Relay for Life

This article was written in June 2009:

Think of five people you know.
Now consider the statistic that two out of five people will develop some form of cancer in his/her lifetime. In fact, cancer is the leading cause of premature death in Canada.

Last summer, Maisie Spero, 71, of St. Catharine’s became a statistic.

She wasn‘t feeling like herself, and her children convinced her to see a doctor. After rounds of tests she was told she had carcinoid cancer .

Carcinoid cancer usually originates in the hormone-producing cells that line the small intestine or other cells of the digestive tract. It can also emerge in the lungs, pancreas, testes or ovaries. Symptoms almost always appear quickly and treatment tends to be successful.

However, when the tumours begin in the digestive tract or pancreas the substances produced are released into a blood vessel flowing directly to the liver where enzymes destroy them. Symptoms generally do not appear until the tumours have spread to the liver and because symptoms don’t show, the cancer may not be detected immediately.

This is the case with Spero.

Although there is a history of cancer in her family, Spero was still “shocked” when the doctor told her that she had carcinoid cancer in her liver. But she did not give up hope.

“It really hasn’t bothered me. I’ve got positive feelings about it. Positivity gets you through it,” she says.
Having a strong support system helps too, she says. Her husband, Gerald, drives her to all her treatments and she has five children, twelve grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren to keep her motivated.

“Support and positive thinking is what helps me deal with the cancer,” she says.

Spero’s positive outlook is shared by her family.

“I was crying right away(when I found out). It sucked,” says Spero’s daughter, Trisha Keniry. “But then I became strong and thought she’s going to get through it. She’s going to die of old age before cancer is going to get her.”

Keniry, 39, of St. Catharines, believes support is the key to remaining positive.

“Stick together as a family. Family support will get you through anything,” she says.

Spero was the inspiration for her family’s participation in the 2009 Relay for Life organized by the Canadian Cancer Society. The event was held at Brock University on June 19 and it’s the main annual fundraiser for the CCS.

Teams collected pledges and participated in a 12 hour relay from 7pm to 7am. One member from each team had to be on the track at all times. Team members chose a name and decorated their campsite to show their support.

Melissa Gomm, of Welland, is Spero’s granddaughter and was the team captain for the relay.

The family named the team Maisie’s Mobsters in honour of Spero and Gomm said it was “a great experience” and that she is “definitely looking forward to (doing it again) next year”

The first lap of the relay was completed by cancer survivors who wore bright yellow shirts and blue ribbons with “I’m a survivor” on them. Gomm says she was overwhelmed as she watched.

“I was almost full-blown bawling my eyes out. It actually caught me by surprise. Very, very, very emotional,” she says.

Maisie’s daughter, Sheila Spero, of Niagara Falls, felt the same way.

“The survivors walk was pretty emotional,” she says. “Just seeing all these people that are battling cancer. And when I saw the children, that’s when it got me. The hardest part was seeing the kids. Little kids. Very emotional.”

Maisie was “thrilled and proud” when she found out her family was going to participate in the relay.
“I really thought it was super great…that my family was sticking with me.”

She says the luminary celebration was hard for her.

“Seeing the candles with (the names of) my sister, my mom and my sister-in-law [two of which have lost their battle with cancer within the past six months] and thinking that they were gone was hard.”

Luminaries in honor of those surviving cancer, and in memory of those who have passed away surrounded the track. A moment of silent remembrance was held at dusk as teams lit the candles.

The event had free activities all night to motivate participants and keep them going and provided meals and drinks as well.

About $360,000 was raised for the Canadian Cancer Society, and the money will be used for such things as creating campaigns to increase awareness about reducing the risks of cancer and providing support services for those dealing with it.

Spero undergoes her fourth, and last radiation treatment in early July and she says she’s been lucky.
“The treatments really haven’t bothered me at all. I haven’t had a reaction to them.”

She says she’ll “get the lowdown after my last treatment and find out if the cancer is gone” but she has no doubts. “I’m positive it’s going to work. I know they are going to find a cure for cancer. That’s what my feelings are. Think positive.”