Evening in Pink 2007

Our first Evening in Pink was a success! These are the results from the evening...

Kellie May was honored as our Think Pink Honoree.

Kellie received $10,000 and all of the items donated from our sponsors. These items were given to her at or before the event: a blender from Blendtec, skincare products from NuSkin, a book written by Kevin Sharp, shoes from Sole Desires, DVDs from Digital Scrapbook Memories, a gift basket from Kneaders, services from Persogenics, tickets to a football game from BYU Athletics, pearl jewelry from My Princess Pearls, a dozen pink roses, a two-night stay at the Courtyard Marriott hotel, a purse from Bags that Fit, a dress from Shabby Apple, jewelry from Flashy Fingers, a day at the salon with her friend from La Villa Salon & Spa, and tickets to the Nutcracker from Ballet West.

Kellie will also receive items each month for the next year from sponsors.

Silent Auction Recipients

We raised $4,000 for the silent auction last night. Two women will receive $2,000 each from the proceeds of the silent auction. These women were spotlighted at the event and their stories were read.



Manjula Karan







Candy Caponi-Dooley



Survivors

We honored one survivor last night with a cruise for her and her husband.




Jana Harris, a seven-year survivor

Our 2007 Think Pink for Life Honoree

Congratulations to Kellie May!
Our 2007 Think Pink for Life Honoree

When Kellie called and told me about her being honored at The Evening in Pink, she told me that she felt guilty. Guilty? That’s my most humble and self-sacrificing friend, Kellie, for you. I told her that she was just as deserving as any other person that submitted her story. She said, “Brenda, have you read some of those stories that have been submitted? Some of those ladies….” I interrupted her to say “Kellie, YOU also have a story.” ---Brenda Hurlburt

Kellie’s Story written by her friend Brenda…

“Boy did she ever downplay her situation! You have a lot of gaps to fill. It’s a good thing the judges could read between the lines,” said a mutual friend after I sent her the link to read Kellie’s story that she submitted to foreverybody.com.

I was asked to give my perspective of Kellie’s story so that others reading it would have a deeper understanding of what this amazing person has gone through.

Kellie and I met 12 years ago while teaching middle school together. We both decided to start our families at the same time. My son was born and still Kellie wasn’t pregnant. My son turned one and still Kellie wasn’t pregnant. She watched sisters-in-law and friends get pregnant and have their babies while still trying for her own. The day she finally went to see a fertility specialist she discovered she was pregnant. Yeah!

Sadly, the challenges of getting pregnant carried over into the birth. Six weeks before her due date, Kellie was drying off after showering for work. She felt her umbilical cord. She rushed to the hospital with her husband where the doctors performed an emergency c-section and the baby was rushed to Primary Children’s Hospital.

Porter spent his first three weeks of life at Primary’s before coming home with a feeding tube through his nose and no answers as to what the future would look like for this little boy. This is what the immediate future looked like for his parents: speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, early intervention visits, CT scans and all day visits at Primary Children’s where he would see many different doctors and specialists. It took over two years for someone to finally tell Kellie that his diagnosis was Cerebral Palsy.

Even though Porter is walking and riding a bike when we weren’t sure that he ever would, the challenges, doctor’s visits, and therapy appointments continue. How do you get teachers, students, and others to see through the physical disability and instead see the loving, intelligent, funny seven-year-old? How do you convince this same seven- year-old that he is not stupid or dumb and that he is the same as the other kids, but has to overcome some challenges? What do you say to your little boy that asks you “Mom, when does Cerebral Palsy go away?”

These are all challenges Kellie faces.

Once Porter turned three, Kellie was ready to add to their family. Unfortunately, history repeated itself and Kellie was struggling to get pregnant again. She watched as family members and friends got pregnant and had their babies all around her. This time she consulted the fertility specialist after not succeeding on her own. She took fertility drugs for awhile and then tried artificial insemination.
Their second and final try (Kellie was physically, emotionally, and financially done trying) was successful. Yeah!

Kellie waited to announce her pregnancy until she got through the first trimester. Shortly after that I got a call during Christmas break asking if I could watch Porter. The doctor’s office had called and wanted Kellie and Clint to come in and talk about the results of the pre-natal testing. They were told that there was a small chance that their baby would be born with Down’s Syndrome.

