Lessons from conquering cancer

The following was originally published October 17, 2015.

The terms “pinkwashing” and “think before you pink” mean nothing to my mother, but she’s also just as unlikely to be found at a public awareness function. For Mary Kay Rawlings, survivor of multiple cancer scares, the disease doesn’t play an outward role in her life.

After a leg amputation at the age of 14 due to bone cancer, Mom re-learned to ride a bicycle. Her mother, Helen Streeval, purchased a brand new 10 speed to commemorate the achievement. For the past 40 years, that same bicycle has transported Mom all over the county, Edinburgh and anywhere else she decides to roam.

October offers an important opportunity to not only raise fundraising awareness and herald the outstanding local services provided by Major Health Partners, but also to commemorate the lives of Shelby County citizens who march forward after bouts of disease. My mother fits that bill.

Although seemingly healthy as a teenager, a gym teacher noticed Mom’s leg appeared swollen and referred her to the nurse. Appointments progressed and the next day she landed at Riley Children’s Hospital.

Two years prior, her brother had been killed in a car accident, so my grandmother was especially upset to receive news of Mom’s illness.

Grandma Streeval told the hospital that she would take her daughter home and trust in God for healing. But Riley refused to release Mom. Grandma told my mother, “If you don’t want to have surgery, tell me, I won’t sign for it, I don’t care what they say or do.” Mom told her not to worry. Mom’s leg was amputated and the cancer gone.

After about six months of extended hospital stays, Grandma bought a bicycle for Mom, who tried without success to learn to ride it. She couldn’t figure out how to balance and kept crashing.

Finally, she went into the house and told her mother, “You’ve wasted your money. I can’t ride that bike.”

Grandma didn’t usually allow the phrase “I can’t” to be uttered, but that time she didn’t say a word, she just kept working around the house.

Following a few moments of frustration, Mom tried again, this time placing the bike on an incline, giving her time to coast and learn how to balance.

Over the years, she also beat breast cancer on more than one occasion.

Those lessons of determination from my mother likely influence my own mentality. While cancer doesn’t define her life, the lessons learned from it certainly influenced mine. That’s something worth celebrating.