Baton Rouge General Celebrates National Cancer Survivors Day
BATON ROUGE, La. – Baton Rouge General honored cancer survivors in a heartfelt celebration on National Cancer Survivors Day. The event aimed to acknowledge survivors at every stage, whether in treatment, remission or as supportive family members.
Mary Kathryn Gastinel, co-founder of the Wellness Studio, shared her poignant experience of losing her husband, Drew Rodrigue, to Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2009 after a seven-year battle. "Shortly after he passed away, someone told me, ‘You’re a cancer survivor too.’ At first, I didn’t understand because Drew didn’t survive, and I hadn’t done the work. But they explained that I was surviving for him," Gastinel reflected.
Two-time cancer survivor Erica Walker Jackson encouraged attendees not to let cancer define their lives. "I refused to let chemo take over or to watch my hair fall out. As a queen, I’m still a queen even without my hair, so I shaved it off," Jackson declared. "Cancer is just a chapter in our book of life; don’t let it define you. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and it has no power over your joy. The bad news is time flies, but the good news is you’re the pilot."
The common theme among the speakers was the importance of reframing one’s perspective on life. Katie Fetzer, co-owner of the Wellness Studio, emphasized resilience. "When we think today is hard and feel like we’ll never get through it, we should instead say, ‘My soul is building strength and resilience, and my mind is developing new muscles,’" Fetzer advised.
The event was a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of cancer survivors, celebrating their journey and the support systems that uplift them.
