October has come and gone and I couldn’t help but notice all of our “Think Pink” shirts are tucked away in our closets and our ribbons are no longer worn. As I sat down to brainstorm about what to write about next I suddenly wanted to break tradition. Why do we only write about breast cancer survivors in October?

Thanksgiving is upon us and I’m thankful for many things. One of the things I’m thankful for is my friend, Pam Seay’s improved health. I first met Pam a couple of years ago. She and husband Dennis live in New Braunfels and have a summer home in Seadrift. She is full of life and many would describe her as a firecracker! It saddened me to find out that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

Pam had a routine screen mammogram, just before Thanksgiving. “It all started about a year exactly, almost a year to the date,” she said. “When I received a letter from my doctor advising that I should have a diagnostic mammogram, I had an intuition that I had breast cancer.” Pam had an area that had been bothering her. While she did not experience extreme pain, she did fear there was a problem. Following the diagnostic mammogram, she was scheduled to have a biopsy. For several years, she’d informed her doctors, but nothing was found on the screen mammogram.

Pam said, “I knew in my heart of hearts something was wrong. Prior to being diagnosed, I called my cousin who had breast cancer; she had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. She didn’t have access to the latest and greatest technology. She advised me to learn about the different procedures.”

She found a clinic in San Antonio which specialized in a procedure called DIEP (deep interior epigastic performator flat). This procedure involves harvesting tissue from the stomach which is later used in reconstructive surgery. She investigated further and chose a surgeon even before her doctor confirmed she had breast cancer. Pam educated herself by visiting blogs, websites and learned about different issues women are faced with.

In her opinion, it’s definitely best to seek out options. These are decisions which you’re living with for the rest of your life. In March 2011, she had surgery, a bilateral mastectomy. The surgery, which involves microsurgery, lasted nine hours. “It was rough; the first few days were hard,” Pam said. “I had to have constant supervision.” Her doctor advised that if she did not have a short course of chemo, the cancer could come back in 10-15 years. She had to decide which road to take; she finally decided she would bear it. Her reconstructive process was put on hold and she had four treatments of chemo.

She was able to start a new job in Harlingen even though she was going to be having chemo. Dennis stayed in New Braunfels and Pam flys back and forth whenever possible. She knew the chemo wasn’t going to set her back. They give you medicine to take before, during and after chemotherapy. It’s specific to each patient, specialized for your own health needs. The worst thing about chemo was the fatigue. It’s a fatigue that just does not go away; she could sleep all night and wake up tired, drained. The other thing was chemo fog – chemo brain. “It can really do a number on your ability to function, especially the first week,” she said. The effects are very real; they are advised it could take anywhere from 1-2 years to get over the effects of chemotherapy.

Pam then waited about a month, then had the reconstructive surgery done. The process involved three different phases. She advises, “Be your own advocate. I take it one day at a time. It’s been a long and emotional year; but I remain optimistic.” She healed quickly and was inspired after the short course of chemo, which was encouraging to her.

“Ask for the best and if you can’t get the best, ask why not?” she said. If her cousin had not scared her in the right direction, she’s not sure where she would have ended up.

The procedure one chooses makes a world of difference, and that’s one of the reasons that she had a bilateral mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy. She didn’t want to take any chances. She couldn’t imagine going through it again. “You have to be aware of your body; there were too many decisions to make.” she emphasized.

There’s much to be thankful for this year. Pam has a new grandbaby who is three months old, “She’s beautiful and she runs the house for sure. We’re anxious for her to get older so we can really start spoiling her. Ella is a very happy baby.”

So, break tradition and sport your breast cancer awareness shirt once a week. It’s a scary thought, knowing breast cancer is such a common thing in today’s world. I greatly admire Pam’s bravery, strength and courage to share her story so that others are able to find their voice and ask for the best. Till next time.

Pam happily holding her new grandaughter, Ella

Karlie

Karlie is a Schnauzer mix about 7 months old. Silvery gray with white stockings, muzzle and chest, she is a pretty young girl. She has a very perky personality, and is always ready to play, and will be a great companion for an active family.

Soccer

Soccer is as sweet as he is cute. A rat terrier mix, he’s about 6 months old and is a small little guy. Soccer has a great time with all the other dogs, but he really perks up when a head patting human comes near. Soccer will make a terrific family pet.

