The day Amy Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer, it felt like her life had been hijacked. But her diagnosis wasn't the hardest part of her journey to survivor-hood, nor the treatment.
The hardest part for Smith, a wife and mother of four, was the struggle to get back to feeling normal again. Now, she wants to ensure the resources are in place to help future survivors work through the struggles she faced after her fight with the disease.
The Amy Summers Smith Breast Cancer Fund was presented to the CAMC Breast Center to provide post-treatment services, resources and programs for women who have finished breast cancer treatment. It helps finance counseling, support groups and more for women, and earlier this year, the fund grew in size.
"I don't think you realize that until you're well into your survivorship that you're not really the same person," Smith said. "You go through depression, anxiety, fear of recurrence."
Smith says she was lucky to have the support of her family and friends because not everyone does. Her mother-in-law, Stewart Smith, started a fund in Amy Smith's name while she was still undergoing treatment.
"She knew that someday when I beat cancer I would want to help others," said Smith and she is doing just that.
The fund grew to $19,000 and the CAMC foundation donated the remaining $6,000 to reach the mark for it to turn into an endowment fund.
"I never want a mom or a woman to have to make the decision of whether to put food on the table or seek treatment," Smith said. "I want to be sure that these women are provided mental health and emotional services."
Smith is a volunteer at the hospital and a member of the patient advisory board at the Breast Center.
"It is very important that we raise awareness that the survivor struggle begins once treatment ends," she said.
After almost two and a half years, Smith has recently started to feel "normal" again. She is now substitute teaching in Kanawha County schools and has a newfound appreciation for spending time with her husband and children.
The endowment fund was celebrated with a cocktail party Friday evening at the CAMC Breast Center.
Reach Jennifer Gardner at jennifer.gardner@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5102 or follow @jennc_gardner on Twitter.