Kellie was scheduled to have ultrasounds through the rest of her pregnancy. After each ultrasound there was no conclusive evidence that would tell them if the baby did in fact have Down’s. The only way to be 100% sure was to have an amniocentesis. They agreed that they would keep the baby regardless of the results. After years of trying to get pregnant, they were not willing to endure the risks involved in performing an amnio.

Kellie went into labor five weeks early. When I got to the hospital the doctor was there telling Kellie that yes, the baby did have signs of having Down ’s Syndrome. For the second time, her baby was taken from her and sent to Primary Children’s Hospital for tests to confirm. The worrying was now over whether or not the baby had Down’s, but the real worrying and challenges were to begin. The severity of Down ’s Syndrome can vary widely from child to child.

Besides having a mental disability, Down ’s Syndrome children can have heart defects, leukemia, chronic ear infections, gastro-intestinal problems, growth problems, early mortality, thyroid problems, obesity, eye and ear trouble among
other things. Where would Parker fall on this scale?

In his 17 months of life, Parker has had five echo-cardiograms, three this year alone. For each full echo, Kellie watched her baby go under anesthesia and then held her breath until they told her he doesn’t need heart surgery.

The main challenge with him right now is getting him to gain weight. Down ’s Syndrome children do tend to be smaller, but Parker would sometimes lose weight that he could not afford to lose between doctor’s appointments. At one point last spring she was taking him in weekly to get weighed to make sure he was gaining. Each ounce was critical to keeping Kellie sane and from keeping the words “Failure to Thrive” from everybody’s mind. He is making progress, but not fast enough for his mom to be able to take him in for a check-up and leave with no new concerns to watch for until the next appointment.

At this point of the story Kellie is facing her biggest challenge yet. This time it is not one of her children, but herself.
She has been diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a lump during a self exam. Even though the doctor and radiologist thought it was nothing, probably just a cyst, most of the time they are benign….it was cancer. Kellie’s terrible luck continued when she underwent eight aggressive chemotherapy treatments, instead of the more common four treatment plan.

Before she even started the chemo treatments, she had three surgeries in six weeks, the baby had ear tubes put in, and her husband, Clint, had emergency dental work done. By mid-April of this year their family of four had been to the doctor thirty times and she didn’t start chemotherapy until May. The chemo treatments were every two weeks, with a follow-up appointment on the in -between week. There is a co-pay for every chemo treatment; there is a co-pay for every follow up visit; there is a co-pay for each surgery, and then there is the 20% of all of these bills that the insurance doesn’t cover, left for her family to pay.

While she endured the physical challenges and pain that chemo brought, the emotional challenge was extremely tough. Even though Kellie has an incredible outlook, a never ending positive attitude, and an upbeat perspective, the loss of control over her life eventually took its toll on her, sinking her into bit of a depression.

Her type A personality needs control, organization, a plan, and predictability. All of these things were no longer an option with cancer. She had to rely on others now and this was difficult for such an independent woman.

She had the whole first chemotherapy treatment written out in a journal so that when round two came she would know exactly what to expect, but it didn’t work that way. As if all of the side effects of chemotherapy weren’t enough Kellie had to give up who she was to this stupid disease, which was just an extra burden for her to go through.

When Kellie called and told me about her being honored at The Evening in Pink, she told me that she felt guilty. Guilty? That’s my most humble and self-sacrificing friend, Kellie, for you. I told her that she was just as deserving as any other person that submitted her story. She said, “Brenda, have you read some of those stories that have been submitted? Some of those ladies….” I interrupted her to say “Kellie, YOU also have a story.”

Kellie’s Story from her perspective...

I found a lump in my left breast during a self-exam last January. My doctor sent me for a mammogram, and because the mammogram wasn't conclusive, I also had an ultrasound. The radiologist reported the lump to be a cyst. I received a letter reporting that everything seemed normal, but advised further follow-up. Both my doctor and the surgeon felt it was just a cyst. Because of the size, I opted for a surgical biopsy to make sure. I had the biopsy on a Friday and on Monday I found out that I had cancer.

