Local cancer survivors and their caregivers will take the celebratory first lap at the annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life on Friday at 7 p.m. at Pensacola State College, Milton Campus. Anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer may participate. Organizers have also invited participants to a reception at the Pensacola State College Gym, prior to the walk, starting at 5 p.m. with registration at 4:30 p.m. The 2015 Honorary Chairs are Mary Stewart Fortune and Sandy Wyatt. Register by calling 266-2290 or visit www.relayforlife.org/miltonfacefl.
Four million people participated in more than 6,000 events worldwide last year. The money raised supports groundbreaking cancer research, education and prevention programs, and critical services for people facing cancer. The five-year survival rate for all cancers has risen to 68 percent, and there are an estimated 14 million Americans alive today who have been diagnosed with the disease.
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of nearly three million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society’s efforts have contributed to a 22 percent decline in cancer death rates in the US during the past two decades, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. Thanks in part to ACS’s progress nearly 14.5 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year.
Survivors
Mary Stewart Fortune
This June, Terry Fortune and his wife Mary Stewart Fortune will celebrate their 26-year anniversary. The number may not seem significant, but it will be the first anniversary they celebrate since Mary Stewart’s diagnosis of brain cancer, specifically stage four glioblastoma. One of the driving forces behind Benny Russell Park, Mary Stewart is also one of this year’s honorary chairs for Relay For Life and will walk in the victory lap for survivors Friday at Pensacola State College, Milton Campus.
August of last year, Terry said his wife complained of a an unrelenting headache. After three weeks, he said they went to the doctor who tried to treat it as a migraine at first. When the MRI uncovered the mass, he said they were given three possibilities: infection, multiple sclerosis, or cancer. “We had an absolutely wonderful neurosurgeon, Amber Gordn (Baptist Health Group). She spent a lot of time with us first visit, 30 to 40 minutes.” Terry said Gordon reassured them saying even if it’s the worst case scenario, she has a good friend with the same thing who’s doing well 15 years later. “There are some good treatments out there. It’s not the end of the world.”
The next step, Terry said, was meeting with a neurooncologist. He said they asked where he wanted to go and he chose MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Terry said experts there treated his father’s non-Hodgkin's lymphoma 12 years ago and his niece’s melanoma three to four years ago.
The Fortunes spent a day in Houston where Mary Stewart underwent a surgery resulting in removal of 90 percent of the mass. Terry said 10 percent was too close to vital areas so the rest had to be treated with chemotherapy and radiation. They stayed in Houston 70 days, Terry said, and Mary Stewart went through five weeks of chemo before going home in November. Now she’s on a chemo cycle of five days on an oral pill with 28 days off.
Terry said the support from friends and family has been unbelieveable. “Friends, a lot of them came out of the woodwork.” The Fortunes have three children, a 17-year-old, 13-year-old, and an 8-year-old. Terry said the children all took the news well. “It’s a testament to our faith,” he said. “Our pediatrician is Doctor Teresa Mahaffey in Pace. I immediately called her and said, ‘I’ve got to have you take care of the kids and let them know what’s going on because I could talk to them and couldn’t explain questions. Immediately, one of the close friends gathered up the kids as soon as school was over and Dr. Mahaffey met them at the house and explained everything. They’ve been very informed from day one. Friends like that really helped. They took care of them while we were out in Houston.” He said their children also visited Houston on a few occasions seeing Terry’s brother who lives in the area as well.
Mary Stewart is doing well now, Terry said. “I think if somebody were to see her and didn't know they'd say she's getting over the flu or didn't feel good.” However, the doctors will not give a prognosis until 12 months have passed. “She is able to get out and about. To have a small tangerine removed from your brain and still have all your motor skills, no loss of speech or thinking, is just miraculous.”
This year, Mary Stewart is one of the 2015 Honorary Chairs of Relay for Life. Terry said, “It’s a neat honor. There’s going to be a lot of people going through this. It’s more common than we thought. If one person gains a benefit from her story then that would be great.”
Terry said his wife has been active in the community. “She was one of two ladies who spearheaded, with blood, sweat, and tears, Benny Russell Park in Pace in 2001. There was no playground locally in Pace so they decided there needed to be one for the kids. The two of them went to work and it turned into an unbelievable project. They raised over $220,000 from various businesses and individuals and friends of Benny Russell.”
To anyone reading, Terry said, “Cherish every day and relationships because it can all be turned upside down in the blink of an eye.”
Sandy Wyatt
The Pace Chamber of Commerce named Sandy Wyatt 2014’s Man of the Year. This year, Wyatt will receive another distinction with Relay For Life naming him 2015 Honorary Chair alongside Mary Stewart Fortune. The consummate businessman and founder of the Chumuckla Farmer’s Opry House (now Living Truth Church) has lived a year with prostate cancer bone metastases.
Born and raised in Jay, Wyatt said he’s lived in Santa Rosa County all his life. He’s been in business 40 years, 28 of those with Southland Builders. Wyatt said the business he was most proud to build was the Farmer’s Opry House in Chumuckla, which he had to close in 2012 due to work overload. “The family decided it was more than we could do anymore. We worked out a deal with Living Truth Church and it’s there now.”
Wyatt said not long after the church took over the opry house he started having some pain issues. After several doctors visits and tests he received the diagnosis of prostate cancer April 2 of last year. “Like everybody else, I was going to live forever. I had no idea I was 61 years old. I was fixing to open another restaurant and…when the man tells you that, your world shuts down. Your mind changes. You turn towards family. You don't know at that time…how long you’re going to live. You turn to Jesus, the real healing qualities of Jesus Christ.” Wyatt said he’s shared his testimony at several churches. “Maybe that’s why he gave me this little grace period here.”
For his treatment, Wyatt said, “The most important thing I did was get a second opinion. Locally, I was diagnosed and put on standardized treatment but when I got to MD Anderson to get a second opinion, they did the same tests with same results, except MD has access to new drugs.” Wyatt said he started on a clinical trial with a drug tentatively named Excel 184. Wyatt said his May 5 scan showed 15 to 18 tumors in his skeleton. “Last week, April 16, I was out there and a new scan showed none.”
Wyatt said he credits organizations like Relay For Life “because they work tirelessly and raise funds. I am a direct recipient of cancer research. It wound up in my lap and I get to share it.” The Farmer’s Opry House gave support to Relay over the years. However, Wyatt said his selection as honorary chairman came as a surprise and would be honored to share his story. “It humbles me because they're one of the big reasons I'm here.” Wyatt’s drug treatment is the direct result of the cancer research Relay For Life supports.
To anyone going through a tough diagnosis, Wyatt said, “I've been there. I understand it. It's difficult. But first, slow down. Get a second opinion at all costs and talk to Jesus."
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: 2015 Relay For Life Friday