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| Pink tractor owners Lyman and Corrine Gilbert./ Contributed photo |
DERBY - An Ansonia couple will highlight the importance of family support as the featured speakers for this year’s Annual 5K Walk/Run to benefit the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital.
Married for 52 years, Corrine and Lyman Gilbert have shared a lot as a couple, but their experiences with cancer in the past three years has given them a new perspective on their relationship and their community.
In 2016, Corrine was diagnosed with breast cancer that was discovered through a mammogram at the Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital.
Her treatment included a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, and while the diagnosis was a bit of a surprise, Corrine knew what to expect.
Her twin sister, Cathy, was a 25-year breast cancer survivor and Corrine helped her through her treatment. During her treatment, Corrine had the support of Lyman, who was a big help simply by being present.
“When I was going through the chemo, I ended up being quite sick and it’s good to have a husband that will sit next to you and rub your back,” Corrine said.
“He knew he couldn’t relieve what I was going through, but he could just be there for me, which made him a very good support person.”
That same sort of simple compassion came from the physicians, nurses, radiation technicians, and staff at the Center for Cancer Care as well as the building itself.
Caring staff
Corrine said she appreciated the truthful explanations about her diagnosis and treatment by her oncologist Dr. Jeffrey Orell and the wealth of resources provided by Oncology Social Worker Donna Hayes.
“Everybody at the Center was so caring in the way they approach you and talk with you,” she said “They give you information about who you can call, about support groups and free educational talks. One nurse even gave me her phone number and said her mother was a breast cancer survivor and would talk to me if I needed it. They just made you feel comfortable - that’s the simplest way I can put it. No matter what the question was, the answer was ‘no problem we will do everything we can.’”
Additionally, Corrine said the Center’s healing garden and waterfall were a pleasant distraction during chemotherapy and the blue sky and clouds painted on the ceiling of the linear accelerator room where she received radiation treatment helped her take her mind off her treatment as she pondered what shapes the clouds resembled.
Prostate cancer diagnosis
Two years, later, the Gilberts found themselves back at the Center for Cancer Care.
This time, it was to treat Lyman’s prostate cancer, which was detected at a treatable stage thanks to a PSA blood test by his primary care physician.
Lyman had to undergo radiation treatment, and while he kept most of the effects of his treatment to himself, Corrine said she and their two sons and daughter were able to support him through the journey by asking him how he was doing and encouraging him to rest when he felt tired.
As a long-time volunteer fireman with Ansonia's Hilltop Hose Company and a former Ansonia Fire Chief, Lyman feels best when he is helping others.
Like Corrine, his experience at the Center was exceptional, but he was most happy to surprise the staff with gifts of jelly beans - a tradition he picked up from his father and shared with his grandkids and his family at the Center.
Raising awareness
Ever since her sister was diagnosed with cancer, raising awareness has been a part of Corrine and Lyman’s lives. In 2014, Lyman painted an old farm tractor pink as a tribute to Cathy and to encourage women to get screened. The couple started taking it to the Seymour Pink 5K and the Griffin 5K for people to take pictures with it.
Recently, they realized the tractor was built in 1946, the same year Corrine and Cathy were born.
Ever since they helped each other through their cancer treatments, friends have told Corrine that she and Lyman “seem closer.” Corrine believes they haven’t necessarily grown closer, but their care for each other now goes deeper.
“I would say that it gave us a different perspective on life,” she said. “Family always comes first for us all the time, but I think that became even more so in depth with us as we discovered how important it is to have someone just be there for you when you need them.”
Non-competitive event
The Annual 5K Walk/Run to benefit the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave. will celebrate its 11th year on Sept. 28.
This non-competitive, family-friendly event begins with day-of registration at 7:30 a.m., and the Walk/Run kicking off at 9 a.m.
All proceeds are dedicated to providing exceptional, personalized cancer care and to help ease the financial burden of Griffin’s cancer patients face as they undergo treatment.
This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.