At the end of March, two days before my 35th birthday, I had a mastectomy on my left breast. I had no known risk factors. Thanks to the support of my family, especially my husband and mom, neighbors, friends, and co-workers, I recovered quickly and returned to work two weeks later. I needed to get back to my classroom (I was a preschool special education teacher) and tie up loose ends before taking the rest of the school year off to start chemo treatments.

While waiting to start chemo, the troops were rallied. Car pooling was planned for my school aged son, and his teachers at school were notified. My infant son's care was also carefully coordinated until the time my mom would essentially move in and take care of him and our home.

My cancer was diagnosed as Stage II, Grade 3, Hormone positive and Her2Neu negative. My oncologist informed me that I had the garden variety breast cancer, which is what you want when it comes to medicine, garden variety. He said that he would be surprised at a recurrence and his prognosis was cure. What a relief, not totally, but a relief none the less. Recurrance is not an option for me. I have two young sons who need me, though I need them too. I need them to keep me living.

My seven-year-old was born premature due to my cord prolapsing. He was life-lighted to Primary Children's where he lived for the first three weeks of his life. He is diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy and has made major physical gains over the years. My 15-month-old was also born premature, and also spent time at Primary’s, just a week though. He has Downs Syndrome, but is without many of the health conditions that affect these kids. He does have some minor heart complications that are being monitored by the cardiology department at Primary’s.

I'm writing this on the eve of my last chemo treatment. Tomorrow I will be having my eighth and final treatment. Though it's been a long summer and I have lost my left breast, my hair, lots of sleep, my appetite, my sense of taste, gained a higher sense of smell, endured many different side effects including depression and insomnia, not to mention general aches and pains, I have shed more tears of joy than of sorrow. I have an amazing support group, and I attribute that mostly to the love everyone has for my special boys. My husband is amazing, my mom is an angel, I am so fortunate.

I will be returning to work Monday when the new school year starts in a new position as a 7th grade health teacher. It will be my 13th year as an educator. My son will start 2nd grade; he's so excited. My mom will be hanging around for a few more weeks while I transition back into life. I will hopefully be having a consultation on reconstructive surgery within the next couple of months. I would like to get all of the medical procedures behind me. So, that's my story. For more of my story you can go to my "blog" at http://www.blogger.com/www.caringbridge.org then visit me by typing in Kellie May.

Murray, UT

Clara's Story from Tennessee

My Mother’s Story

My Mom, Clara, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996. She discovered the lump in her right breast while performing a self-breast exam. She did not waste any time getting to the doctor to confirm that she indeed had breast cancer. By the time my mom called to tell me (on a Friday afternoon), she had already made the decision to have a mastectomy and the surgery was scheduled for the following Monday.

She was adamant that she did not want me to worry because she had already placed the situation in God’s hand and knew without a doubt that he would take good care of her. I was not working at the time and unaware that my “unemployment” was a blessing in the midst of a storm. The fact that I was unemployed meant that I could travel to West Tennessee to be with my Mom.

Prior to her beginning the chemo treatments, my mom traveled to East Tennessee to go shopping for some “fashionable” wigs. She was well aware of the side affects of the drugs and wanted to be prepared for the nausea as well as losing her hair. The decision to start chemo was met with some hesitation; having watched her own Mom (Frankie L. Jones) battle Non-Hoskins disease and one of her close friends (Ms. Janette Tansil) undergo extensive chemo and radiation treatments.

She knew this was not going to be easy; yet with God being her most fierce warrior, she knew He would fight this battle. My mom completed her chemotherapy after six months without losing one single strand of her hair.

Seven years later (2003) it was found that my mom had calcifications in her left breast. This time was no different than the first in that my mom made the decision that was best for her. She had a second mastectomy and afterwards it was determined by her doctor that neither chemotherapy nor radiation was necessary.

Although I am writing this story “about” my mom, I could never begin to tell her story. To my family and me, my mom is so special. We now know that in making those tough decisions, she was not only thinking of herself, but also how her courageous fight against this dreadful disease would one day be a living testimony for others that may have to endure this fight.

