramble in Erwin, Tennessee to come through.

BILLY AND SHAYLYN

Walking up to their huge display windows on February 8th you felt the love with tons of hanging hearts and balloons. It made each father and daughter to attend the 2020 Daddy Daughter Dance get in the party spirit.

Inside the doors little girls dressed from Sunday best to glitz and glam entered with their choice of companion. Dad, grandpa, uncle, and even moms and others bringing the little princesses to dance the night away.

There were pictures by Leslie Black to commemorate the occasion, a DJ playing all the best in dance songs, and refreshments of the sweet variety, cookies and ice cream.

As in past years, the Cinderella-style carriage was in the room for every little girl to step into, or to take the reigns and sit in the driver’s seat. The event was sponsored by The Bramble, Unicoi County Imagination Library, and the GFWC Erwin Monday Club. This is the 3rd year for the event. The proceeds from this event went to benefit the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Unicoi County. They serve 80% of the eligible children in Unicoi County and provide 800 books each month to children from birth to age 5 with the program.

JASON AND ALI

CARTER LOU AND JACOB WILCOX UNCLE DUSTIN WITH BRYLEA

LUCY AND NATHAN

Celebrating 15 Years of Race for the Cure in the Tri-Cities special feature VIPSEEN

STORY BY LORI BROWN | PHOTOS BY ERIC DONAHUE

As we prepare for a milestone, 15 years of Race for the Cure in the Tri-Cities, we want to celebrate, not only with our Survivors and MBC Thrivers, but also with our longtime partners. Typically, each year, we choose a survivor to honor, someone who has or is currently battling breast cancer. This year we have chosen to honor two survivors: one who started her battle just before our Pink Ribbon Run in 2005 and the other who was diagnosed within the past year. It has been such a joy getting to meet them and to hear their stories, which we realize is not finished yet. Each is at a different stage in their life, but both live each day to its fullest, thank God, their family and friends for support since their battles began. It is our honor to share their story and we hope that whether you have been impacted directly, indirectly or just support Komen, you are inspired!

ALICE Alice, a School Counselor at Roosevelt Elementary School, had scheduled her annual mammogram for the last week of school in May of 2019. This was just before summer break and she almost cancelled, because it is such a busy time. When the Principal, Kelli Seymour, found out about Alice’s 72 march 2020

appointment she insisted that she keep it, even though she would miss a scheduled meeting. According to Alice, “Dr. Seymour said, ‘go- take care of yourself’. “

It was through this annual screening mammogram, that Alice’s breast cancer was detected early - two types of breast cancer: ductal carcinoma in situ -DCIS, and invasive ductal carcinoma- IDC. Alice had a lumpectomy in June, followed by 16 rounds of radiation therapy and is on Anastrozole for the next 10 years. No family history of breast cancer existed, nor did Alice have any close friends who had fought breast cancer, so this was new territory.

Alice and her husband Marty have 4 children, Charlie, 18, Jack and Susannah, 15, and Sam 13. Each of them was impacted, but in their own way. Charlie, who was scheduled to leave for school in Asheville in August, considered not going due to his Mom’s health. Her youngest son, Sam is a natural caretaker, and therefore worried about her and became very active in asking people to pray for Alice. The middle two, who are twins, Jack and

In addition to Alice’s reliance on her faith in God, she also received support from family, friends and co-workers. Her sister, Janet Lenham, cared for her and her kids while Alice was recovering from surgery. Alice’s husband, Marty, became the full-time meal preparer and taxi driver- delivering their four kids to numerous activities. Her Roosevelt Elementary Family truly stepped up in a big way! They sent cards, texts, made calls, provided food and lots of prayers during the summer months. Then throughout her radiation treatment and returning to work, they provided meals. Alice’s work family, seeing her precious students, and getting those sweet hugs are the things she credits with getting her through some of the tough days. Returning to work was important to her, as her job as a school counselor helped keep her focused. “I think I needed Roosevelt more than they needed me.”

Alice considers her diagnosis a wakeup call. She is working to get healthier, appreciates the good things in life more and tries to make each day count. All of this while trying not to take for granted all the wonderful things in her life: family, friends, and a job that she loves!

CHARLENE We at Komen East TN have gotten to know Charlene over the last few years, and one thing stuck out in our mind, is how much she loves Race and celebrating her years of survivorship with us. She has not been able to make it every year but celebrates with us each year in her heart.

For Charlene, she did delay her annual physical in January 2004, as she was caregiver to her husband following his stroke. So she postponed her physical to June. Charlene had been having annual mammogram since 1981, as she had “lumps and bumps” from an early age. Even though she had no family history of breast cancer, she was always faithful about her screenings. In 2004, something was different; she was called back for a biopsy. Following the tests, she was diagnosed with a grade 3 tumor, stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma in her left breast. Fortunately, it was found very early and the prognosis was good. After a meeting with the surgeon, she had her mastectomy July 14. She did required chemo, but had to postpone it until fall, due to being anemic and needing two iron infusions first.

When she found out her diagnosis, she worried most about telling her Mom, Aunt and daughter because of how they would deal with it. Nikki, her daughter was away at college and she felt that this was something that she could not tell her in a phone conversation, so she waited until she was able to come home. When Nikki found out, she wanted to quit school to come home and care for her Mom, but Charlene would not have that.

Charlene called on the one family friend she knew had had breast cancer. That friend was kind enough to meet with her, answer questions, and let her know what she might expect with surgery and chemo. When asked by family and friends how she was doing during her treatment, she always responded ok or fine. When asked if she needed anything? She would always respond, no, she was fine. She did not want to be a bother or burden to anyone. Even through treatment, she continued to look after her husband’s needs while he was in the nursing home.

Charlene said it was almost two years later before she felt the impact of her diagnosis. She had been so busy being a caregiver for her husband. She believes her faith in God and positive attitude contributed to her healing, as she told us “Positivity is the Key”.

Since her own diagnosis, one of her cousins and her Mom have been diagnosed. She has also had a second mastectomy and has a different outlook on some things. She wants to remind each of us, don’t do it on your own, find someone to lean on. When people offer, let them help whether it is with meals or transportation to doctor appointments. Above all, she says, be your own advocate. Ask the questions and if you think of one before your next appointment, write it down or make a list so you don’t forget. Charlene encourages newly diagnosed to research your diagnosis and the suggested treatments. Learn about possible side effects both during treatment and long-term.

Last, but not least, remember: tomorrow is not a promise, so live your day as if it was your last.

Please join us Saturday, April 18, as we continue to strive to find the cures so that women like Alice and Charlene can share their stories. Register at KomenEastTN.org/TriRFTC. For more information about Komen East TN and what we are doing in the Tri-Cities community email info@komeneasttn.org or call or Kingsport office at 423.765.9313.