9 hours ago
Tri-State cancer survivors celebrate victory during annual Evansville event
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — Cancer Pathways hosted its annual Tri-State Cancer Survivor Day. Family and guests were treated to an afternoon of games, food and a live musical performance from a fellow survivor.
The annual event is catered towards 'fighters, survivors and thrivers' — to escape doctor's appointments, treatments and side effects — to spend a day to celebrate their 'survivorship.'
'When someone gets diagnosed with cancer, their life is filled with uncertainty.' said Cancer Pathways Executive Director Krista Wilson. 'Sometimes they can't do normal things with their families anymore. So that gets put on the back burner for a bit or maybe until they're out of treatment or in a better spot. So this is just a day for them to come out and take a break.'
'It's a great feeling coming in and seeing all the people that have been impacted by cancer,' said 3-year survivor Matthew Morell. 'This is my first year for this… I'm just thankful to be here and to be here for everybody else.'
Following the survivor walk, guests were treated to a live musical performance from Cancer Pathways Ambassador, and fellow survivor, Katie Watts. Watts says she was diagnosed in 2023 where she under went two throat surgeries that paralyzed her vocal folds — leaving her unable to speak or sing for nearly a year.
'I lost my voice. It was just a whisper,' said Watts. 'Singing was gone. That was my passion. But between speech therapy, different techniques and sticking with it — in about 9 to 10 months which is really rare — it came back to 85%. But honestly, I think it's 100% now. At least it feels that way.'
Wilson says the event is not just for the survivors, but also for the family and caregivers who surround them. Abby Strader shares what it means to be a caregiver during a celebration like this. Her journey as a caregiver began when her then 13-month-old, Madeline, was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
'I unfortunately lost my Mom the same year my daughter was diagnosed with cancer very abruptly,' said Strader. 'It's very heartwarming and heart wrenching all at the same time to be at an event like this, but it means so much to have the opportunity to have those feelings and to have them here.'
While the event gave guests the chance to create a strong community together, many of the survivors know that there is still more to their stories once they leave the building.
'I'm still not at a place where I accept that my 13-month old had cancer and I don't know when that will ever take place,' said Strader. 'But events like this at an organization like Cancer Pathways has definitely helped heal a little bit of that trauma from the diagnosis.'
Event organizers say they are prepared to to have this event be 'bigger and better' year after year.
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