Ansonia couple to speak at Griffin Hospital 5K Walk/Run Sept. 28

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.

Individuals and teams can register online at griffinhealth.org/5k. 

For more information, contact Laura Murphy at lkmurphy@griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.  

Treasured Time golf outing in September to benefit Stratford family

The “Driving For Memories” Golf Outing will benefit the Stanton family of Stratford./ Contributed photo

Treasured Time, Inc. is hosting its inaugural “Driving for Memories” Golf Outing to help a Stratford family make lasting memories.

The Stanton Family will be the featured family and “Gift of Moments” recipients for the event. 

Tim Stanton, 46, was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in February 2017. 

At the time of his diagnosis, it had spread to his liver and lymph nodes. Stanton had a 10 cm mass surgically removed from his colon in March, along with 10 inches of his colon and 17 of 25 lymph nodes. At the time of his diagnosis in February, the tumor mass on his colon was measuring at 6 cm, indicating this is a fast-growing cancer.

Stanton started chemotherapy in April. He had the choice to start with a more basic chemo but opted to go for a more aggressive form of treatment. 

He had four rounds on this aggressive chemo and unfortunately his scans showed negative results. There were no improvements to his colon or his liver metastases. 

If the next set of scans do not show favorable results, he will begin exploring clinical trials that may help to slow down the progression of the cancer.

Stanton has three children Alanna, age 24, and twin boys Blake and Lucas, age 6. His eldest daughter Alanna is a huge support, taking him to doctor’s appointments and helping with her brothers and chores around the house. Stanton’s wife, Missy, can’t take much time off since she just started a new job.

Stanton and his family spend much of their time creating memories together. 

Stanton would love the opportunity to take his family to Disney World and explore the magic it has to offer before he is unable to do so.

Driving For Memories will be held Sept.13  at Whitney Farms Golf Course in Monroe. 

This is a rain or shine event with a shotgun start at noon. The cost is $125 per person and includes a dinner reception and auction after golf. 

Tickets for just the dinner reception and auction are $50 per person.

To register, visit treasuredtime.org. Registrations will be on a first come, first served basis.

'Gift of Moments'

Treasured Time, Inc. is a Connecticut-based 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to grant the wishes of parents with life-threatening illnesses who want to create a lasting memory with their children.  

With your help, Treasured Time, Inc. can provide families with the “Gift of Moments.” 

To see how you can help us make a difference, visit treasuredtime.org.

This is a press release from Treasured Time.