Show Page 14— The Herald JournalCache Sunday September 4 1988 Timothy J GonzaleaHerald Journal Carol Martinez a founder of Hospice of Cache Valley The fruits of victory If it weren't for the foresight and initial determination of one local woman Hospice might not be a service available for people of Cache Valley Carol Martinez’s reasons for initiating Hospice weren't totally unselfish but were characterized more by empathy You see she had learned through hard experience the pain of living with andfighting cancer Twelve years ago she discovered a lump in her breast A nurse by profession and a teacher at Logan High School at the time her life changed rpractically overnight” she said Martinez went from "feeling like a healthy person” to dealing with the fact "I might not live to see my children grow up” she said recalling that period "Life takes on a whole different meaning” she said "We think we’re immortal till something like this happens” After the initial shock and the thought that she might not have long to live Martinez determined to take the attitude that "I was going to beat it” she said "Victor over cancer” became her preferred term to "victim of cancer" After undergoing a full year of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation for 12 therapy she has been cancer-fre- e years Her doctor noting her determination suggested she visit other breast cancer patients and share her positive attitude Another support program strictly for cancer patients "Reach to Recovery" was already in existence and still is but her doctor suggested she could also share her attitude with others undergoing the same trauma Making the choice to not go back to her teaching job she decided instead to focus on her young family and do volunteer work As the saying goes: One thing led to another As a volunteer for the Utah Division of the American Cancer Society Martinez began visiting cancer patients and sharing her knowledge and experience With a grant from the ACS she began the Cancer Rehabilitation Program at the Logan Regional Hospital She then heard about the Hospice program from a couple of women who where coordinating the program in Salt Lake City d Martinez shared her interest and information with others who quickly picked up on her excitement She made plans to meet with two other women interested in the concept To her pleasant surprise 15 people in the health profession attended that meeting at the Logan Regional Hospital The following week each brought a friend not in the health profession 29 people attended What began simply as a seed was indeed beginning to bloom People — health professionals and — began to meet weekly for a year and a half to discuss the needs goals and objectives of a Hospice organization in the valley They drew up a proposal and with the support of Logan services Regional Hospital through the idea became a reality A board of directors was formally formed and Hospice of Cache Valley opened its doors in May 1981 Martinez was director of the program until 1985 She is still on the board and is still very much involved During the recent Hospice Golf Tournament and she was honored with a plaque and recognized for her dedicated commitment and service to the organization Now 12 years after Martinez’s initial shock of learning she had cancer she has seen her dream of Hospice in the valley realized With support of family and friends and a strong faith in God she has become a "victor over cancer” and has lived to see her children go through high school and college and get married and raise families of their new-foun- in-ki- fund-rais- own er |