By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — A year after the County Cancer Hall of Courage project was first launched, community members came together last Wednesday at TAMC to celebrate the lives of a dozen individuals from throughout northern Maine who have displayed hope, strength and courage as they faced the fiercest battle of their lives.
“Coffee with the Courageous” marked the culmination of the current phase of the joint project of TAMC, The Star-Herald, Aroostook Republican, Houlton Pioneer Times and Fiddlehead Focus. And just as the official launch and ceremony naming the first honoree served as a kickoff to Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 2012, this celebration also ushered in the special time set aside to raise awareness about the second most common cancer among women in the United States.
The collaborative effort by county media and TAMC consisted of a year-long project to honor a dozen area individuals who have fought the battle with cancer and won. The County Cancer Hall of Courage is located at TAMC’s A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital in Presque Isle in the East Wing Annex building corridor that leads to TAMC’s Aroostook Cancer Care. Over the past year, survivors of various types of cancer have been featured monthly in large prints that bear their photo and inspirational story of survival.
The prints have been placed in frames made by TAMC’s maintenance staff and painted in the color that is used by the American Cancer Society and other organizations to represent that form of the disease. In addition, the stories and photos have been prominently featured monthly in the three weekly papers covering central and southern Aroostook and online with Fiddlehead Focus in the St. John Valley.
The honorees include men and women, senior citizens, business professionals, young adults, and two children. They come from throughout Aroostook County.
“When we envisioned the County Cancer Hall of Courage, we hoped to create a space that would serve as both an inspiration and encouragement for those who fight cancer and for those who serve as their support network,” said Glenda Dwyer, vice president of the TAMC Medical Group, in her remarks to Coffee with the Courageous attendees. “Through the willingness of the courageous County residents who have shared their inspirational stories for the benefit of those who walk in the footsteps, and for us all, I believe we have achieved this.”
“Our patients, staff, volunteers and regular visitors to the hospital have watched the Hall of Courage grow by one hero each month. You cannot help but be inspired when walking through this corridor,” said Brenda Baker, Aroostook Cancer Care manager. “It really has made quite the impact and serves as a great gateway to our service. With each of the frames painted a different color and the diversity of the honorees featured, the County Cancer Hall of Courage is not only visually pleasing, but is uplifting, as well.”
The event, which was open to the public, included moments of reflection by representatives of the project partners, as well as two honorees: Susie Schloeman of Caribou and Adriana McCarty of Fort Fairfield. Schloeman, who has survived cervical cancer, was recognized in January 2013, and McCarty, who has survived Hodgkin’s lymphoma, was recognized in August 2013.
“For those who are still fighting this battle, stay strong,” encouraged Schloeman. “Have your faith, have your family, have your friends and certainly the people that you need to get you through this, and take one day at a time. If the sun’s not shining, pretend it still is, and thank God at the end of the day that you lived another day.”
McCarty said events like the Coffee with the Courageous are important.
“No matter what your cancer story is, you should always be willing to share it with others, because you never know who your story might bring hope to,” she said, noting that the support she received during her illness from the community was outstanding. “A couple of times we would just be going out to eat and people would come up and pay for our bill; I didn’t even know what to say. Random people that I didn’t even know who knew someone who had gone through cancer like I was.
“Some people with cancer feel like it’s a burden and don’t want to bother other people, but people just want to help and they want to be there for you and help you through it,” said McCarty. “Let them, and don’t feel bad that they want to help … even if it’s just a hug, don’t feel bad.”
In addition to Schloeman and McCarty, survivors recognized over the past year included Rosa Michaud, breast cancer (October 2012); Bridget Theriault, lung cancer (November 2012); Hadley McLean, brain cancer (December 2012); Calvin Tutle, colon cancer (February 2013); Dana Boardman, renal cancer (March 2013); Alan Cleaves, testicular cancer (April 2013); Stephanie McLaughlin, malignant melanoma (May 2013); Sonia McKenney, breast cancer (June 2013); Steve Michaud, bladder cancer (July 2013); and Kylie Pelletier, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (September 2013).
Steve Michaud spoke briefly and shared an uplifting story about 10-year-old McLean.
“I donated money when Hadley was going to have a benefit,” said Michaud. “A year later, I’m having a benefit and little Hadley sent me a homemade card with a picture and my $20 bill for me to get better. I haven’t spent the $20; I still have the whole thing in a frame where I can look at it whenever I start feeling sorry for myself.
“Hadley — you keep going so I can keep going and we can help other people keep going,” he said.
Aside from celebrating the 12 honorees, last week’s event also served as the premiere of the 2013 pink section in the three county weekly newspapers. The special edition was inserted in the papers and printed on pink paper in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The section features photographs and excerpts from the stories of each of the honorees, and copies were made available at the event.
“The newspapers of Northeast Publishing Co. have enjoyed being a part of this collaborative effort with TAMC and the Fiddlehead Focus to bring the stories of some of the county’s cancer survivors to our readers. I’m honored to be representing our newspapers here today, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as we celebrate the 12 honorees of our inaugural year of the Cancer Hall of Courage,” said Gary Bowden, sales representative for The Star-Herald. “Each of the dozen cancer survivors being honored today has a compelling story to tell, and I’m sure each of their stories is an inspiration to others in the county who are waging their own battles against this vicious disease.”
The County Cancer Hall of Courage is open daily. On weekdays, from 6 a.m.-6 p.m., visitors are encouraged to use TAMC’s A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital East Wing Annex Building Entrance (formerly the corridor that connected to the Presque Isle Nursing Home). On evenings and weekends, visitors are asked to use the hospital’s main entrance.
