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Photo courtesy of Liz Porter
"Let Me Just Be Happy" - Pam Krick
A warm smile and a friendly personality are the first things someone would notice about Pam Krick. But what most would not know, is that Pam is a 16 year, stage 3C ovarian cancer survivor who's faith and family helped her fight the battle to remission.
Pam is a life long resident of Portsmouth, Ohio where she lives with her husband of 32 years, Tony. Prior to her diagnosis in November of 1995, Pam says she experienced symptoms for a year. "I had a lower back ache and I asked my OB/GYN if I had ovarian cancer. He said if I did, it would be late stage if I was in that much pain. I could hardly get my legs into the car when I was driving. I would bend over and move around to try and make my back and legs feel better. It was mostly in the morning, I could feel the pressure because it was connected to my colon too. The pain was in my back and sides."
"I remember on Halloween I was taking the kids trick-or-treating and as I walked down the street, it was like I was walking in a dream. I felt something was wrong. I was watching my children and it was so beautiful but I just felt so eerie. Call it women's intuition...I knew something was wrong." On November 10, 1995 Pam had surgery and her feelings were confirmed, she was told she had ovarian cancer. She said she already knew that the masses were large because she underwent several tests including a CAT scan, vaginal ultrasound and many other procedures she wasn't prepped for or told she would receive ahead of time.
Although her diagnosis was not easy to handle, Pam knew her faith in God and the support of her family would get her through her surgery and the ensuing treatment. "I could not have done it without God. I'm a very religious person. My husband was also wonderful, he went to every treatment and every appointment. He's my number one supporter, he's wonderful.
Support also came from her children who were very young at the time. Each gave her an extra boost of confidence. Pam shared one such story that occurred shortly after she finished her treatment with us the day of her interview. "When I first got better, I wanted to go to a birthday party with Andrew (her son). It was in August at a park and it was really hot so my friend told me to 'loose the rug'. My hair was really short and I looked like GI Jane. I always wear big, feminine earrings. While we were there, a little boy came up to me and asked if I was a man or a woman. Andrew heard him and came over to the little boy and said, 'This is my mother and she's a woman. She's been very sick and now she's well, she had cancer.' Then he leaned over and kissed me and said we could leave now if I wanted to go. That was one of my happiest things." Although her son was only eight years old at the time, he understood what his mother had been through and was there to support her.
Since her diagnosis Pam says she has tried to live each day to the fullest and to love life. She also shared with us how the power of prayer has helped her since her treatments ended. "Someone told me I had a 12% chance of survival after my third round of chemo. We cannot look at that now, no one has a guarantee in life. Lets live life one day at a time. I asked the Lord to take the stress and worry away from me - I prayed for that and so did my husband. Let me just be happy...and God gave me just that."
Though Pam is in remission, she still suffers some of the side effects of her treatment, such as neuropathy, numbness in her hands and feet, lead boot syndrome and a hearing loss. She says it is a small price to pay for being well again. In her free time she enjoys riding her bike, swimming and spending time with her children, Curtis, Allison and Andrew as well as her 3 grandchildren. She also enjoys vacationing in Myrtle Beach, SC with her husband.
When asked what one important thing she wanted other women to know about ovarian cancer, she focused on the fact that ovarian cancer is ageless and women should not ignore their body. Every woman should know her body! "Continue complaining if you are having symptoms, if the doctor doesn't listen, then go to another one. Don't think you are a hypochondriac, you know when something is wrong with your body." Pam also stressed the importance of seeing a gynecological oncologist, since a regular OB/GYN is not trained to stage ovarian cancer, "you want someone who does this every day, who does the surgery all the time and has done it for 40 years."
When asked what advice she would give to the newly diagnosed, Pam went back to her faith and the comfort it gave her and said, "Take your treatment and look up to God, know that you can make it."
-Amanda Miller
OCNA Conference 2011
The OCAO will be traveling to Washington DC to participate in the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance's (OCNA) annual conference. The conference is being held July 9th - July 12th under a theme of "Turning Promise into Action".
Participants have an opportunity to meet the doctors conducting the latest in ovarian cancer research and hear what they have to say. They get to connect with women in their local ovarian cancer community as well as those across the United States and they can receive help and support from other ovarian cancer survivors.
Those staying through the 12th of July also receive an opportunity to meet directly with legislators from Ohio in our nation's capital and tell their stories. They can share the importance of research not only for new treatments but also diagnostic tests so that funding for federal ovarian cancer research programs continues.
This year the OCAO is granting scholarships to our survivors to attend this conference. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please contact Chris Gillespie at cgillespie@ocao.org or 614-226-8064 for details.
One of our goals with The Teal Report is to provide up to date, interesting and accurate information with regard to the latest in ovarian cancer research, treatment and general interest stories. We try to keep our eye out for stories that will interest and help you. The OCAO website features such stories on our Cancer in the News page.
If you come across a story that you feel would be beneficial, please contact Asst. Marketing Chair, Amanda Miller at amiller@ocao.org.
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  Check the Events Page and the OCAO Calendar for up to date information on events and meetings.
The calendar is updated regularly.
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Caesar Shrimp Pasta
Assistant Marketing Chair, Amanda Miller, has found a fast, easy and tasty meal that might just tempt your taste buds after a long day at work. And for those of you with little ones, she is confident even the pickiest eaters will enjoy this dish!
