Hope Within Their Grasp

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By D’ANN LAWRENCE WHITE The Tampa Tribune

Published: Sep 29, 2007

Women’s Oncology Weekend, sponsored in part by Dr. Sarah Hoffe

BRANDON - Everyone calls them “the Carries.”

Because the two Citrus Park women are inseparable, it’s simply easier to make their shared name plural than try to remember their last names.

It’s been that way ever since nurses at a cancer treatment center accidentally mixed up their chemotherapy drugs two years ago, said Carrie Jane Almodovar.

“That’s how we met,” Carrie Fitzpatrick said. “After that incident, we both started talking about our breast cancer, sharing our stories. Then, all of a sudden, we were best friends.”

“We had treatment together for a year, and we were the ones who showed all of the newcomers the ropes,” Almodovar said. “We helped the new girls along - told them all the things that the doctors don’t necessarily tell you about the treatments, like the sores in the mouth and the random nose bleeding.”

The Carries were continuing to show women the ropes at the 2007 Women’s Cancer Retreat Sept. 7-9 at Rotary’s Camp Florida in Brandon, hosted by the Faces of Courage Foundation. The Tampa-based nonprofit uses donations to provide support for families touched by cancer.

The event unites women who have had cancer, enabling them to celebrate their survival, share experiences and enjoy some pampering at no charge.

In past years, about 80 campers have participated. This year, founder Peggie Sherry received 119 applications within 24 hours. She had to cap the number at 100.

“There is such a huge need,” said Sherry, a breast cancer survivor who started the nonprofit foundation in 2004. “We could hold one of these retreats every weekend if we had the funding.”

Marie Chance of Apollo Beach counted herself fortunate to be one of the first 100 women to respond. This was her third time at the camp.

“I just enjoy the companionship and getting to meet all the other ladies,” she said. “And, of course, I like the fun activities and eating.”

The retreat features many of the traditional activities people would expect to find in a camp environment: canoeing, arts and crafts, bonfires and swimming.

It’s the nontraditional extras that make the retreat unique, Sherry said.

Campers are treated to facials, massages, makeovers, psychic and tarot card readings, yoga, tai chi and a pajama party featuring a room filled with bubble wrap that the women are invited to dance on and pop with their feet.

Sherry’s husband, Glenwood Sherry, an artist, TV host and regular contributor to WFLA Channel 8’s Daytime program, gave the women a wealth of art projects, and speakers presented valuable health information.

The retreat also featured a peek at the Faces of Courage “Unveiling Breast Cancer” exhibit, on display at Artistic Solutions,

.

The exhibit features 18 portraits of breast cancer survivors photographed by St. Petersburg photographers Bruce M. Evenson and Carol Walker, including a photo of Fitzpatrick with her daughter after her breast cancer surgery.

Fitzpatrick was breastfeeding her child when she noticed a lump in her breast. She was divorced soon after she learned she had cancer and began chemotherapy. She had just moved to Tampa and had not had a chance to make many friends, so she said meeting Almodovar was like finding a long-lost sister.

“She changed my whole outlook on life,” Fitzpatrick said, “the way I view everything.”

Almodovar, a newlywed when she discovered she had cancer, said she came to depend on Fitzpatrick, as well. They stayed up late at night consoling each other on the phone as they hit every bump in the road, such as when Fitzpatrick found out she also had ovarian cancer and had to have a hysterectomy. And Fitzpatrick was there through all 10 of Almodovar’s surgeries and four breast reconstructions.

“She’s my ride, my rock,” Almodovar said. “We find strength in each other. And we’re never down at the same time.”

Sherry said she got the idea for the portrait exhibit after speaking to a number of groups and hearing women tell her they had breast cancer in a whisper, as if they were ashamed.

“I decided that I was going to unveil breast cancer,” said Sherry, a two-time survivor who had her portrait taken with her husband, showing her reconstructed breast.

In her 80s, Evora Pimento’s only request to the photographer was to be surrounded by flowers.

“I’m not ashamed of my body. I think I’m beautiful,” said Pimento, who added that she is relishing every moment of life. “I didn’t know cancer could be so much fun.”

When she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, Toni Dana remembers feeling that her life was over. But after meeting Sherry, attending the retreats and becoming a foundation volunteer, she said she has found a new lease on life.

“If it wasn’t for this camp, I wouldn’t have made all these friends,” she said. “When they come to this camp, all these women are dealing with cancer, so they don’t need to hide their scars or worry about putting on wigs. The laughter and the joy we share are healing. There are tears, too, but they’re tears of healing.”

WHO THEY ARE

Faces of Courage, a Tampa-based nonprofit organization, provides free programs, day outings, overnight camps, picnics and end-of-chemo parties for children and families affected by cancer. For information, e-mail Peggie Sherry at psherry@facesofcourage.org, call (813) 877-CAMP or go to facesofcourage.org.