Come see him and all the other animals at the Port Lavaca Animal Shelter, 201 Stringham Drive (across from the rodeo arena), Monday through Saturday, 10 to 2, or call the Calhoun County Humane Society, 553-8916.

You can also view him and other animals ready for adoption on line at:
www.calhouncountyhumanesociety.org
Thanks and we’ll be waiting for you!

P.O.C. 5K winner, Casey Roth, crosses the finish line. -Photo by Grayson Graves Photography

On October 8th, the roads around King Fisher Beach sustained a serious pounding by hundreds of running shoes as athletic-minded folks from near and far participated in Port O’Connor’s first ever 5K, the P.O.C. Style 5K Run/Walk. For those of us who are not very familiar with athletic events, a 5K is a distance race (approximately 3.1 miles) that demands a great deal of aerobic endurance, where runners race against each other, while trying to top their own best speed.

The 5K is one of the track events in the Olympic Games, but what makes it so attractive to regular folks who have no Olympic aspirations? According to one frequent 5K-er, the Dolphin’s own Jasmine Gordon, “It’s about a sense of accomplishment; no matter if you are a runner or walker. It feels great to cross that finish line and know your body is capable of a task many find intimidating.”

More than 100 participated in the P.O.C. Style 5K. It was electronically timed and the results are posted on:

http://www.wix.com/pocstyle5k/5k-web1

In his first road race in ten years, Casey Roth came in fastest overall at 19.33 minutes. The winning female was Kira Quiring with a time of 23.24 minutes. In the kids division, Kevin Resenidiz was first at 24.43 minutes.

The event was the brainchild of Natasha Helm, an Austin event planner, who is from Victoria, but spent most weekends, holidays and summers, in Port O’Connor fishing with her family.
While in college (University of Texas at Austin), Natahsa took an interest in event planning, gaining much experience interning at business networking events, the bridal/wedding industry and several non-proft road races, but leaving no time for volunteering or community service.

After graduation in December of 2010, Natasha knew she wanted to do something good for the community – to give back in some way or another. “It was actually all perfect timing,” she said. “I was looking to expand my career and at the same time volunteer my time to the community. So the idea of coordinating a 5K run in Port O’Connor was right up my alley. I took no time to ponder the question of the possibility of constructing such an event in Port O’Connor…I knew its potential.”

Natasha says the POC Style 5K and Dolphin Run Kids K will be an annual event. She’s looking forward to an even better turnout next year.

“I am now brainstorming on another off-season event to sustain the local business economy,” she continued, “and to continue tourist attraction year round. I would like to thank the Chamber of Commerce for putting their faith in a young, recent graduate. The opportunity to work with them was very rewarding and resulted in a very successful event.”

The P.O.C. 5K was just one of 269 such events in Texas held during the month of October. (Also held locally, on October 29, was the Monster Dash at the Calhoun County Airport, sponsored by the Port Lavaca Chamber of Commerce. See report in this issue.) Many of these are held to benefit causes such as cancer research, the Wounded Warriors programs, and pet rescues. The Port O’Connor event benefitted the Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce with a donation of $2,443.99. Leftover snacks and beverages were donated to the Port O’Connor Volunteer Fire Department.

Natasha Helm presents check to Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce. Left to right: Natasha Helm; POC Chamber Secretary Barbara Crouch; POC Chamber Treasurer LaJune Pitonyak; POC Chamber Board Members, Joyce Jordan and Ann Brownlee.

POC 5K Photos by Grayson Graves Photography

Loneliness, fear, rejection, serious physical ailments, confusion, lack of direction: these are just some of the problems common to mankind. Add to that the current economic condition, and you have just cause for any of us to feel overpowered and helpless at certain times in our lives.

Where does one turn for help? In Seadrift, it might well be the House of Prayer, located in the old Russell Cain building at 502 W. Broadway. “People know that prayer is the answer,” said Evelyn Williams, one of the House of Prayer volunteer staff.

Established as an outreach of New Beginnings Church in Point Comfort, House of Prayer is staffed entirely by Seadrift residents. They are not in the business of recruiting members for New Beginnings, but encourage others to connect with one of the local churches. House of Prayer, itself, is not a church. “We are an outreach to hurting people; a place where “whosoever will” can come and pray,” explained Evelyn.

