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Cancer hits Montrose couple within weeks
By Gerry Baksys/MVM News Network
Neither Sharon nor Reggie Lucas work anymore.
Not because they don't want to, but rather, because they can't.
On March 3, 2005, Reggie went to Keokuk Area Hospital for what he thought was appendicitis.
"He went in to have a normal appendix operation because that's where the pain was located," Sharon said. "We came to find out ... they did the surgery and it was liver cancer."
Liver and colon cancer, according to Reggie, but the doctors in Keokuk were able to remove all of the cancerous matter in his colon.
Still, having cancer at all was a shock to Reggie, who said he didn't learn about the change of diagnosis until after the operation.
"I didn't know for awhile because I was out of it," Reggie said. "I woke up and my brother and sister-in-law were sitting in (the recovery room) with me."
Three weeks later, Sharon had an unpleasant discovery of her own.
"I found a lump in my right breast when I did a self-breast exam," Sharon said. "Then I went to the doctor and they did a mammogram and they said there was an area (of cancer). I had my lumpectomy March 31."
After both of their operations, Sharon and Reggie were put on a program of chemotherapy: One session every two weeks. Sharon had eight rounds and is on the road to recovery, while Reggie has had 13 and counting.
"She came through her chemo really good," Reggie said of his wife. "But I got a side effect where I got real bad joint pain. I've got to take pain medicine for it. That's why I can't go out and do anything."
Reggie has been a farmer all of his life, but because of his cancer treatments, he is sapped of the strength and energy to do most of the farm work. One of Lucas' sons, Jason, does most of the work, but Reggie still insists on doing some of it himself.
"We have some hogs on the place," Reggie said, "but all they're doing is paying our bills and buying our groceries."
Sharon, who used to work at the Montrose Health Center before her treatments, said that so much has changed since March.
"He's no longer able to go to work," Sharon said. "He can't work, can't drive, and he's our only transportation because I'm legally blind. The doctors told me eventually I can go back to work. We don't know about him yet, but there are miracles."
Reggie and Sharon had also been taking care of his mother at home up until they started having difficulties taking care of themselves.
"His mother was living with us up until March 30," Sharon said. "But she has Alzheimer's, so we had to put her in the nursing home because neither one of us could take care of her."
And things just kept getting worse for awhile. While still going through chemo treatments, the Lucas' insurance company dropped their coverage, forcing the couple to seek more expensive COBRA coverage.
"In the meantime I was still working," Sharon said, "but I had to take sick leave, and as of Aug. 1, I could not keep the insurance at work. I had to go on COBRA, which is almost $1,000 a month for the two of us. So that's what they're having the benefit for - to help us pay for our medical bills."
Sharon is a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Montrose. When church members heard of their plight, they immediately sought to hold a fund-raiser to help the couple pay for their medical coverage.
"My church family has been wonderful," Sharon said. "They are taking care of us, driving us places if I need to go somewhere. This benefit is a lifesaver."
Reggie agreed, saying the couple's financial prospects were bleak before the church offered to help.
"We would have had to go to the bank and borrow money to try and get by," Reggie said.
And for awhile, things looked bleak yet again. Reggie said just last week, their doctor who had been treating them announced he was moving.
"At this point they don't know who's going to take over," Sharon said. "They haven't given us a new name."
Lucas was concerned that he would had to start traveling to Iowa City in order to get his chemo treatments instead of going to Keokuk like he has been.
"Down here in Keokuk they had an outreach center," Reggie said. "They closed it. The doctor normally came down every two weeks to see patients down here....now that he's leaving, they closed it. I hope I can still get my chemo down here."
Sharon said on Wednesday both of those worries have now been erased because they have a new doctor and permission for Reggie to continue his chemo treatments in Keokuk.
"You just try to survive day- by-day," Sharon said. "You live one day at a time."
For Reggie, who was given three months to live when originally diagnosed back in March, those are words to live by.
A fish-fry benefit will be held on Friday at the Ivor Fowler Community Center in Montrose. The event is from 5 to 8 p.m.
Maidrites, hot dogs, side dishes and drinks will be served. Free-will donations will be accepted.
There also will be live music and a bake sale.
For those unable to attend, donations may be mailed to: Pastor G. Laymon, Trinity UMC, P.O. Box 161, Montrose, IA 52639.
Both Reggie and Sharon Lucas would like to thank the church and everyone involved for hosting the benefit.
