National Cancer Survivors Day Celebration in Newport a Success

Milkshake the Cow and Deveney Choquette at the Cancer Survivors Day Celebration at Prouty Beach.

Most people remember their senior year in high school as a year of excitement and good times as they prepare to launch from the protective world of youth into the adult world, whether into the work world, the military, or higher education. But for Deveney Choquette, her senior year was the year that she lost her mother, Rachel Choquette, to cancer.

"It was my senior year and it was supposed to be the best year of my life,” Choquette said. Her mother, who was a teacher’s aide in Glover, lost her long battle with breast cancer in 2001, when Deveney, the youngest of four siblings, was only 17 years old.

“I didn’t only lose my mother, I lost my best friend,” she said. “My Mom fought cancer and she didn’t complain, but she lost the fight.”

Several years later Deveney has been able to find solace in her life, but her life is divided into two parts – before her mother died, and after she died. The young woman has found a purpose in her mother’s death to a disease that everybody dreads – cancer. She is a tireless advocate for cancer research.

Dave and Connie Johnson with Dr. Les Lockridge in the spa tent at Cancer Survivors Day.

For the second year in a row, on Sunday, August 5, North Country Hospital took part in National Cancer Survivors Day festivities. North Country is one of more than 700 communities around the world to celebrate this event. It's a day to honor cancer survivors for their strength and courage in the face of adversity. In addition, it is a day to recognize the role that families, friends, and healthcare providers play in the life of a person with cancer. North Country Hospital Heath System and Second Summer Productions sponsored the Newport event. This year’s theme was “Spa Day at the Beach.” It featured a free lunch, massage, Reiki, manicures, music, dance and an opportunity to visit with other survivors and their families.

Deveney not only was at the event as someone whose family has been touched by cancer, but as the assistant program director and on-air personality at WMOO-92, a radio station based in Derby. It was an event that she truly believes in.

Although her mother lost her battle with cancer, Deveney said there is plenty of reason for optimism in the battle against cancer. Because of ongoing research, an increasing number of people with cancer are winning their battle, people who only a few years ago would have died from the disease.

“Cancer affects everyone in the family,” Deveney explained. “It’s very important for family and friends to get involved in raising money to fight cancer.”

Her words are not just words of hopeful optimism; they are backed up by science. In his talk to the cancer survivors, their families, and care givers gathered at the beach, Dr. Leslie Lockridge, an oncologist at North Country Hospital, enthusiastically told about the progress that he has seen in cancer treatment in his years as an oncologist. He said no longer is cancer the death sentence. Thanks to a variety of new treatments, more people are winning the battle against the disease, and if it can’t be won, more people are able to live with the cancer in their bodies, cancer that might have taken their lives in an earlier time.

“The future is undeniably bright for cancer care,” Dr. Lockridge said. “We’ve made so much progress in the way of non-chemo/non-toxic therapeutics and supportive care (anti-nausea drugs, blood growth factors, etc.) that the face of oncology has changed dramatically from even 10 years ago. Treatment is much gentler, our understanding of side effects is greater now, and oncology is still the fastest developing field in medicine. As far as outcomes, cancer is more curable and much more manageable. Myeloma, for instance, is now more like diabetes in terms of being something you live with rather than die from.”

Being a new face at North Country, Dr. Lockridge shared his feelings about his short time at the hospital. “I feel like I’m the most privileged person on the planet to be able to live here and work here,” he said. Most of all, he said it’s a privilege to work with the local people who are experiencing a life and death struggle with cancer.

In addition, Dr. Lockridge shared the stories of two former patients, respecting their privacy by using only their first names. Although one of the two patients succumbed to the disease, both patients were stories of inspiration and hope, about women who fought their battles with cancer with optimism, yet the realism that every day is precious. Beyond medical intervention, the doctor said that the human spirit plays an important role in the individual struggle with cancer. Pastor Joy Toll-Chandler, co-minister of the United Church of Newport, provided heartfelt words to those gathered at the event. Cancer for her is not an abstract disease. She told how her mother has had cancer five times. “You are the miracles,” Pastor Toll-Chandler told the survivors gathered at the event. “You are the people who have been there. You are the people that people turn to…You are also the ones who teach us to realize the miracle of every day.”

Newport attorney and cancer survivor, Trudy Miller, provided those gathered at the event with the
soothing music of her violin while Graham Rae gives a massage in the background.

Newport attorney and cancer survivor, Trudy Miller, provided those gathered at the event with the soothing music of her violin.

“I was very pleased to see so many people at the beach that day,” Katie McGreevey said happily. “I hope they enjoyed the day and the sunshine with their families and friends. I look forward to next years Cancer Survivors Day Celebration.” Katie, who is the director of the Oncology Department at North Country Hospital, is looking for ideas about how to make next year’s event even bigger and better.

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