Hard Work, Courage, Tenacity Pay Off for Cancer Survivor Via a Promotion

CONTACT: LISA GARRETT, EXT. 2315

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5/9/2000
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- During a six-month period in 1998, Nancy Jo Martin suffered a brain aneurysm, successfully battled lymphoma, and courageously endured chemotherapy and physical therapy.

At times, she doubted whether she would be strong enough to resume her job at Milliken in Pendleton and the textile management technology classes she had begun at Tri-County Technical College in 1996.

But two years later, she is healthy and happy, and will proudly accept her textile management technology degree and quality assurance certificate during Tri-County's spring commencement this Monday (May 15).

"Believe me, I've learned to enjoy every day," says 45-year-old Martin, who recently was promoted to production manager for weave services at Milliken. "Furthering my education gave me the opportunity for advancement. My managers said they were proud of me and that my hard work and dedication would pay off. The major deciding factor in my promotion was the completion of my degree."

Considering the tumultuous year she had endured, the promotion was quite an accomplishment for Martin who years ago, doubted she would ever complete high school, much less college.

She dropped out of high school in the ninth grade, got married and began working at Milliken as a unifil operator.

"Everybody should have a goal," said Martin, and in 1985 hers was to earn her high school equivalency.

She began to study on her own at home, took the GED exam and passed it the first time without taking any remedial classes. "I have six brothers and sisters, and none of us graduated from high school." Later, after she earned her GED, three sisters followed her lead.

After getting her GED, she thought about college. She entered secretarial classes at Tri-County and was a few quarters away from a degree when she decided to switch gears. "It nagged at me that I didn't finish. I knew I could. I just needed to decide what I wanted to do," said Martin, who has two adult children and three grandchildren.

She chose textiles because "I know it, and I'm good at it." She returned to Tri-County in 1996 to a grueling schedule of 50-hour work weeks in addition to 20 hours spent in the classroom.

"I really enjoyed the curriculum. It came easy for me," she said.

Early one morning in 1998 her entire life changed.

She awakened to discover that her neck was numb, and when she looked at the digital clock to see what time it was, all she saw was the red bar. "My heart was pounding. I broke out in a cold sweat, and I called 911," she said.

While being placed on the stretcher, she collapsed into a coma which lasted for a week. The doctors discovered an aneurysm on her brain stem and operated to repair it. "Seventy five percent of people don't survive the surgery or they have severe disabilities as a result. I was lucky," she said.

But instead of getting stronger, she got weaker. Realizing something was wrong, she went to a doctor who immediately sent her to the hospital. She received three units of blood on the spot and was diagnosed with lymphoma of the spleen.

Doctors operated on her spleen to remove the cancer and a portion of her stomach. That was March 24, and on May 23, almost two months to the day later, she was able to return home. She endured a draining six months of chemotherapy and recuperated at home with the help of family and friends and physical therapy.

Weighing a mere 79 pounds, she bravely returned to work and college on the same day in August.

"During my first day at work, I thought there's no way I can do this. I'll never be physically strong enough to do this," she said. But perseverance and self-motivation won out. Last year she was named the College's Textile Student of the Year and was included in Who's Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges.

"Nancy really has been a role model for a lot of people," said Don Shirley, who leads Tri-County's Textile Management Technology department. "Other students look up to her, and they respect her. She's always been willing to help other students. Whatever assignment Nancy is given, she will do well."

She says she's "a different, calmer person that I was. I don't anger as quickly. I spend my energy on more important things. Now I savor every moment."

One of those moments will be Monday night.
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