Survivors celebrate freedom from cancer

By TAMMIE TOLER
Princeton Times

October 10, 2008 11:29 am

— PRINCETON — A line of strong survivors clad almost entirely in pink prepared to release the doves whose flight would symbolize their freedom from cancer Tuesday.
And, as they did so, several briefly named their birds in honor of the emotions they carried during Princeton Community Hospital’s Pink Ribbon Celebration.
“Mine’s Joy,” one of the women announced, peering in awe down at the dove she was about to set free.
“Mine’s Blessed,” another declared with a broad smile panning her face.
Soon, others chimed in, calling their doves Hope, Faith, Courage and more, before opening their clasps and watching as the white birds made their way to the sky to conclude the ceremony honoring all the joys, hope, faith and courage it took those special pink warriors to combat cancer and win.
Tuesday marked the hospital’s first Pink Ribbon Celebration recognizing the women who fought breast cancer and survived to share their stories.
PCH Public Relations Director Deb Griffith served on the committee that started the celebration and said the event was one of her favorites.
“I think perhaps this is the most meaningful and heartfelt event his hospital has sponsored,” she said, welcoming the audience to the Parkview Center before introducing CEO Wayne Griffith.
Looking out at the lobby lined with pink ribbons and decked out with guests in all shades of rose and blush, Griffith said he felt a bit lost amid the sea of pink. Nonetheless, he said he was happy to work in a community that cared enough to turn out for such a celebration.
“I hope you walk away a stronger person,” he said.
Linda Shroyer, a breast cancer survivor whose artwork chronicled her journey from diagnosis to remission and lined the speaking area Tuesday, served as the keynote speaker.
“As survivors, we kind of feel like sisters or a family because of the common experience we share,” she said. “ ... But, each of us has a very unique journey ... We enter sort of a new world. We’re sort of dumped into this tub of cold water.”
Shroyer refused to fall victim to the disease that attacked her body. Instead, she said she stood defiant in the face of cancer. She painted, and sometimes stitched, her emotions onto canvass, and she took her hair out of chemotherapy’s grasp as well.
“I refused to wake up to a pillow full of hair,” she told her audience.
Instead, she asked her husband to help her shave her head.
When she faced the new body image, Shroyer said one of the most important choices she made was to find beauty in her new body image. Through her rebellion, she was able to come to terms with life as a single-breasted woman.
“I’m still the same person. I’m still beautiful, and I haven’t done anything shameful,” she said.
Today, with both a mastectomy and chemotherapy behind her, Shroyer said she still lives under a shadow that never lets her forget the cancer could come back. But, amid the gray cloud of that shadow, Shroyer said she also learned how to really live.
“I’m not afraid of dying, but I’m afraid of not living,” she said, encouraging each listener to “live each day with gusto.”
Each breast cancer survivor present Tuesday was recognized with a pink rose and applause from the audience, and each was invited to take part in the dove release just outside the Parkview Center.
Also in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the hospital will breast and cervical screening Oct. 18, 8 a.m. — Noon, in the Day Surgery Department. For more information or to register, call (304) 487-7283 or (304) 487-7074.
— Contact Tammie Toler at ttoler@ptonline.net.