Facing a new struggle

A dinner will take place in November to help with health-care expenses.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG, Pa. -- On May 16, 1986, Roberta McCollums of Edinburg, then 16, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Her cancer ordeal was just beginning. She also has been diagnosed with:
URelapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, April 22, 1987.
UMelanoma, skin cancer, Aug. 12, 1988.
UPapillary thyroid cancer, March 17, 2003.
UOvarian and uterine cancer, April 22, 2003.
UCharacinoid, cancer of the small bowel, April 3, 2005.
UPossible lump in her throat, Oct. 5, 2005.
When McCollums was first diagnosed with leukemia, family members were tested for a bone-marrow match.McCollums' only sibling, sister Tammy, then 14, was the donor. The transplant took place in Pittsburgh.
"It was a scary procedure. But it was for my sister and I wanted to do it," Tammy McCollums said.
Everything looked all right for a while, McCollums said, noting that she then experienced a graph vs. host reaction. "My antibodies and the transplant antibodies were at war in my body," she said.
High doses of steroids and other medication were administered to try to stop the adverse reaction. The treatment led to another problem -- drug-induced Paget's osteoporosis. She is in remission from the leukemia.
Other cancer treatments
For the skin cancer, McCollums underwent radiation treatment that left burns on her body and it was cured. She's also had surgery to remove her thyroid gland and underwent drug therapy and had a hysterectomy; she's considered cured of those cancers. McCollums had 8 inches of her small bowel removed but the outcome is not yet known.
She will be having a scan on her throat, then a biopsy, if necessary. McCollums has undergone her surgeries and treatments at hospitals in Pittsburgh and New Castle, Pa.
It's been said that cancer "runs in the families," but neither McCollums' mother, Anna McCollums of Edinburg, with whom she shares an open duplex, or her sister has had it. There have been just two cases of cancer in their extended family.
"No one knows why. ... The doctors are baffled," McCollums said.
"Until she was diagnosed with the leukemia, she was never sick," her mother said.
Impact on her life
The diseases have had a profound effect on McCollums' life.
Though she graduated from Mohawk High School, McCollums was tutored during her last three years of school.
Her compromised immune system has left her vulnerable to being reinfected with childhood maladies and other common ailments and because of that she avoids crowds. That susceptibility and numerous doctors' appointments, treatments and therapy sessions has made working impossible.
"My family and friends help keep up my spirits," said McCollums, whose nickname is Bert. She credits her boyfriend, James Micco of Bessemer, Pa., with "sticking by me."
McCollums also has companionship from Foxy, an 11-year-old Pomeranian, and cats Sheeba and six-toed Lucky and is fostering kittens who lost their mother. But McCollums is grieving over the recent death of her 14-year-old Pomeranian, JoJo Dancer. "It was too soon," she said.
FinancesMcCollums, who turned 35 in February, is covered by Supplemental Security Income, a federal income supplement program. The program helps people with disabilities who have little or no income and provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter. But not all her medical-related expenses fall under that umbrella.
Though the family has managed through the years, finances have become more strained. Her mother works part time as a secretary at an area company.
Fund-raiser details
The financial hardship has prompted Tammy McCollums to plan a fund-raiser. A pasta dinner is scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at Struthers Presbyterian Church, 100 Poland Ave., Struthers.
The cost is $7 for adults and $4 for children under 12; there will be takeout available. There also will be a 50-50 drawing and Chinese auction.
Tammy McCollums, who is a Girl Scout leader, said she is getting help with the fund-raiser from Cadette and Junior Girl Scouts from Service Unit 621 of the Boardman-Poland area. Assisting are family and friends and Tammy McCollums' fellow parishioners at the Struthers church.
Among auction items will be a cross-stitch piece of the Last Supper by Roberta McCollums, who has won ribbons at the Canfield and Lawrence County fairs.
When she first became ill and needed something to occupy time, McCollums learned to cross-stitch from an aunt, Ruth Bohn of Struthers. She's been hooked on the hobby ever since. Her pieces are usually 16 inches by 20 inches, and other subjects have been a woodland Santa Claus, horse, Indian and baby angel.
"I usually make them as Christmas presents for my family," McCollums said.
She also makes plastic-canvas crafts including gingerbread houses, Santas and leprechauns.
Artist Ray Simon of Youngstown has donated 10 pieces of artwork to be auctioned.
Donations also are being accepted at branches of Sky Bank, where the account is under Roberta McCollums' name and trustees are her sister and mother. For tickets or information, call Tammy McCollums at (330) 757-7589 or (330) 727-8974.