MILTON, Del.- Resources, help, and hope are just some of the things patients need when they find out about a cancer diagnosis.
It feels like their whole world crashes down, but assistance is available from healthcare providers like Beebe Healthcare and community partners. Manager of Oncology Psychosocial Services at Beebe Healthcare Rita Williams says that is what the event was all about.
"Survivors, people who have had their diagnosis all the way through," Williams said. "Their caregivers, their friends, their families. It's really a time for us to celebrate all of the journeys that they have been on and our resources, our providers it’s a time to celebrate them."
It is the second year in a row that Hudson Fields has opened its space for The Miracle Mile. Tents were set up for organizations to set up stations where people can speak with experts and Beebe offered free skin cancer screening.
As part of the event, Beebe Healthcare asked people to come drive around or walk the mile track in support of cancer survivors and those who are still fighting. I was able to speak with some people who either had their own battle with cancer or had to support loved ones through their own fight.
Cheryl Graf of Milton is a 30-year survivor of uterine cancer and felt like she had to fight through it on her own.
"I ended up being called into a doctor’s office and just being told out you have cancer," Graf said. "You’re going to have surgery. And it was devastating. I really at that time had nobody I could talk to."
While Beebe Healthcare CEO Dr. David Tam lost his dad two years ago from esophageal cancer.
"It was you know a devastating thing for our entire family to take the time in the hospital to take care of him," Dr. Tam said. "To see someone who was our anchor and now you know we took care of him and it’s a challenge for families."
With Sunday being National Cancer Survivor Day, this was an opportunity to cheer on those that beat their battle and support those that suffer now.
Donations are being accepted to different cancer care funds and organizations. To contribute, visit https://www.beebehealthcare.org/beebe-medical-foundation/donate/donate-today.