Thank You, Lord for being a God of not only second chances, but of many chances. My mom continues to live each day by sharing her ordeal with anyone that will listen and her words of encouragement ring out loud and clear . . . . . . . "Listen to your body, perform your self-breast exams and get a mammogram once a year. Early detection can save your life!!

Knoxville, Tennessee

Jerri's Story from New York

Hi. My name is Jerri! I feel like I am part of a whole new group now! While it is not the sort of group you willingly sign up for, such as say a PTA Member, a Ladies Auxiliary Aide, or even for those who need help such as an Alcoholics Anonymous Member, it is a group I joined nonetheless, but it does not necessarily mean I am sorry I had to join!

My life has changed drastically in the last six months! What used to seem so important, now takes a backseat to what really is and that is my health, so I can be here for my son Anthony. He is 12 years old and I must say it was not always an easy 12 years. We have had our knocks in life, but none like this -that is for sure!

However, this dreaded cancer, this breast cancer that has happened to so many people and has now affected my life, has brought him and I so much closer. It is almost a blessing in disguise that because I will be a survivor and beat this cancer, have my son and boyfriend, who has stood by me through it all, that I have come away with a new awareness of what is really most important in my life!

If the doctors told me a year ago what my life would be like right now, I wouldn't have believe it. I was struggling through life, like most any single parent does, trying to work and make ends meet and just living day to day. Now, I feel a whole new sense of living each day to the fullest.

Am I sick? Yes! Do I cry why me, why me? Yes! But knowing the support of my family, friends and the whole community, makes me take a step back and say, “Wow - people really love me and are willing to see me through this.” That is an awfully good feeling, let me tell you!

I am 39 years old! I have had a double mastectomy to try to get rid of the cancer and then after the operation, which was a traumatic enough experience, I ended up having an infection that put me back in the hospital for two weeks. That was the hardest. I did the right thing in not worrying about vanity with my body, only to have an infection complicate matters and frankly scare the hell out of me!

Thank God I am home now and things are going better. I still have a very long road ahead of me, but I am going to beat this thing! So, when you hear Melissa Ethridge's song "I Run For Hope", know that I will keep running for my son, my family and my friends and mostly for me and other cancer survivors!

Though I, of course, wish this never happened, I can't help but be a little grateful, that I can look around now and realize how great a gift life really is and know that I will run for it! Cancer is no longer a faceless thing to me.

Buchanan, New York

Julie's Story from California

My story starts out in June of 2002. My husband and I were so excited to find out that we were expecting our first child. Six weeks into my pregnancy my back went out. At eight weeks my left pelvis started to hurt. At each of my OBGYN appointments I told my doctor that the pain in my hip was really bad. She told me that it sounds like Sciatica, a common occurrence during pregnancy. She recommended physical therapy.

Each day the pain got worse and worse. My OB told me to try acupuncture, which didn't help, and then chiropractics. Nothing was working. The pain in my hip was excruciating. At five months I was not able to get out of a chair, so my husband had to get an electric chair which would help me stand from a sitting position. At seven months we demanded a 2nd opinion. My OB sent us to an orthopedic who agreed to do an MRI of my pelvis.

The next day he called us into his office and informed us that I had a VERY LARGE tumor on my pelvis. (The pain that I was feeling was my pelvis breaking every time I took a step!) The orthopedic told us that this was out of his relm. He referred us to an amazing ortheopic oncologist at Stanford University, (Dr David Mohler).

The next day we went down and saw him. He did a needle biopsy of the tumor on my hip. That night he called us and told us the news that I had Stage IV breast cancer which has spread to my bones. He recommended that we immediately come back down to Stanford to deliver my child. At this point I was only 30 weeks.

The next few days my husband and I had to make the hardest decisions of our lives. What do we do about the baby?

We went back down to Stanford to the High Risk OB. While there they did more scans and we were informed that not only had my cancer spread to my bones, but it was in my vertebrae, ribs and also Liver. Stanford told us that I only had about one year to live and that their goal was to do their best to keep me comfortable. But the same day that we find out that news of where the cancer had spread to I developed pre-eclapmsia which meant that we had to deliver the baby ASAP.

