January 2007 Newsletter
Hello Everyone & Welcome to our January 2007 Newsletter
Whenever anyone has asked us how we became the National leader in the
battle against colon cancer in just two years we have always replied
that whenever we opened a door we were truly blessed as to who would
walk through it. That reply was never more truthful than when Erin
Stennis and I met a short time ago. Her story was so compelling and her
passion so inspiring that I knew we would someday join forces and fight
this disease together. Well that day has come and we have never been
more honored and excited to announce and introduce Erin as the President
of the Susan Cohan Colon Cancer Foundation Los Angeles Affiliate. In
addition to working together on the west coast, Erin will join us as an
Executive member of our Board of Directors and work closely with us on a
National basis. As you read her story you will understand our
excitement.
Erin's story:
'I remember so clearly that day in 1995 when my husband Michael told me
that he had blood in his stool. We were a married couple in our mid
thirties. We had two young children, Michael Jr., age two and a half and
Pilar, just a few months old. At that time my husband, a former athlete,
was attending daily spinning classes at the local gym. I told him that
he should probably cut back on the classes, that he was straining too
much on the bike. We had no idea that his life and our future were on an
ill- fated course. He went to the doctor who suggested Michael have a
colonoscopy. He was told that it could just be hemorrhoids but that a
colonoscopy would be the safest measure to take. When my extremely macho
husband had the procedure explained to him he told the doctor 'No way!'
He then proceeded to tell the doctor to just treat him for hemorrhoids.
Unbeknownst to me, my husband lived with stomach problems and periodic
blood in his stool until 2001 when he knew that something must be wrong
and it was not just a bad case of hemorrhoids. Still resistant to the
idea of undergoing a colonoscopy, he sucked up the pain until one day in
November of 2001 when I found him hunched over in pain in our bedroom.
It took an intervention with two cherished friends in the medical
profession but my husband finally gave in and consented to undergo the
procedure. Michael Daryl Stennis, my husband, my rock, and the love of
my life was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in November of 2001.
He underwent the initial surgery to remove the cancerous part of his
colon in December and in February of the following year he began
chemotherapy treatments.
It was during this time that my husband and I felt compelled to start
The Stennis Family Foundation to educate the African American community
about colon cancer awareness. During the process of reading everything
we could about the disease we were astonished to see that colon cancer
rates are higher among African American men and women. It is the second
most common cancer in African American men and the third most common
cancer in African American women. We felt that we needed to let as many
people as we could know about this highly preventable form of cancer.
Michael's message was 'Don't do what I did.'
My husband fought a courageous battle. In between chemotherapy
treatments and two more surgeries we visited countless churches
throughout Los Angeles sharing our message. We wanted people to know
their family history. It wasn't until months after Michael's diagnosis
that we learned that there was a history of the disease in his family.
In October of 2003 Michael lost his battle with this potentially deadly
but highly preventable disease called colon cancer.
It has been just over three years since my husbands passing. Michael Jr.
is now a young man of fourteen and Pilar is eleven. It has been rough,
but the three of us have an angel who watches over us daily. The Stennis
Family Foundation has done some significant things to increase awareness
about colon cancer. Most recently Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed
Assembly Bill 819 into law. As a result of the passage of this important
piece of legislation Californians will be able to designate a specified
amount on their tax return go to the California Colorectal Cancer
Prevention Fund. Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas and the Stennis Family
Foundation co-sponsored this bill.
I am pleased to start a new chapter in my life as I join the Susie's
Cause family. Although SFF has accomplished much to date, I have decided
to move forward with Susie's Cause for a number of reasons: I feel that
the programs that this organization supports are so greatly needed. By
reaching out to physicians, high school seniors, and at risk communities
Susie's Cause has shown that they are deeply committed to eradicating
colon cancer. In addition, the progress they have made in a very short
period of time makes me feel certain that this is an organization on the
move. When I traveled to Baltimore to meet with David Cohan and Bobby
Smith I felt that I had connected with kindred spirits who will stop at
nothing to insure that my husband and Susie did not die in vain. It is
my sincere desire to reach as many people in a highly effective manner
so that no more families will be broken apart. By joining forces with
David Cohan, Bobby Smith and everyone at Susie's Cause I know that we
will accomplish this end.
I look forward to being a part of this winning team. Surely Susie and
Michael would have it no other way.'
For those of you that just registered for our newsletter and missed the last few
additions visit the Newsletter Archives section of our website at:
www.coloncancerfoundation.org
More than ever, from coast to coast, we need your help. Please help us
continue our work and visit the Donations Section of our website to help
us reach our goals for 2007, or send your donations to :
Susie's Cause
201 North Charles Street South
Suite 2404
Baltimore, MD 21201
As always, you can reach me at jody@coloncancerfoundation.org
or call (410) 244-1778.
All My Best Regards,
Jody
