By Allison Skeete
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Friday, Dec. 4, 2009 - Queens, NY: Imagine you’re the head of an organization to benefit Cancer Patients providing them education and information, free care and surgeries and nutrition... then suddenly finding out that you are stricken by the very disease you work so hard to help others survive… Carol Bagot, founding member of the Organization for Social and Health Advancement in Guyana & the Caribbean (OSHAG-C) found herself facing just this challenge shortly after the New Year 2009 began. OSHAG-C provides educational, medical and nutritional care information, and support to Cancer patients and more in the areas stated in their name. They have been responsible for sponsoring groups of doctors, nurses and volunteers who take the time to provide free care, surgeries and health seminars in the developing Diaspora; most of whom don’t often get the care to combat thier illnesses as readily.Carol found herself facing the unexpected life changing event that would galvanize her commitment more to Cancer patients once she faced it down and won the battle. She self-diagnosed what would turn out to be Cancer in her own body. “You must know your own body”, she says, it can make the difference in how you handle a crisis of illness when it occurs. It took a little convincing for her doctor to realize that she was right… and once the facts were evident Carol found herself in the shoes of many whom she had helped when they learned they were stricken with Cancer.
Yes, she was not happy; yes those thoughts of ‘why me” and ‘am I going to die’ do cross the mind … she had moments of doubt and worry and loneliness… for though people can sympathize with you, be around and still love you; they can’t really know how you feel she said. No one can understand the need to develop a will power so strong that it builds a vigilant spirit in you to overcome the disease.
After putting things into perspective she decided on a radical plan of action, she took a leap of faith… although her doctors wanted her to wait six months for the complete results of all tests, she was adamant that she preferred not to wait and immediately began a rigorous series of chemotherapy and radiation. The pain and lethargy she lived with was only tempered by the support of her family; her daughter stood by her side and often took her for her treatments despite her inability to walk or sometimes even stay awake. She amazed her doctors and other care givers who watched her beaten but willful in her desire to overcome and live on. Today, she is a proud Cancer Survivor and she’s even more adamant about her mission to help other patients.
When your treatment is over, your work isn’t done she said, now you must speak with your doctors and set a plan of action to remain Cancer free, that means changing your diet and sticking to proper nutrition. Know what your body should look like after treatment and how to recognize any change that might signal something is wrong. The irony of her involvement with the group she co-founded is not lost and it is why she will be a Cancer Surviving Honoree as deemed so by unanimous vote of OSHAG-C's members on December 4, 2009.
For more information on the work done by OSHAG-C and the groups that benefit, visit their website at http://www/oshag2.org. You can also make a tax deductible contribution to the group. Donations help fund free medical missions to Guyana and the Caribbean as well as for purchasing Wigs and Prosthetic Bras for Cancer Survivors.
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