In one day we had to make a life and death decision about our unborn child. We were informed about all the possible complications that come along with a preemie child. I don't know how my wonderful husband made it through that day. Not only was his wife dieing, but now his child was probably going to have complications. But, with the loving support of our family and friends we turned those tears of sadness into a will to fight. There were to be " No more Tears" we need everyone's focus to be on our child and myself. And that is exactly what we did.

On December 23, 2002, Jessica Anne was delivered via c-section. She weight three pounds 13 ounces. She was perfect, just little. She was showing no signs of any birth defects. At the time of the delivery we decided to remove my ovaries since my cancer was HER-2 neu positive. We wanted to get rid of as much of the estrogen as possible. So now that Jessica was here and doing well it was time to turn our focus on saving my life. The next day I started radiation therapy for my pelvis and vertebrae.

The doctors needed to stop the cancer in the bones in hopes to stabilize my hips so I could walk again. After four weeks of radiation the tumor on my pelvis shrunk 75% and now was at a point where surgery could be done to remove the remaining tumor and bone cement and titanium rods where placed in my pelvis to prevent any further breaking of the bones.

The end of January I had surgery on my pelvis. The surgery was a success, but now it was time for us to go back home to Sacramento and start physical therapy where I had to learn to walk again. But we knew we had to find someone to help us fight this "war" that my body was going through. We were told about an amazing facility in Arlington Texas.

In March, we flew down to Dr Karel Dicke at the Arlington Cancer Center for a consultation. We felt that he was the man for us. He wanted to attack this "war" from all angles. We came home, packed up our house and moved to a small apartment in Arlington so we could be close to Dr Dicke. My husband did his best to work from there, but family and friends helped us so we could stay together as a family in Texas to try to save my life. While in Texas I did nine rounds of chemotherapy, Taxol, Adriomycin, cytoxin, taxatere, and started weekly Herceptin. I also had a mastectomy and radioblation done on my liver lesions.

After a tough nine months I was in remission. Dr. Dicke gave us the green light to come back home to California. Once home I was under the watchful eye of Dr Kristi Boboblis in Roseville, California. I immediately started six weeks of radiation on my breast, followed by weekly maintenance chemo, Taxol, Taxatere, Navelbene, Zometa, Xeloda, and Herceptin. I travel down to Arlington every three months for scans and check-ups. I am now going on five years since
my diagnosis. I am a "SURVIVOR".

This experience has taught me sooooo much. It has been a tough road, but it is a road that I would not change for the world. I have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people. My dear friends from chemo, I love them all to pieces. Life is a gift, and I love everyday of it. I love watching the sun rise and set.

My goal is to let people know that you can live with cancer. But you have to stay positive. Cancer can be a game. Trying to figure out the drugs, and insurance companies. It can really get you down, but take one day at a time and this will work out.

I have been involved with our local Susan G Komen foundation, my Race for the Cure team (Boobie Patrol) is now over 100 walkers strong. I feel that it is sooo important to support the breast cancer foundations. Because of you, survivors like me are surviving. I can't thank you enough.

Financially, cancer can be hard. Not only are you fighting for your life, but you are financially fighting. Treatments like I have are not cheap. My husband is now having to work two jobs to help pay for my medical bills. I am not able to work. I am a dental hygienist, but my back is so bad that I can not do hygiene any more. Plus with all my chemo and doc appointments, I have a full time job of just being a cancer patient. I am also a full-time mom of my almost five-year-old, Jessica.

Life is a gift, and I want to do all I can to help others get through their cancer treatments with a smile on their face.

Thank you again for all you do. Please keep it up! We need you!!!!!!!!!!

El Dorado Hills, California

Lisa's Story from Iowa

My Journey

I call this my journey because I see it as just a bump in the road of life and God's plan for me. My journey started in November of 2006. I found a lump in my left breast and thought I don't have time to go to the doctor right now, I was a single mom of three, just found a new boyfriend and was working three jobs to make ends meet. So I put off going to the doctor till a week or so before Christmas when things were starting to slow down at one of my jobs.

My doctor did the exam and wanted me to have a mammogram right away but the hospital in Shenandoah couldn't get me in till after the new year so she called around to other hospitals close and got me an appointment the next day in Red Oak,Ia.