Hope Within Their Grasp

Skip directly to the full story.

By D’ANN LAWRENCE WHITE The Tampa Tribune

Published: Sep 29, 2007

Women’s Oncology Weekend, sponsored in part by Dr. Sarah Hoffe

BRANDON - Everyone calls them “the Carries.”

Because the two Citrus Park women are inseparable, it’s simply easier to make their shared name plural than try to remember their last names.

It’s been that way ever since nurses at a cancer treatment center accidentally mixed up their chemotherapy drugs two years ago, said Carrie Jane Almodovar.

“That’s how we met,” Carrie Fitzpatrick said. “After that incident, we both started talking about our breast cancer, sharing our stories. Then, all of a sudden, we were best friends.”

“We had treatment together for a year, and we were the ones who showed all of the newcomers the ropes,” Almodovar said. “We helped the new girls along - told them all the things that the doctors don’t necessarily tell you about the treatments, like the sores in the mouth and the random nose bleeding.”

The Carries were continuing to show women the ropes at the 2007 Women’s Cancer Retreat Sept. 7-9 at Rotary’s Camp Florida in Brandon, hosted by the Faces of Courage Foundation. The Tampa-based nonprofit uses donations to provide support for families touched by cancer.

The event unites women who have had cancer, enabling them to celebrate their survival, share experiences and enjoy some pampering at no charge.

In past years, about 80 campers have participated. This year, founder Peggie Sherry received 119 applications within 24 hours. She had to cap the number at 100.

“There is such a huge need,” said Sherry, a breast cancer survivor who started the nonprofit foundation in 2004. “We could hold one of these retreats every weekend if we had the funding.”

Marie Chance of Apollo Beach counted herself fortunate to be one of the first 100 women to respond. This was her third time at the camp.

“I just enjoy the companionship and getting to meet all the other ladies,” she said. “And, of course, I like the fun activities and eating.”

The retreat features many of the traditional activities people would expect to find in a camp environment: canoeing, arts and crafts, bonfires and swimming.

It’s the nontraditional extras that make the retreat unique, Sherry said.

Campers are treated to facials, massages, makeovers, psychic and tarot card readings, yoga, tai chi and a pajama party featuring a room filled with bubble wrap that the women are invited to dance on and pop with their feet.

Sherry’s husband, Glenwood Sherry, an artist, TV host and regular contributor to WFLA Channel 8’s Daytime program, gave the women a wealth of art projects, and speakers presented valuable health information.

The retreat also featured a peek at the Faces of Courage “Unveiling Breast Cancer” exhibit, on display at Artistic Solutions,

.

The exhibit features 18 portraits of breast cancer survivors photographed by St. Petersburg photographers Bruce M. Evenson and Carol Walker, including a photo of Fitzpatrick with her daughter after her breast cancer surgery.

Fitzpatrick was breastfeeding her child when she noticed a lump in her breast. She was divorced soon after she learned she had cancer and began chemotherapy. She had just moved to Tampa and had not had a chance to make many friends, so she said meeting Almodovar was like finding a long-lost sister.

“She changed my whole outlook on life,” Fitzpatrick said, “the way I view everything.”

Almodovar, a newlywed when she discovered she had cancer, said she came to depend on Fitzpatrick, as well. They stayed up late at night consoling each other on the phone as they hit every bump in the road, such as when Fitzpatrick found out she also had ovarian cancer and had to have a hysterectomy. And Fitzpatrick was there through all 10 of Almodovar’s surgeries and four breast reconstructions.

“She’s my ride, my rock,” Almodovar said. “We find strength in each other. And we’re never down at the same time.”

Sherry said she got the idea for the portrait exhibit after speaking to a number of groups and hearing women tell her they had breast cancer in a whisper, as if they were ashamed.

“I decided that I was going to unveil breast cancer,” said Sherry, a two-time survivor who had her portrait taken with her husband, showing her reconstructed breast.

In her 80s, Evora Pimento’s only request to the photographer was to be surrounded by flowers.

“I’m not ashamed of my body. I think I’m beautiful,” said Pimento, who added that she is relishing every moment of life. “I didn’t know cancer could be so much fun.”

When she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, Toni Dana remembers feeling that her life was over. But after meeting Sherry, attending the retreats and becoming a foundation volunteer, she said she has found a new lease on life.

“If it wasn’t for this camp, I wouldn’t have made all these friends,” she said. “When they come to this camp, all these women are dealing with cancer, so they don’t need to hide their scars or worry about putting on wigs. The laughter and the joy we share are healing. There are tears, too, but they’re tears of healing.”

WHO THEY ARE

Faces of Courage, a Tampa-based nonprofit organization, provides free programs, day outings, overnight camps, picnics and end-of-chemo parties for children and families affected by cancer. For information, e-mail Peggie Sherry at psherry@facesofcourage.org, call (813) 877-CAMP or go to facesofcourage.org.