Vivian (Toogie) Bethea doesn’t just call herself a Survivor. She calls herself a walking miracle. In June of 2009 she went to Dr. Michael Brown for a routine visit, so that she could get new prescriptions for her daily medications. During the exam, he noticed that one area of her neck looked a little larger than normal. On July 1st Dr. Blum did a biopsy. The biopsy was positive, and she was scheduled to see Dr. Pavy, in Florence, on July 8th. 
The diagnosis: Aniaplastic Thyroid Cancer. Dr. Pavy had not seen this type of cancer since Med School some 30+ years earlier. He had only seen three cases then. He told Vivian that it was very aggressive and fast moving. Dr. Pavy told her that he could not help her. He gave her three options to pursue. She chose Charleston.
On July 15th Vivian met with Dr. Jerry Day. She was scheduled for surgery on August 5th, at MUSC. Between the time of the initial visit, and the surgery itself, the cancer had already spread outside the thyroid. The surgery involved removal of the thyroid and lymph nodes. They felt that they had been able to get all of the cancer. The surgery seemed like quite the ordeal on it’s on. Little did Vivian know that it was only the beginning. It was probably the easiest part of her journey.
Prior to the surgery Vivian was told that she might lose her voice or her ability to swallow and asked which would be her choice. She said she would rather lose her voice because you still have the ability to read, watch tv and communicate in other ways without talking. She knew though, that she would need to be able to swallow in able to eat and drink. Vivian is thankful that by the Grace of God she lost neither. She can still do both.
After taking time to recover from the surgery, she would begin treatments on August 26th. She was scheduled for radiation twice a day five days a week. Added to that, she would also have chemotherapy on Wednesdays. She would be taking a total of 11 treatments per week. Tiny Debusk returned to Dillon from her home in Indiana, to care for her sister during this ordeal.
Every cloud has a silver lining. Vivian and Tiny would need to stay in Charleston during the treatments. They were able to find lodging at a very special place. Hope Lodge is run by the American Cancer Society. It is free for cancer patients. It is actually three houses connected together. Each guest has a private room with a private bath. The one requirement is that each patient must have a caregiver with them. You are responsible for your own food and cleaning. Once a week one of the local churches or civic groups bring in a prepared meal that is available to the guests. There is a kitchen available for your use. There is a porch with rockers to relax in; an area with games and activities; and even a room with fish. They say that the fish are relaxing and peaceful when you’re sick. There is also a laundry room. Vivian is very thankful to have been able to be a part of Hope Lodge. It is funded solely by donations to the American Cancer Society. It offers a place where cancer patients can have a home away from home while undergoing their treatments.
Vivian and Tiny would drive to Charleston every Sunday afternoon. She would have a radiation treatment each morning and each afternoon. On Wednesdays there was also a Chemo treatment in between. On Friday afternoons they would pack up and return to Dillon. Then each Sunday, it was back to Charleston. There was only one weekend, towards the end that they were unable to make the trip back to Dillon. Toogie was too weak for the trip.
While in Charleston, Toogie and Tiny experienced long days and weeks. Some were worse than others. It was not an easy journey. However, while there, they were able to see and experience things that they would not have experienced without the cancer. They experienced the kindness that was shown to them at Hope Lodge, met many who were going down similar paths that they were, and even experienced a very special miracle. On a day that Tiny was very discouraged because of the enormous cost of Vivian’s medicine, a complete stranger that she had just met while waiting, paid for the prescription without even telling her. They don’t know his name. Only that he was there with his wife who had cancer. That was just one of the miracles they saw.
On October 6th, 2009, Vivian had her last treatment. She was very weak, burned from the radiation, and still had a lot of healing to do. She’s come a long way since then.
She now goes back every six months to the radiologist, and once a year for a pet scan. She goes to the thyroid doctor every six months.
One of her doctors teases her and calls her a tough old lady. I told her that she’s a tough old codger and was stronger than she ever knew.
Vivian has another answer. She calls herself a walking miracle and knows that it is by the Grace of God, and all of the prayers that were lifted for her that she came away cancer free. She views life along with its trials and provisions in a different light.
Ironically, before being diagnosed with cancer, she became a hospice volunteer. She was just beginning that when it had to be put on hold for her to fight her battle. Once she regained her strength after treatments, she returned to her position as a Hospice Volunteer. I’m sure that she views it, too, in a whole new light.