While I was there they did an ultrasound and decided I needed a biopsy the next day and an MRI the day after that. The biopsy came back positive for Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, and the MRI showed a small lump in my right breast also. So back for another biopsy on the right breast and two days before Christmas I was told I had cancer in both breast and was recommended I have a double mastectomy.

Well we made it through Christmas with as much normality as possible and reading up as much as I could about breast cancer and my options so when I saw the surgeon I wasn't going in blind. I found a wonderful surgeon in Omaha, NE. He talked to me for two hours on my first visit and answered all my questions and concerns.

We scheduled my surgery for January 15th 2007 a double Mastectomy without reconstruction, I decided that the pain from the surgery was enough for me and my family to endure at one time. So the day of my surgery arrives and it snowed eight inches through the night and we, my new boyfriend Christian and I, had an hour drive that took two hours because of the snow ahead of us.

The surgery went perfect, I stayed three days in hospital with him by my side the whole time and went home with four drain tubes, more pain that I have ever had to endure in my life, being totally dependent on my family and no breast!

My two daughters Amanda, 14, and Hope, seven, at the time (my son Brandon 21 lives on his own) and Christian nursed me back to health, I felt so guilty that they had to take care of me, I am suppose to take care of them. Without them I would not have been able to do anything for myself, the pain in my chest and arms kept me from doing things for myself, bathing, brushing my hair, cooking was not an option so my girls and Christian did it all.

Then it was time for chemotherapy six rounds of a triple cocktail of poison once every three weeks. Starting the 20th of February, all my hair fell out within three weeks after my first dose, I was devastated even though I knew it was going to fall out nothing prepares you for the reality of it.

Well I have made it through everything so far with a smile on my face most days and a song in my heart. With the help of my friends who brought food for my family when I was recovering and the love and support of my family and my strength from God. Without everyone backing me up my journey would have been a lot harder, I thank everyone who has been there for me!

My story isn't any different than any of the others I have read but it was nice sharing it with others who have been where I have been and know what it is all about. Good luck to everyone who is still going through their journeys and to all those who have finished theirs. I wish breast cancer would stop with my story and nobody else had to go on this journey but I know that won't happen.

For all those wondering my new boyfriend Christian stuck with me through all of this and is still by my side today! My love and trust in God has kept me strong for my family. To Amanda, Hope, Brandon, My Parents, Sharon and Christian THANK YOU for all you have done and I LOVE YOU ALL!

Farragut, Iowa

Patricia's Story from California

I have a wonderful dear friend whom I have known for 13 years. Her name is Janet, and I have felt blessed during the 13 years I have known her.

She is a single mother raising three beautiful daughters on her own, and although she has gone through many trials and hardships in her life she always manages to keep a smile on her face and have a positive outlook to life. I have never known her to be bitter or angry.

I found out a little over a year ago that Janet had stage three breast cancer. I found myself praying and questioning God, as to why He let this happen to her, somebody who has gone through so much already.

Janet went for chemo and radiation to shrink the lump, and then have a lumpecyomy, after her surgery she went for more radiation. I saw Janet about three weeks ago at church. As is normal for Janet, she had a big smile on her face and a hug for me. Instead of telling me about all she had been through, she told me about some of the funny things that had happened to her, while fighting cancer.

One of the stories she shared with me was when she was barbecuing and her wig melted due to the heat of the fire, all she could do was laugh and say she learned a valuable lesson, take your wig off before you barbecue.

Janet has lost a lot due to breast cancer. Being self-employed she has lost her income, her hair, and this has been financially hard on her. But through all this she has not lost her faith, her love for helping others, her love for her family and friends, her sense of humor or her inward beauty. I known everyone has someone to write about, and I also know every battle with breast cancer is every women’s battle.

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer this month. I am writing about Janet, so others can see that there is hope in this extremely hard situation. I can say without a doubt that she is a survivor. I know that having breast cancer has to take courage, hope, faith, and the will to fight. Janet has all of these things plus a beautiful smile. That is why I wrote her story. I think she deserves some pampering, as will as some financial support.

Murrieta, California