Grateful patient organized event to raise money for the York Cancer Patient Help Fund
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| Dawn Jeter, a cancer survivor, left, organized a 5K race to raise money for the York Cancer Patient Help Fund. She recently presented a check for $311 to Susan Bowman, nurse navigator at the York Cancer Center, right. Her motivation was to return the help that was offered to her in such an emotional time. |
Dawn Jeter is a cancer survivor who recently organized a 5K run and raised $311 for the York Cancer Patient Help Fund.
What motivated her to do so? This is her story, in her words:
“In May 2011, I was diagnosed with two primary cancers, one rare and one aggressive. When I went in for a routine appointment to review my results, it turned out to be not routine at all. There was the ‘look’ from the doctor as he reached for my knee and told me those three words…’You have cancer.’
“The feelings were not unlike those feelings that many others diagnosed probably go through… the voices seem to fade into the background, the room begins to turn gray, my legs felt weak, and the floor fell out from under me.
“I only remember looking into his eyes and asking him if I was going to die. I had two children, ages one and three, so dying was not an option.
“As I proceeded into further testing, a financial counselor came to see me because like many other young people, I did not carry health coverage for myself. My employer did not offer it, and after all, I was healthy; I was immortal in my mind.
“The financial counselor told me about the York Cancer Patient Help Fund. I had begun to worry about how I was going to pay my bills. My husband was unemployed and going to school. As the questions came out of my mouth like babble, the counselor told me that I should contact the center.
“I remember going back to work because, after all, I was not sick. It was a few weeks later as surgeries loomed overhead, many weeks of recovery to come and the possibility of radiation or chemotherapy that I broke down and called.
Is this for real?
“As I sat in the office of the York Cancer Center, a woman looked at me and told me I was going to be okay. She explained that there was a fund to get me through the toughest of times. She told me to work on getting better and that she and the center would work on paying my bills.
“I remember looking at her, and thinking ‘Is this for real?’ Can someone actually be telling me she will give me something for nothing? She told me if I ever could not bring the bills to her myself that my husband could bring them. They would pay the bills so that I could focus on getting better.
“It was at that moment that I knew I would survive. I vowed to spend as much time as I could returning the help that was offered to me in such an emotional time.
“About a year after my radical surgery and recovery, I decided to organize a 5K run to benefit the York Cancer Patient Help Fund. I partnered with my gym so we could host the race there.
“I advertised and organized the run, and asked many local businesses to help. The Home Depot in Shrewsbury, Brown’s Orchard and Gold’s Gym were the biggest sponsors of the race.
“We didn’t have a huge turnout but next year will be even bigger. I had friends, family and strangers alike running and walking for this cause.
“Our slogan was being fearLESS of cancer. Because when essentials are being taken care of while patients are fighting for their lives, everyone can fear a little less of cancer.”