Shortly after my high school graduation as my parents were preparing to start their “empty nest” years everything changed for my mother, Susan Leighton, and for our entire family. She was diagnosed with stage IIIC ovarian cancer. She had surgery in July 1997 and for the first time that I can remember, I saw fear in her eyes. Five years earlier she had faced another life-threatening condition, a brain aneurysm, and she did not miss a step. She continued to work full time and life just went on. There was no question that she would be fine, but when she was diagnosed with this deadly cancer, I saw that fear and for the first time felt I might not have her in my life for much longer.
I remember asking her if she wanted me to postpone college for a year to which she promptly stated “NO, you will not put your life on hold. I am going to be fine.” I saw her fear change to determination and I truly believed she would be fine. I know now that after she and my Dad drove me to college and helped me settle into the dormitory, she spent the four-hour car ride home crying her heart out worried that she would never see me graduate. The next morning armed with her sense of determination she had her first chemotherapy. After six cycles she was in remission.
When I would call home while she was in treatment, we did not discuss the cancer; we discussed college, classes, dorm life, and boys, all those things all mothers and daughters discuss. Despite the fact her life was in turmoil, she made sure that things were “normal” for me. When I came home for Thanksgiving and we traveled to my grandparents’ home, despite the fact that she was bald and a little tired from all the chemo, everyone knew she was going to be fine because she knew she would be.
A short 18 months later she got news that her cancer was coming back. She and her doctor talked and with her usual determination she elected not to have chemo until there were symptoms or evidence of disease on scan. For over 5 years she went on about her life checking in with the doctor every three months and watching her CA-125 climb. When the cancer was found in her chest in February of 2005, she told the doctor to take it out and let her get on with life. She has been disease free without chemo for 5 years.
Most women would be satisfied with beating the odds and surviving a deadly cancer. She had passed her goal of seeing me graduate from college and she had seen me become successful in my career. She and my Dad were enjoying life heading off on RV trips as often as time allowed. She had stopped working so she could spend more time caring for herself. But as usual my Mom was not satisfied. When she began her journey with ovarian cancer she had wanted to get involved with a support group. She had attended one general cancer support group and walked away so depressed because as soon as the others in the group heard her diagnosis, they all acted as if she would die before the next meeting. At that moment she decided that there was a need for an ovarian cancer support group in our hometown. In September 2004 while facing her own recurrence she helped to found Lilies of the Valley, an ovarian cancer support and awareness group in Huntsville, Alabama. She had found her true passion when it came to ovarian cancer. Never again would a woman in Huntsville or anywhere in the north Alabama area have to face the diagnosis alone. Over the past five years the membership has grown from 10 women to 87.
But my Mom did not stop there. She has worked daily to reach out to women and families affected by this disease. She has helped to arrange awareness campaigns, gives Teal Talks to women’s groups about risk factors and symptoms, spreads the word at health fairs, started the Survivors Teaching Students program in north Alabama acting as facilitator, and spends numerous hours assisting other women. It is not unusual to find her up at 4 a.m. to pick up a friend who has chemo scheduled in a hospital two hours away, driving there, sitting for hours in the waiting room, and driving her home safe and sound. She is constantly coming up with creative ways to cheer those currently in treatment. She talks one on one with newly diagnosed patients showing them there is hope. She publishes the quarterly newsletter keeping all the Lilies informed and is the secretary/treasurer and historian for the group.
Although she is now five years cancer free, she is determined to make a difference in the lives of other women fighting ovarian cancer. For the past two years she has served as a consumer reviewer for the Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program and has become an advocate for increased funding for ovarian cancer programs. She has formed the Lilies of the Valley Legislative Action Team and works hard to get their voices heard in the House and Senate. When people see my Mom coming all decked out in teal they know that they are about to encounter a force to be reckoned with. She has conquered her disease but is determined to keep working until early detection or a cure is a reality.
I am happy to say she saw me graduate from Auburn University, become successful in my career, and in four short months will be there as I walk down the aisle.
