You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>Celebrating</strong> <strong>Life</strong> By<br />
When Crissy and Jimmy<br />
Hajkowski of Patterson got<br />
married, everyone warned<br />
Crissy about how difficult it<br />
could be to be married to a cancer survivor.<br />
When Jimmy was less than a year old,<br />
he was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma,<br />
one of the most common types of<br />
childhood eye tumors. After many surgeries<br />
and multiple rounds of chemotherapy,<br />
he was declared cancer-free. Although it<br />
has been 33 years since Jimmy was declared<br />
cancer-free, a relapse is never out of the<br />
question when it comes to cancer.<br />
With emphasis on the phrase “in sickness<br />
and in health,” they took their vows and<br />
meant every word they said.<br />
Days after the couple celebrated their first<br />
wedding anniversary on Nov. 9, 2003, it was<br />
Crissy who was diagnosed with cancer.<br />
Crissy was diagnosed with plasmacytoma,<br />
a type of cancer that forms in the<br />
plasma cells of blood. At only 27 years<br />
old, her world was turned upside down.<br />
After 35 radiation sessions, Crissy spent<br />
two years learning how to walk again. Unfortunately,<br />
this type of cancer has a very<br />
high recurrence rate, and a few years later,<br />
more tumors were found inside her bones.<br />
After more surgeries and radiation, she<br />
was diagnosed with multiple myeloma —<br />
a cancer that never goes into remission,<br />
but rather one that needs to be managed.<br />
While Crissy was lucky to have support<br />
from family and friends on her cancer journey,<br />
she also turned to the American Cancer<br />
Society. They provided her with information,<br />
emotional support, transportation to<br />
go back and forth to her treatment in Boston,<br />
and with wigs and information to help<br />
her get through her hair loss.<br />
In 2005, Crissy and Jimmy went to their<br />
first Relay for <strong>Life</strong> event to show support for<br />
a friend.<br />
Back row (l-r): Russ Hughes,<br />
Jill Hughes, Chris Tacca,<br />
Tracey Walsh, Erica Paris,<br />
Patrick Liu, Erin McCormack<br />
and Crissy Hajkowski; Front<br />
row (l-r): Courtney McCormack,<br />
Kaitlin McCormack, Kieran<br />
McCormack (sitting), Heather<br />
Strickland, Aidan Paris Devane,<br />
and Brian McCormack<br />
Photo by Dan Stockfield<br />
Local Relay<br />
for <strong>Life</strong> Events<br />
Faith Ann Butcher<br />
Relay is a fundraising event for the ACS<br />
to raise money for cancer research and cancer<br />
patients that has grown to represent so<br />
much more. In addition to raising money,<br />
the event is held to spread cancer awareness,<br />
celebrate the lives of survivors, remember<br />
those who lost their lives to cancer, and unite<br />
a community in the fight against cancer.<br />
The event was the brainchild of Dr. Gordon<br />
Klatt, a colorectal surgeon from Tacoma,<br />
Wash., who decided he wanted to raise<br />
money for ACS in honor of his patients<br />
in May 1985. For 24 hours, Klatt walked<br />
around the track at Baker Stadium at the<br />
University of Puget Sound. Throughout<br />
the night, friends paid $25 to run or walk<br />
30 minutes with him. He walked about 83<br />
miles and raised $27,000 to fight cancer.<br />
Nearly 300 of Klatt’s friends, family, and<br />
patients watched as he ran and walked the<br />
course. After this successful event, Klatt<br />
Continued on next page<br />
www.eventfulmagazine.com 11
Change language