Typically as the new year rolls in, it’s my tradition to reflect on my life and decide how to execute and implement changes to successfully meet goals that will allow me to be the best version of myself.  Sadly and unfortunately in January 2024, I wasn’t able to think at all about the future to that extent but rather have been forced to deal with and live solely in the present.  On 1/4/24, after experiencing an alarming illness onset that landed me in Sibley Hospital in Washington, DC for a week, I received devastating shocking news that I have one of the most dreaded, insidious, and evasive diseases, pancreatic cancer.  Hearing those words at the age of 67 (only days shy of my 68th birthday) was quite numbing and scary, making me realize this may very well be the end of my life.  

After my hospital discharge and at the suggestion of the Sibley Oncology doctor who assured me his referral to the Duke Health Cancer Center team located in Durham, NC who could administer and  follow my care were as good if not better than his own team, I decided to return to Raleigh, North Carolina to begin my cancer treatment.  I started my first chemo therapy session on 2/8/24.  The outpouring of genuine love, kindness, support, compassion, empathy, encouragement, and most importantly prayers I received from all of the attending medical staff at Sibley and Duke Health as well as my amazing and appreciated friends and family, has given me the hope, optimism, strength, and fortitude to endure the fear, pain, and uncertainty of this long hard battle I’m enduring.  I want to wholeheartedly thank each of you for all you’ve done for me.  I am so blessed to have such valuable people like you in my life!!

Prior to my diagnosis, I knew nothing about pancreatic cancer.  However, as I dug deeper in research to understand the disease and it’s complexities, I’ve learned that it is the third leading cause of cancer death and also affects African Americans the most. Statistics I was totally unaware of because it’s a cancer disease that is rarely talked about.  Pancreatic cancer has a very small survival rate due to the difficulty in being able to detect the disease at an early stage coupled with finding successful treatment therapies, which is most challenging, because of the way the tumor cells change and evade the body’s immune system.  With those obstacles, more funding is needed for early intervention and to change the future outcome of survival.  Therefore, I am asking each of you to please support me in my cancer journey, as well as others affected by this terrible disease, by participating in and donating to my registered team, Carolyn’s Courageous Big Battle (CCBB), for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PANCAN) Purple Stride Fund Drive that will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Raleigh, NC and across the country.  Walks are being held in many cities so you can participate in any that may be convenient to where you live.  Unfortunately, my medical schedule will not allow me to participate in the Raleigh-Durham walk because I will be traveling to Johns Hopkins Hospital for more extensive targeted testing and consultation with my surgeon.  Wish me well that this option remains a possibility and will become a reality!

Walk locations links for Washington, DC, Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina are:

Washington, DC - https://secure.pancan.org/site/TR/PurpleStride/PurpleStride?fr_id=2762&pg=entry

Hampton Roads, Virginia - https://secure.pancan.org/site/TR/PurpleStride/PurpleStride?fr_id=2796&pg=entry

Maryland - https://secure.pancan.org/site/TR/PurpleStride/PurpleStride?fr_id=2806&pg=entry

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina - https://secure.pancan.org/site/TR/PurpleStride/PurpleStride?fr_id=2819&pg=entry

NOTE:  Even if you will not be participating in the walk, you STILL must “Register” AND “Donate” $50 in order to receive an official PanCAN PurpleStride 2024 T-shirt!

Please share this information with your acquaintances, friends, family, co-workers, and community/civic organizations.

TOGETHER WE CAN BEAT CANCER!!!