Ingredients:
- 3 cups or one box of uncooked bow tie pasta
- 3 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails off
- 2 tbsp. plus 1/2 cup reduced-fat creamy Caesar dressing, divided
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan or romano cheese
Directions: In a large saucepan or stockpot, cook pasta according to package instructions, adding the broccoli during the last 4 minutes of cooking.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook shrimp in 2 tbsp. of dressing over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until heated through.
Drain pasta mixture and transfer to a large bowl. Add the shrimp, cheese and remaining dressing (you may add more than 1/2 a cup for a creamier texture) toss to coat and serve immediately.
Prep / Total Time: 20 minutes, makes 4 servings. From Taste of Home: Simple & Delicious March 2011
- Amanda Miller
Letter from the PresidentAfter a hard winter and a very wet April, it looks as if spring may have finally arrived in Ohio. I am finally hearing birds outside of my window in the morning and it is actually light out when I crack my eyes open with the sound of my alarm. Thank goodness!!
The OCAO is ready to welcome the warmer weather and use it as an opportunity to raise awareness, educate the public and find new ways to support our survivors through various events and activities. That goal was kick-started in April with our 2nd annual gala. The event was a fantastic success. With the help of WCMH's Monica Day, the Arnett Howard Band and our sponsors, American Electric Power, Saks Fifth Avenue, OSU Gynecological Oncology and Cardinal Solutions Group, we were able to raise over $27,000! That is 3 times what we raised last year and I think it was due in no small part to the hard work of Gala Event Chair, Kerri Steininger, Live & Silent Auction Chair, Amanda Miller and their fabulous Gala Planning committee. They did a great job!
Events like the gala allow us to further our mission by raising awareness and educating the public as well as raising the funds that support our cause all year long. We are currently working with the very supportive medical teams at OSU, Mt. Carmel, OhioHealth to establish programs such as Survivors Teaching Students and OCAO Big Sisters. We are also going to be sending survivors to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance's national conference this July.
We dates established for two of our major summer awareness events. Teal Awareness Night at Huntington Park will be August 7th. Mark your calendars and let us "take you out to the ball game"! And the date of this year's Strides for Hope 5K will be September 11th. We are very excited about this because we will be moving downtown to Genoa Park. Your continuous support has not only allowed us to raise a lot of awareness, it has also helped us outgrow our previous venue!
This is just a few of the things we have coming. Stay tuned and we promise much more!!
- Chris Gillespie
Book Reviews are Back!
One of my favorite things to do when I have a few minutes to myself is to read. Sometimes the best therapy I can think of is to get lost in a very good story. Generally my tastes revolve around mysteries and thrillers although I confess I am a huge Harry Potter fan and Twilight was a serious guilty pleasure for me.
A few years ago several of my friends and I got together and formed a book club. We were looking for a way to spend time together but to also satisfy our hobbies of reading and cooking. Several of us had been part of previous book clubs and had not had great experiences so we came up with our own set of rules. The first rule of book club is 'Thou must have fun"! The second rule of book club is "Thou must not read the book if thou does not have time and yet still wants to attend said book club".
The only other rules we operate under are the get together is a potluck so you have to bring a dish or a beverage...dessert and wine are highly encouraged!
This club has given me a very special opportunity to spend time with dear friends, experiment with new recipes and read some books that I might otherwise not have tried. This month's book review is one such example. We are going to continue to review books for you, but we would also like to encourage you to submit your own book reviews if there is one you would like to share. Please send your reviews to Amanda Miller at amiller@ocao.org.
We would are also interested in finding out if any survivors would like to start their own book club as an opportunity to meet other survivors, read some great books and enjoy an evening out. If that idea is of interest to you, please contact Chris Gillespie at cgillespie@ocao.org.
" The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
Fans of "Fried Green Tomatoes" and "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt" will find an instant favorite in "The Help".
Miss Eugenia Phelan, better known as "Skeeter" to her friends is a young woman of privilege in 1960's Mississippi. She does just what is expected of her. She goes to Junior League meetings, hosts teas and luncheons and respects her parents. She graduated from Ole Miss but it is 1962 and her mother is not going to rest until she meets a respectable young southern man and settles down to raise a family.
Unfortunately the strict southern values she was raised with don't always sit well with Skeeter. She wants something more than what her mother dreams for her.
Minny, Miss Celia, Abileen and Yule May are all black maids employed by Skeeter's family and those of her friends. They have spent a lifetime cooking, cleaning and taking care of their respective employer's family. They keep their heads down and their eyes open. If anyone knows every secret in town, it is these women.
When the Junior League launches a push to create separate bathrooms for the local domestic help, Skeeter has had enough. She approaches a New York book editor with an idea...she wants to turn a series of interviews with the black women who are charged with taking care of white families throughout town...she wants to interview "the help".
Even if the stories are published anonymously, each woman who participates is taking a great risk. But many of the maids decide to join the project. Before long Skeeter is holding clandestine meetings with everyone to capture their stories for publication even though she is endangering her live and those of the women being interviewed. She is crossing racial lines that the times are against and the rules don't necessarily allow. But sometimes...rules are made that have to be broken...
- Chris Gillespie
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