Survivors: They live to dance

When I walked into the Pink Ribbon Tea sponsored by the Junior League of Youngstown, I immediately noticed Judy Nelson.
Judy and I live in the same town and had met through various school and church functions.
Two years ago, Judy was diagnosed with breast cancer. Today, she is a radiant survivor.
"How are you?" I asked, truly wanting to know.
"I am great!" Judy beamed. "I feel better than I have in years. It was really a wake-up call for me. I eat better now and make sure I exercise. I really don't think I would be this healthy at this point in my life if it hadn't been for my breast cancer."
I walked to my seat a bit dumbfounded.
Judy had taken this terrible, horrible, "worst thing" and turned it into a positive, life-changing event.
Helping otherswith the ordeal
At my table, I met Kay Ryan from East Liverpool.
Four days after her youngest child went into the service -- at a time when she was looking forward to the freedoms of an empty nest -- Kay was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Today, Kay is involved in the Navigator program with the American Cancer Society, helping breast cancer patients go through the ordeal.
"No one understands like someone who has been there," Kay says.
Also at the table was Peggy Noles-Schermer of Salem.
Peggy is a 25-year breast cancer survivor.
Before her diagnosis, Peggy worked in the medical field selling equipment.
Today, she is the president and founder of five mastectomy shops, fitting women with suitable breast prosthetics.
"Cancer makes you just happy to be here," Peggy shares, beaming.
Judith Firestone is a 14-year breast cancer survivor.
She owns a successful computer business in Cleveland. In her spare time, she is the chairwoman for Northeast Ohio Race for the Cure.
Judith, like the others, exudes a spark filled with the joy of living.
Also sitting at the table is Jane Pernotto Ehrman, the keynote speaker for the Pink Ribbon Tea.
"It was a gift," Jane says of her diagnosis with breast cancer.
At this, I slam a hand down on the table (a little too hard) and exclaim, "That's what everyone is saying!"
After recovering from my outburst, Jane says very matter-of-factly, "That's because it is."
Getting througha crisis in life
"Crisis is a given in life," she continues. "There are two ways to go through a crisis. You can go through it kicking and screaming, crabbing and moaning, just trying to get through it. Or, you can use it as an opportunity to reflect and re-evaluate your life."
Jane was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1988. Her children were 9, 7, and 3 years old at the time. Jane had just spent 10 years at home raising the children and was preparing to re-enter the work force as a professor at YSU.
While Jane's career was put on hold while she underwent treatment, she completely changed the priorities of her life through the experience.
"I was doing and being for other people and I left myself behind," she confessed.
"I forgot to put myself on the list."
In a world where women are expected to do so much, Jane declared, "Wonder Woman is dead!"
"Prioritize those things that make your heart dance," Jane shared with the group as she spoke.
"What makes your heart dance? Do you know?"
I looked around the room, filled with nearly 300 breast cancer survivors.
Some were older women, some were young.
Some have been breast cancer survivors for decades, others are still waiting for their hair to grow back in.
From my friend Judy, to the ladies at the table and all across the room, these women know what makes their heart dance -- and they spend every precious day dancing!
gwhite@vindy.com
XListen to commentary from Gail on WYSU, 88.5 FM tomorrow morning at 6:35 and 8:35 a.m.