Rick and Kathy Morain will share their story of dealing with cancer as “Fight Back” speakers Saturday evening at a companion event to the Relay for Life, also on Saturday.
They will speak at 7 pm Homestead Coffee and Bakery, 121 E. Lincoln Way, in Jefferson. Homestead will offer free small coffee or iced tea to all who attend.
Rick had major surgeries in October and November, 2011. A chest x-ray taken in preparation for heart surgery to repair a leaking mitral valve showed a mass on Rick’s right lung. The first surgery was delayed until the mass was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma. The care plan was to fix his heart first, then tackle the cancer in his lung. And so, Morain had two major surgeries in two months – a mitral valve repair in October and the removal of the upper lobe of his right lung in November. Both surgeries and subsequent chemotherapy were successful, and the Morains are together enjoying an active retirement.
Caregiving is the focus of this year’s Relay for Life, and Kathy Morain will share her experiences. Rick had serious side effects from the chemotherapy and he required more care than many patients.
Kathy has for decades been one of the first people to deliver a casserole when friends or church members have had special needs. “I had done that for so many years, but then when it was us, it was hard to accept that help,” she said. “I had to learn to do that.”
The extended Morain family is close in spirit but spread across the country. Those who couldn’t visit sent hand knit hats, at Kathy’s suggestion. “They wanted to do something, and we knew Rick would be without hair during cold weather. I suggested they could knit him a hat, and they did,” Kathy said.
The Morains will offer suggestions of how best to help cancer patients and their caregivers. They’re also eager for a chance to publicly thank all those who supported them. “If you’re going to get cancer, make sure you live in Greene County,” Rick said. “People here are just great.” He said he will forever be grateful to the staff at the Bee and Herald for keeping the papers coming in his absence, and for their care and concern when he returned to work.
Chuck and Carla Offenburger took the lead in the “Fight Back” series April 10 with a conversation about their tag-team battle with cancer. The Morains will finish the series.
The Relay for Life of Greene County will take place Saturday from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm at the Greene County Community Center. The survivor walk will be at 10:20 am, followed by the Color Out Cancer 5K run/walk. A barbecue will be served from 11 am to 1:30 pm, with entertainment throughout. The luminaria ceremony will begin at 2 pm. For a complete schedule, visit www.relayforlife.org/greenecountyia
