Relay for Life participant puts her feeling into words

When Vicki Flaherty was diagnosed with breast cancer, she identified an opportunity to more deeply understand herself.

Flaherty quickly found writing poetry to be cathartic during her recovery. "Mostly My Heart Sings" is an intimate and encouraging collection of poems that addresses her diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. The book will be published June 1 by Turas Publishing (www.turaspublishing.com).

"My writing let me recognize and accept my deepest fears, sorrow, and sadness," Flaherty said. "I was surprised at how capturing my feelings on paper helped me move through my experience. Creating each piece was my way of finding peace and reaching for hope."

Flaherty shares her profound feeling of gratitude for her caregivers in the pages of "Mostly My Heart Sings." Flaherty, who began writing poetry eight years ago, will read the poem "Into the Light" during the Caregiver Ceremony at the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of Johnson County June 15-16 at the Cretzmeyer Track. The ceremony will begin around 8:45 p.m. on June 15

"I was so honored to be asked to write a special poem for the Caregiver Ceremony," Flaherty said. "Poetry was a river of healing during my recovery. 'Into the Light' came to me over a week-long period. Writing it was like magic." Flaherty was asked to write "Into the Light" by Barb Kamer, a project manager for annual giving and Relay for Life at the American Cancer Society, after sharing another poem during a yoga class at UI Hospitals and Clinics.

Last July, Flaherty, now 48, had a routine mammogram, and much to her surprise she was told she may have breast cancer. She had a biopsy, lumpectomy, mastectomy and reconstruction of her right breast at UI Hospitals and Clinics ... and is now cancer free.

As a way to celebrate being a cancer survivor, Flaherty will participate in her first Relay this year. She also views Relay as a chance to honor her caregivers, who formed a community of support during the darkest hours of her recovery process.

Flaherty, a member of the Celebrating the Gold Medal of Life team, plans to walk a mile each hour during the 12 hours of Relay. She will dedicate each lap to a special survivor, caregiver, or to someone who lost their battle with cancer. She already has 48 dedications.

"I may have to walk more to truly honor everyone I know who has been touched by cancer in some way," Flaherty said.

Joining Flaherty at Relay will be her husband, Jim; her best friend, Peggy Kennedy, of Aurora, Ill.; her oncology surgeon at UI Hospitals and Clinics, Sonia Sugg; as well as many other friends.

Flaherty dedicated the poem, "My Surgeon's Hands" to Dr. Sugg.

Flaherty, whose grandmother died of colon cancer when Vicki was 16, initially wanted to raise $300 to help in the fight against cancer, but she reached that goal within a couple hours. Currently, she has raised $1,030 in donations. To donate to Relay or to join a team, visit www.relayforlife.org/johnsoncountyia.

"It is amazing what happens when people come together for an important cause," Flaherty said. "I believe in Relay, because I think cancer detection, prevention, research, and services are important. I expect it will be an energizing and emotional night."

The American Cancer Society predicts that more than 2,300 women in Iowa will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. Every year in Iowa, more women are diagnosed with breast cancer than with lung cancer and colon cancer combined.

For more information, visit http://www.relayforlife.org/johnsoncountyia,e-mail johnsoncountyrfl@gmail.com, or call 319-471-5076. For more information on cancer resources, visit your American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org or call 800.227.2345.