Trinity celebrates cancer survivors with outdoor festivities
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STEUBENVILLE -- Trinity Health System celebrated National Cancer Survivors Day Monday with Hawaiian-themed festivities outside Tony Teramana Cancer Center.
Balloon arches and tents stood in the parking lot outside the cancer center, signaling the holiday, which is typically celebrated on the first Sunday of June.
"A cancer survivor is anyone living with a history of cancer from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life," said Gretchen Heizler, radiation oncology supervisor, in a press release.
Heizler said, "Witnessing many cancer journeys, it is important to celebrate the survivors' fight, their bravery and their strength. Although their cancer treatment may be completed, they are still surviving the journey."
Music filled the outdoors as a DJ played upbeat music for those arriving. In the lot, cancer survivors mingled with employees from Trinity. Many wore Hawaiian lei flower necklaces or sunglasses they received from Trinity.
Trinity contacted current and past patients at the cancer center, inviting them to come to the celebration, said Catherine Poludniak, foundation director and cancer survivor.
One of those past patients was Joyce Summers, a cancer survivor of 20 years. Summers is a member of the breast cancer support group that is run through the cancer center at Trinity.
Summers said she was notified by the center about the celebration. She attended to celebrate survivorship as well as get new members for the support group, which meets the first Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at the cancer center.
With Summers was Paulette Frank, the support group's leader. Frank referred to how tight-knit the community among cancer survivors is, saying, "People need to feel the support of other people."
Among the other attending survivors were sisters Patricia Butler, a 17-year survivor, and Terry Jennings, a 10-year survivor.
Butler belongs to the Women in Action Against Cancer Coalition. She said, "We bring gift packages for patients, we provide tests for all ages," said Butler a member of the Women in Action Against Cancer Coalition. "We're also looking for new members, especially younger ones."
Jennings, who worked with Summer at the Jefferson County Department of Children Services, teaches line dancing on Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. at the Prime Time Center on Lovers Lane.
Barb Steitz, patient navigator at the cancer center, said this is not the first National Cancer Survivors Day celebration at Trinity, but it is the first in its current form.
In previous years, the celebration took the form of a Sunday afternoon dinner with speakers that survivors could bring their families to. Following the coronavirus pandemic, the original celebration was shut down.
This year, Steitz said, the celebration's new form appeared. She said, "It was nice to just get out and get fresh air. We just want it to be a fun event."
Steitz said, "It's very touching (going through a cancer journey) with someone. You learn their deepest fears and go through their deepest struggles. It can be a difficult job (particularly) when we have patients who can't meet their needs like medicine, electrical bills. ... We have to find ways to help them.
"When the patients get the help that they need, and we see them finish their treatment with a smile on their face (is the most rewarding)."
The celebration was a group effort among Poludniak, Heizler, Steitz and Marsha Lewis, executive director of development.
A food truck for the Wood Fired Pizza Co. offered fresh pizzas for visitors. Close by, Trinity's mascot, Trinity Tiger, made an appearance and interacted with attendees.
Inside the cancer center, cookies and smoothies, made with the help of Abbott Nutrition, were provided for survivors to enjoy. Laid-back guitar music provided by Jule Carenbauer greeted those in the center.
Also inside were tables of drawing baskets donated by Trinity staff members. Survivors had an opportunity to win each basket, many of which contained sweets, puzzle books and more.