“I can finish strong by helping others.”

— Frank Howard, cancer patient.

More than a few doctors have called Frank Howard a walking miracle.

More than 23 years ago Frank Howard suffered a heart attack and had angioplasty surgery to widen his blocked arteries. But there was extensive damage to his heart, leaving him with the left half essentially dead. When Frank was leaving the hospital, the doctor told his wife Diane that with significant lifestyle changes, Frank might be lucky enough to live another 5 years. Diane didn’t tell Frank the doctor’s bleak opinion until many years later.

“I don’t know why I lasted this long,” said Frank, who is now 77.

The heart attack was a wake-up call for Frank not to take one day for granted. He continued working in the maintenance department at Oregon State University until retiring. And he listened to his doctors, carefully following their instructions, defying the earlier prediction that he wouldn’t live long enough to play with his eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren – No. 8 is expected in October.

“We are so blessed to have good doctors that we have confidence in,” Frank said.

Now Frank is praying for one more miracle.

Earlier this year, Frank began to experience low energy. He went to see his primary care doctor Lauren Gray, D.O., at The Corvallis Clinic Philomath Family Medicine. Dr. Gray ordered blood tests, which revealed an elevated reading. There were more tests and a chest X-ray was performed.

“I had a mass in my left lung that was a little over 3 inches in diameter,” Frank recalled. “She knew immediately that it was cancer.”

Dr. Gray referred Frank to Corvallis Clinic oncologist Lamia Boric, M.D., and two days later he was in her office for the first time. Frank and Diane readied themselves for the prognosis.

Frank’s cancer was treatable, but not curable.

They talked with Dr. Boric about balancing between the quality and length of Frank’s life.

“Dr. Boric is really intelligent and dedicated to her patients,” Frank said. “She discusses with me what she wants to do.”

Frank decided he would rather enjoy his friends and family than spend the life he has left feeling sick with the effects of a more aggressive treatment.

Dr. Boric also carefully considered his ongoing care for the heart condition. This delicate coordination of care so far has been working.

An initial full round of chemotherapy was given to slow the tumor’s growth. Subsequent rounds of chemo haven’t been as strong, as Dr. Boric stepped back the intensity of treatment as Frank’s cancer responded as she had predicted.

Frank is thankful for the extra time he has to spend with his family, to make sure they will be taken care of.

“The doctors have given us time to work together on this,” he said.

For each of his chemotherapy treatments, Frank picks a different T-shirt for the occasion.

For the first round, the T-shirt read, “Live your life so your pastor doesn’t have to lie at your funeral.” The next time, the words were, “Life is short. Pray hard.” His daughter sent him a shirt with words from TV’s Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson, “Happy Happy Happy.”

“The thing I would really like to get across is I am not fearful,” Frank said. “I would rather not have cancer, but I’m not afraid of it.”

For the last round of chemo, he picked a shirt that said, “Finish strong,” a reference to a passage in the Bible from Timothy I.

“I’ve run the race and I need to finish my life strong,” Frank said. “I can finish strong by helping others.”

Frank said he wants people who hear his story to have hope.

Some people hear the words cancer and think it’s a death sentence. Not Frank.

“If I can help somebody who is really suffering _ maybe they don’t have any hope _ If I can encourage someone … I would really love that.”

“We wanted to make a statement.”

— Lynette Shonnards, Shonnards Nursery Pink Days, Invincible Spirit

When plant supplier Proven Winners offered to donate to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure with the purchase of a pink hydrangea it called Invincibelle Spirit several years ago, Shonnard’s Nursery, Florist and Landscape eagerly agreed to sell the plant in its shop on Philomath Boulevard.

But for the independent, family-owned business, it wanted to do something additional that would have a local impact on their customers and the community. That’s how the idea for Pink Days got started, according to Andrea Shonnard, assistant manager at Shonnard’s. Invincibelle Spirit became the template for an even bigger promotion and celebration. Working with other vendors, Shonnard’s picked several items in the store with a portion of proceeds to be donated to Project H.E.R., and a plant auction was organized.

In the second year of Pink Days, Shonnard’s and its customers raised more than $5,000 for Project H.E.R.

“We’re local, and we didn’t want to send off the money we raised somewhere else,” Shonnard said.

The most touching response came from customers with cancer and cancer survivors. Gardening is a welcome distraction during cancer treatment, and the beauty of the flowers uplifts them, said owner Lynnette Shonnard. Pink Days supports the community and the people whose lives are affected by cancer.

“We wanted to make a statement,” Lynnette Shonnard said. “Look what this little business can do!”

Shonnard’s Pink Days will be held June 18-21, 2015

“When I was told I was too small to donate blood, I organized two blood drives for the American Red Cross.”

— Janet “Lena” Ferguson, 2014 Naibert Scholarship Recipient.

Janet “Lena” Ferguson is the 2014 recipient of the $1,000 Naibert Scholarship from The Corvallis Clinic Foundation. She is an OSU sophomore majoring in chemistry, and aspires to attend Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and become a trauma surgeon.
Lena’s passion for medicine and service began early. “When I was told I was too small to donate blood, I organized two blood drives for the American Red Cross.” By her junior year in high school, she was taking community college courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology and health occupations.
Outside of school, Lena has volunteered for Live United, Walk Against Breast Cancer, the Salvation Army, and as a coordinator at the Community Outreach, Inc. free clinic.

“Dr. Foley is the rare physician who is the perfect combination of knowledgeable expert and compassionate caregiver,”

— Dr. Shawn Foley, 2014 Oregon Hospice Dream Team Physician of the Year.

Dr. Shawn Foley is a 16-year family practitioner with The Corvallis Clinic Philomath Family Medicine. Since 2003, he has also been an active partner in the work of the Benton Hospice Service.
The Oregon Hospice Association has named Dr. Foley the 2014 Oregon Hospice Dream Team Physician of the Year.
“Dr. Foley is the rare physician who is the perfect combination of knowledgeable expert and compassionate caregiver,” Benton Hospice Service Executive Director Kelly Beard said. “An expert in hospice and palliative-care medicine, he is also kind, caring, and supportive of our hospice patients as well as a teacher, cheerleader and champion of Benton Hospice staff.”