By Ayesha K. Mustafaa
Editor
The Hinds County Chancery Clerk’s Office, under the leadership of Chancery Clerk Eddie Jean Carr, observed Breast Cancer Awareness Month at her office, October 14, 2015.
The event was held on the 2nd floor of the Chancery Court Building at 316 South President Street, in downtown Jackson, where the staff had decked out the entire hall with pink, white and gray colors in a festive mood in contrast to the deadly potential that breast cancer can have.
“Good morning everyone. Today I am announcing that I am two years and three months cancer free,” said Carr in jubilation. “I would go for my regular check up every year, but just think if I had missed the year 2013, where I was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. In 2012, I was cancer free.
“Then I remembered that my family has a history of breast cancer. My family has the BRCA1 gene. You may remember Angelina Jolie has the same gene. I have four sisters who have had breast cancer, and I make number five.”
Carr said it was important to share her story. “My sisters were diagnosed in their 30s and the youngest passed away three years ago. She went through chemo and radiation, but it (the cancer) came back with a vengeance. It went from her breast, to her kidneys, to her lungs, to her joints and eventually to her brain. She passed within six months.”
Carr said when she was diagnosed, she wanted to go into surgery the next day. She said there was nothing to think about – she had a diagnosis, a family history and she wanted to be a survivor.
Last year her staff honored her, but this year she wanted to honor someone else on the same floor who was ready to acknowledged they had gone through the ordeal of breast cancer.
Two ladies were chosen. Sonya Gilbert works for Hinds County Board of Supervisor Robert Graham. Victoria Tuggle works in the court division.
Graham also paid tribute to Gilbert. After Carr’s acknowledgement of their belonging to a special survivors’ club, Tuggle was reduced to tears. Carr also introduced her son who attended, Chris Carr, thanking him for the many trips to the doctor he accompanied her on and all the other support from her family.
In attendance were representatives of St. Dominic Hospital, a sponsoring hospital; Jenny Miller, Breast Health navigator; Julia Morgan Sandifer, marketing specialist; and Amy Evins, cancer services manager.
Carr said, “It’s important to educate everyone about all aspects of this disease from prevention to treatment to ensure healthier, longer lives. But it’s also most important to me because it’s personal to me. It’s not just someone else’s story. It’s my story.”
