Survivors Share Gifts of Life After Cancer

Hundreds of cancer survivors and their family members at a local National Cancer Survivors Day luau Saturday celebrated life after weathering a deadly disease.

Participants munched grilled chicken, hugged friends and enjoyed the warm afternoon on the Wellness Community’s lawn during the celebration, held nationwide, in honor of cancer survivors.

“The message here is hope,” said Mary Nason, program director at the Wellness Community, a center that offers group support for cancer patients and their families. “We believe that if you participate in your recovery, you will improve the quality of your life.”

Many survivors at the luau agreed, saying that beating cancer gave them a passion and appreciation for life they never had before they were sick. Speakers thanked those who made overcoming cancer possible--friends, family, support groups and health-care workers. A few shared the lessons learned.

Woody Brokenburr of Westlake Village lost his left leg to cancer when he was 10. Now 45, Brokenburr is raising three children, works for GTE and is the incoming president of the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

“Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present,” Brokenburr told the crowd. “Being cancer survivors, we know about gifts.”

Richard Rubino of Newbury Park called his two children a gift.

After being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease five years ago, he wondered if he and his wife would ever have their own family. He and his wife, Barrie, had just made a down payment on their first home. In his early 30s, he was only six months into a job he loved.

Rubino, now 38, had wondered if he would survive, if he would be able to have children and if life would turn out the way he had planned. But he began to recover within six months, and within a year, his wife was pregnant with Noah, who is now 3.

“It made me realize what I have,” said Rubino, holding his 9-month-old daughter, Ansley. “It made me realize what is important, not working 15 hours a day, and trying to spend time with my family.”

Despite the heartfelt reflections that cancer survivors shared with each other and publicly, the luau was a party.

A disc jockey played reggae and rock songs, even prompting the crowd to get a small conga line going. Clad in Hawaiian leis and straw hats, those gathered listened intently when the raffle numbers were rattled off, hoping to take home a prize.

Started 12 years ago, the National Cancer Survivors Day will be celebrated this weekend in more than 700 communities in North America, making it the world’s largest cancer survivor event. The goal is to honor the 8.2 million cancer survivors nationwide.

Tamara Howard, 28, of West Hills spoke to the crowd about learning to live for today. When she was diagnosed with a form of leukemia four years ago, Howard had been eager to embark on a teaching career.

But cancer forced her to stop and reevaluate. Today, she has slowed down and plans to write children’s books. She credits the support groups at the Wellness Center, along with the support group of her friends and family.

“Cancer enables you to say, ‘I love you,’ more,” Howard said. “It’s because of all of you that we have survived.”

Several Ventura County groups have scheduled survivors day events today:

* Ventura County Medical Center will hold a barbecue from noon to 4 p.m. at Oxnard State Beach, off Harbor Boulevard; call 641-5704.

* The Cancer Center of Ventura County will hold a barbecue from noon to 3 p.m. at St. John’s Regional Medical Center, 1600 N. Rose Ave., Oxnard; call 988-2641.

* Simi Valley Hospital will hold a picnic from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Pioneer Arbor and Sanctuary behind the hospital, 2975 N. Sycamore Drive; call 522-4444.