They came. They saw. They Relayed.
By Melinda Harrell and Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on May 17, 2015 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Dawlton Mervin, left, hands balloons to Charlie and Donna Thomas before the Survivors Lap of Relay for Life held Friday night at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. Charlie is a nine-year survivor of colon cancer, and Donna was diagnosed last year with skin cancer. The Thomas family comes each year to Relay for Life to celebrate together.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
From left, Phyllis Moore, Sam Lane, Laura Bevell and Anna Beth Sanderson, 8, light the Relay for Life torch after the survivor and caretaker walks. Moore, Lane and Sanderson are this year's honorary chairpeople.
Judie Harrison and Carol Lancaster were laughing uproariously together before the Wayne County Relay for Life Survivors Lap began.
They were laughing like only people who have been friends for 40 years can laugh.
They have weathered devastating storms, just to come out on the other side stronger than ever.
"We are here to celebrate," Mrs. Harrison said.
She was at Relay Friday night to celebrate winning two bouts with breast cancer and colon cancer. She was there to celebrate her relationship with Ms. Lancaster, who has been with her through the entire fight.
She was also there to rally hope for her fight that was coming.
Ms. Harrison was re-diagnosed with breast cancer only two weeks ago.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and going through a double mastectomy and then being diagnosed again in 2013, it would seem that Ms. Harrison's well of hope would run dry.
Not so.
"In 2015, only two weeks ago, another diagnosis raised its ugly head again," Ms. Harrison said.
"But there are two things you need to have, trust in the good Lord and a sense of humor," she said smiling at Ms. Lancaster.
Ms. Harrison remembers her first diagnosis and how the rally to fight began.
"I felt (cancer) was all over me after the doctor told me," Ms. Harrison said.
"It was a small lump. I just had a lump, but every time I turned around and I had a pain or hurt I thought it was another lump. I thought it was cancer. So I sat on my back porch one day and told the Lord, 'You have to handle this, I can't.'"
Ms. Harrison has not been alone in her arduous fight; Ms. Lancaster has been with her to every treatment, surgery and doctor's appointment over the years.
And in the fog of shock and fear, that was what Ms. Harrison needed.
There are many appointments in which she does not remember what the doctors said, but Ms. Lancaster remembers them well and has helped her through the rougher times.
"When you hear cancer, you don't hear anything else they say," Ms. Harrison said.
"When I first heard, I don't even know how I got home."
Ms. Lancaster took Ms. Harrison's diagnosis with difficulty, too.
"It made my heart hurt," Ms. Lancaster said as she placed her hand on her chest.
"I was like her. It was a shock, but you have to have a positive attitude and she has such a positive attitude. That is what keeps me going to help her. You can't just give up the fight."
Their attitudes both shine through when they talk about the most recent diagnosis.
In unison they both said, "It's just another bump in the road."
Another bump that they will weather together.
And as they were preparing for the Survivors Walk, they laughed as if everything was going to be fine as long as they had each other for support.
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In 1995, Samuel Campbell could have really used the support that Ms. Harrison enjoyed.
"On a Richter scale, it was about a 30," Campbell said about how detrimental the diagnosis was for him as he was holding the banner waiting for the Survivors Lap to begin.
"It was shocking and for a week I was in a state of amnesia. I just couldn't remember what was said. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and as a male I thought my life was over."
Campbell said that his treatments were the standard type, but for him they seemed "futuristic" and "radical."
For an entire year he battled cancer relatively alone.
"It was so depressing, and I was so alone," he said. "There wasn't that many people to talk to."
But on Friday night, Campbell was there to make sure that others did not feel the isolation he felt those 20 years ago. He was there to give support to other fighters like himself.
As he was holding the banner, there were many more survivors standing behind him and it was clear that he was not alone anymore.
"I am here to celebrate life and support those that are still fighting," he said. "They need that support to let them know they are not alone."
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Sometimes the supporters themselves fall prey to the disease.
This year's Relay for Life had a new meaning for CeCe Thornton.
She has been a supporter, caregiver and cheerleader, working with Relay for 14 years.
This year, she was at Relay in a different capacity -- as a survivor.
"(The meaning) has changed a lot. Last year, I was a caregiver, now I'm a survivor."
Ms. Thorton stepped forward to hold the banner at the Survivors Lap.
"It's very emotional," she said.
She was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in September, and since then, has undergone radiation treatments.
She completed a round of radiation before going to Relay and she is still looking at three more weeks of chemotherapy.
"I have my ups and downs," she said.
As the cadence started, and A Drummer's World Drumline began banging out a victory song, she took her first lap as a survivor.
Her four daughters, Bre McAlduff, Madison Jones, Rylee Thornton and Hailey Jones, took up the banner for the caregiver's lap that followed after the Survivors Lap.
"It was weird," Hailey said. "We're mostly grateful, but it's been very emotional."
As Ms. Thornton finished her lap, she released her balloon with the rest of the survivors. The balloons dotted the clear sky as they floated away.
"I'm glad to be here with them," she said. "I've seen some of them for 14 years. It feels good."