Doors are opened from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. A staff member is available to pray with you, if you wish, and to talk with you if you need a listening ear. On Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m., House of Prayer is open for prayer and Bible Study.

With the holiday season upon us, House of Prayer is also reaching out to the community in tangible ways. On Halloween, staff members, dressed as Bible characters, beckoned trick-or-treaters to receive gifts of candy and to take a swing at a pinata. They are planning a Free Thanksgiving Dinner “to any and all who will come” on November 24 from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. A delicious Thanksgiving Dinner, sponsored by Port Lavaca WalMart and HEB, can be enjoyed at the House of Prayer, or you may carry one home with you (one plate per person).

During the month of December, Christmas presents will be given to any and all who visit the House of Prayer. They will also have coats and jackets available for those in need.

If you wish to donate to the Thanksgiving Dinner, Christmas presents (Toys are needed.); if you have new or slightly used coats or jackets, or if you just need prayer or information, please contact:

Evelyn Williams – 361-553-9328

Judy Gaines – 361-237-0407

Lisa Flores – 361-775-6149 (Spanish)

Evelyn Williams, Pastor Kenyon Hamilton of New Beginnings Church, Ramiro Flores, Judy Gaines, and Lisa Flores on Halloween.

The following letter was submitted by George Albrecht. It was written in 1945 by Private W.S. Preslar (father of Jerome Preslar of Port O’Connor) to George’s father, Sidney Albrecht. The blurred ink on thin, old paper was a little difficult to transcribe, but we believe we have reproduced the letter almost word for word. We found of special interest the reference to “invasion money”. That makes one think of how different our lives might be now were it not for the strength of our nation and its leaders at the time and the resolve and sacrifice of our soldiers.
We print this letter as a tribute to all those who have left home and family to defend our country and to preserve the freedom we all enjoy.

Luzon Philippines
April 20, 1945

Dear Sid & family,

How is everything in Port O’Connor? I sure would like to be there and go fishing with you. Gen wrote me that you and Clarence went and caught a big one. She didn’t say what kind it was, though. Is fishing very good there now? I suppose it is a little early yet, isn’t it?

I was on Leyte for a while, then I went from Leyte to New Guinea. The climate on Leyte is about the same as it is here. It is pretty warm during the day, but at night it is pretty cool. It doesn’t rain much here, not yet, anyway. In New Guinea it was something special to see the sun. When it did shine, it was really hot.

There was a Japanese cemetery close to our camp in New Guinea. They had to put a fence around it to keep the soldiers out of it. We were real close to one of the most famous battlefields of this war (in New Guinea). The natives there were friendly but they did not look very friendly though. The natives cannot speak English very well. A person can make out what they want. Some of the boys said that some of them were pretty educated. The ones that lived around the mission were the ones that could speak English the best. Some of them did not wear any clothes. Some wore a little more than the rest. I don’t think they liked the idea of wearing them. Some of the natives lived out in the open. I guess they lived off coconuts and whatever they found growing. Some of them would come by camp with some fish. I don’t know how they caught them, unless they used spears.

I went to town the other day and bought some ice cream. It was pretty good, and it also had a pretty good price attached to it. It was a peso and a half (seventy-five cents in American money) – about the same amount we get in the states for a nickel. The picture show is pretty cheap. I think it costs one peso. I haven’t been yet. I went down to the show the other night, but there was a line about a block long waiting to go in, so I decided that I would go back to camp and see a G.I. picture show. A person would have to have a small fortune to eat in the café.

I have seen a lot of interesting things since I left the states. I would like to tell you about them but I am afraid I can’t do at the present time. A person doesn’t know what he can write about.

Sid, I am sending you some Japanese invasion money. I have seen some money the Japanese were going to use when they invaded the U.S. I haven’t been able to get any yet. If I can get any I will send you some.

Gen wrote me that you had written, but I never have received your letter. I guess it will catch up with me some day.

Sid, I guess you are getting tired of trying to make out what I have written, so I will give your eyes a rest and I will try to write a little more interesting letter next time.

As ever,

Bill

Japanese “invasion” money from the Philippines