Cheryl Morris and Anna Warner-Mayes share their stories of resilience and hope
Anna Warner-Mayes used to sing around town, at sporting events and at her church. Then in 2007, she started losing her voice.
"I sang at my church for the holidays, and I could not get some of the notes out," said Warner-Mayes, associate director of social listening, global communications."I massaged my neck and felt a lump at the base of my neck." Shortly after, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
When Cheryl Morris first heard her stage breast cancer diagnosis two years ago, two thoughts came to her mind: who would take care of her 9-year-old daughter, as she was a single working mom; and "My bathrooms aren't clean! I can't die and have dirty bathrooms," laughed the senior scientist, chemistry.
Warner-Mayes and Morris were two of several colleagues who shared their stories during a special Ability Series session titled Celebrating Life: A Cancer Survivorship Event. The virtual event in early June was sponsored by our capABILITY Network employee business resource group (EBRG) and made possible through a partnership between the Cancer Community and the Breast Cancer Thrivers + Community.
A commitment to persevere
While Warner-Mayes and Morris battled advanced-stage cancers, they made a commitment to persevere, not only for their children, but for themselves. 16Both faced tremendously difficult journeys.
Following Warner-Mayes' first surgery in 2008, her cancer resurfaced in 2009 and again in 2010, requiring more surgeries and several weeks of radiation. Morris has gone through multiple rounds of treatments and surgeries.
"When you're in the thick of treatment, you have those moments where it feels so relentless," said Morris."Just remember that it will end, though life will be forever changed. Cry when you need to and be angry—that's OK, but don't let it win."
'Grateful for even the littlest of things'
Morris has been cancer-free since August of last year. To celebrate life and turning 40 this year, she bought a new house in April and will travel home to her native Ireland this summer to celebrate with relatives and friends.
Warner-Mayes is currently living with stage 4 cancer but has been stable since its return in 2017.To celebrate the good news of each scan, she and her family go out to dinner. Later, she and her husband do a little celebratory dance and share the news with their relatives, who do a dance, too.
"We can all make plans, but life can change on a dime," said Warner-Mayes. "The one gift that cancer has given me is a reminder to be grateful for even the littlest of things and be present for each moment. There is magic in every single instant if you keep your eyes and heart open."