Maybe she was your English teacher. Maybe she was a friendly face who smiled at you in the hall. Maybe you noticed her chic fashion taste. Or maybe you saw her on network television.
In February 2014, Ms. Valerie Hamilton, a WHS special education English teacher, was diagnosed with locally advanced breast cancer. A mother of two children, a dedicated wife and a devoted teacher, Hamilton was stunned. “I think I was at a loss for words,” she said. “But once I got over being afraid, I realized this was a journey I was on.”
She found that support in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center after receiving a second opinion there. “The care I received at MSK was incredible, their desire to take of your heart, body, and soul is immeasurable.” Hamilton said. “From the person who opens the door for you, to the person who takes your blood, from your surgeon, everyone. It was just very loving. And you need that.”
Months later, after having received chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, Hamilton was finally deemed cancer-free. This past April, MSK called her, asking if she’d appear in a commercial to share her story and experiences. The commercial, which aired locally on network and cable TV, was part of MSK’s “Science Saves” campaign, an effort to highlight MSK’s research and treatment options. She agreed to participate in the campaign because she wanted people to know that having cancer “is not a death sentence, it’s not the end of their life, it’s not the end of the world. It’s another chance for you to really live life to the fullest and really understand your purpose while you’re here.”
It wasn’t until 45 crew members and a well-known LA movie director showed up at WHS to film that Hamilton realized the scale of this project. “Did I imagine a commercial, being on Channel 7? Absolutely not. Did I imagine a commercial, period? No. I never thought anything like that.”
But being on television was only part of the process for Hamilton. For her, what mattered most was her attitude throughout the experience. “There were times that I shed tears, but I couldn’t have a pity party. I mean, no one would come. I think I would’ve been disappointed if I was crying and feeling sorry for myself and making other people around me miserable. When I look back, it was a beautiful journey.”
Perhaps you’ll walk away from this article inspired by one WHS teacher’s courageous battle against breast cancer, and her brave decision to share her story. Perhaps you’ll have a new appreciation for the tremendous process that doctors and patients go through each day to fight cancer.
Or perhaps you’ll find yourself following Hamilton’s lead, and living each day a bit more intentionally.