"It's a lifesaver," Sharon said. "We're grateful to the church, and thankful for everything they've done."
Not because they don't want to, but rather, because they can't.
On March 3, 2005, Reggie went to Keokuk Area Hospital for what he thought was appendicitis.
"He went in to have a normal appendix operation because that's where the pain was located," Sharon said. "We came to find out ... they did the surgery and it was liver cancer."
Liver and colon cancer, according to Reggie, but the doctors in Keokuk were able to remove all of the cancerous matter in his colon.
Still, having cancer at all was a shock to Reggie, who said he didn't learn about the change of diagnosis until after the operation.
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Three weeks later, Sharon had an unpleasant discovery of her own.
"I found a lump in my right breast when I did a self-breast exam," Sharon said. "Then I went to the doctor and they did a mammogram and they said there was an area (of cancer). I had my lumpectomy March 31."
After both of their operations, Sharon and Reggie were put on a program of chemotherapy: One session every two weeks. Sharon had eight rounds and is on the road to recovery, while Reggie has had 13 and counting.
"She came through her chemo really good," Reggie said of his wife. "But I got a side effect where I got real bad joint pain. I've got to take pain medicine for it. That's why I can't go out and do anything."
Reggie has been a farmer all of his life, but because of his cancer treatments, he is sapped of the strength and energy to do most of the farm work. One of Lucas' sons, Jason, does most of the work, but Reggie still insists on doing some of it himself.
"We have some hogs on the place," Reggie said, "but all they're doing is paying our bills and buying our groceries."
Sharon, who used to work at the Montrose Health Center before her treatments, said that so much has changed since March.
"He's no longer able to go to work," Sharon said. "He can't work, can't drive, and he's our only transportation because I'm legally blind. The doctors told me eventually I can go back to work. We don't know about him yet, but there are miracles."
Reggie and Sharon had also been taking care of his mother at home up until they started having difficulties taking care of themselves.
"His mother was living with us up until March 30," Sharon said. "But she has Alzheimer's, so we had to put her in the nursing home because neither one of us could take care of her."
And things just kept getting worse for awhile. While still going through chemo treatments, the Lucas' insurance company dropped their coverage, forcing the couple to seek more expensive COBRA coverage.
"In the meantime I was still working," Sharon said, "but I had to take sick leave, and as of Aug. 1, I could not keep the insurance at work. I had to go on COBRA, which is almost $1,000 a month for the two of us. So that's what they're having the benefit for - to help us pay for our medical bills."
Sharon is a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Montrose. When church members heard of their plight, they immediately sought to hold a fund-raiser to help the couple pay for their medical coverage.
"My church family has been wonderful," Sharon said. "They are taking care of us, driving us places if I need to go somewhere. This benefit is a lifesaver."
Reggie agreed, saying the couple's financial prospects were bleak before the church offered to help.
"We would have had to go to the bank and borrow money to try and get by," Reggie said.
And for awhile, things looked bleak yet again. Reggie said just last week, their doctor who had been treating them announced he was moving.
"At this point they don't know who's going to take over," Sharon said. "They haven't given us a new name."
Lucas was concerned that he would had to start traveling to Iowa City in order to get his chemo treatments instead of going to Keokuk like he has been.
"Down here in Keokuk they had an outreach center," Reggie said. "They closed it. The doctor normally came down every two weeks to see patients down here....now that he's leaving, they closed it. I hope I can still get my chemo down here."
Sharon said on Wednesday both of those worries have now been erased because they have a new doctor and permission for Reggie to continue his chemo treatments in Keokuk.
"You just try to survive day- by-day," Sharon said. "You live one day at a time."
For Reggie, who was given three months to live when originally diagnosed back in March, those are words to live by.
A fish-fry benefit will be held on Friday at the Ivor Fowler Community Center in Montrose. The event is from 5 to 8 p.m.
Maidrites, hot dogs, side dishes and drinks will be served. Free-will donations will be accepted.
There also will be live music and a bake sale.
For those unable to attend, donations may be mailed to: Pastor G. Laymon, Trinity UMC, P.O. Box 161, Montrose, IA 52639.
Both Reggie and Sharon Lucas would like to thank the church and everyone involved for hosting the benefit.
"It's a lifesaver," Sharon said. "We're grateful to the church, and thankful for everything they've done."
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