In Memory
Christina Carr, Founder of SLOCA - 2003
Phyllis Feagans - 2007
Becky Scott - 2007
Catherine "Kay" Holmes - 2006
My mother was diagnosed with Stage 3C ovarian cancer on January 31, 2005. After 6 months of remission, in January of 2006, she was diagnosed with brain metastasis, started radiation treatment, and was gone, all in less than a week. She died at the age of 69 on January 30, 2006 - one day short of her one-year anniversary. She inspired me to volunteerwith SLOCA, to help do anything I can do to spread awareness of this disease and to help support others who are dealing with it in their lives. Here is an excerpt from the eulogy I read at her funeral:
Our Mom, Kay, touched so many peoples’ lives while she was here with us - it’s truly a tribute to her that so many people cared about her and loved her. She was always the life of the party – full of humor and ready to laugh, and no one enjoyed a good joke more. She passed on to my sister and I her good sense of humor, her good sense, her love of words, her love of reading, her love of life. She taught us how to throw a great party, how to make a gin bucket, and how to do a crossword puzzle in ink. She gave us both such self-confidence – she was our greatest supporter and our biggest fan. And she was always there when we needed someone to talk to.
One year ago, we thought we had lost her. And, though we found out she had ovarian cancer and knew she had a hard fight ahead of her, we were so grateful for that reprieve. Mom went through a lot, but she never gave up. The six months of her treatment weren’t fun, but we were able to spend a lot of time together, and give back a little of the care she’d given us all our lives. With the help of a lot of angels we got her through, and she had six months more to feel good and enjoy life. We cherished that time, and so did she.
Ovarian cancer takes so much from so many people – it is a disease with so little awareness. In memory of Mom, I ask everyone here to help spread awareness. Educate yourselves on the disease and its symptoms. Take a teal bracelet and wear it, or put one of those magnet ribbons on your car, and tell people what it means. If you can, help a research organization to find better screening and diagnosis tools, and better treatments. Maybe, with our help, someday no other daughter will have to stand before her friends and family and tell her mother goodbye much too soon because of this disease.
- Kitty Lasinski
Beverly Freyman - 2006
Beverly Freyman of Chesterfield, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister; a caring friend; a mentor to children in need; an ovarian cancer advocate died on November 4, 2006 of complications from ovarian cancer. "Her family was the most important thing in her life; nothing came before them," husband of 37 years, David Freyman said.
Bev was born in Joplin, Missouri in 1949. When she was 20, she moved to St. Louis with her husband David to begin her teaching career. Bev became pregnant with her eldest daughter Debra and put her career on hold. She went on to have two more children, a daughter Julie and a son Daniel. As Bev's children grew, she decided to return to the classroom while her children were in school. She was a pre-school teacher at Lucky Lane, B'nai Amoona and at Shaare Emeth Kindergarten Enrichment. After her career as a pre-school teacher, Bev returned to the public school setting and shadowed a child with Downs Syndrome, for five years, at Woerther Elementary, in the Rockwood School district. When she learned that she was going to become a grandma, she put her career on hold to be a stay-at-home grandma.
After five years of remission, Bev was rediagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2003. Once again, Freyman did not let the silent killer take control. She fought back by joining the Executive Board of SLOCA. Bev served as Director of Public Relations. She fought tirelessly to promote SLOCA's mission while undergoing an additional four years of chemotherapy and ser sphere radiation. SLOCA's goal is to increase ovarian cancer survivorship by promoting awareness of early warning signs and standards of care, enabling early diagnosis and promoting ovarian cancer research and survivor support. "You never heard my mother complain," youngest child Daniel Freyman said. "Her biggest motto was PMA all the way. She believed you had to have a positive mental attitude at all times."
In the last years of her life, Bev appeared on television and in and the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Although she did not like being in the lime light, she put her own apprehensions aside to further educate other women about the early warning signs of ovarian cancer. "In spite of her desire to stay behind the scene, my wife would never turn down the opportunity to help others learn about ovarian's silent warning signs," David Freyman said.
Bev started and recently chaired the Second Annual SLOCA Fall Fashion Show at the Ladies of Lucerne. The September event had record-high attendance. Bev was proud of her accomplishments, and her children plan to continue the annual event in her memory. Bev's children are also creating "Project P.M.A." in her memory. The project is aimed at redecorating the infusion room at Barnes Jewish Hospital in an effort to brighten chemo patient's spirits while they undergo treatment. The students at Parkway West High School will donate their artwork to the room as well.
The Freyman family also plans to create a Peace Garden at Missouri Baptist Hospital. In addition, they will also create a resource program at SLOCA for other ovarian cancer patients. "Families need to know what is available for them during their time of need," said David Freyman. "Our goal is to continue my wife's mission to help others."
Survivors include husband David, daughter Debra (Michael) Klevens; daughter Julie (Jeffrey) Lazaroff; son Daniel Freyman; three granddaughters Sydney Kolker, Zoe Klevens and Ella Lazaroff and brother Harry Baum. Bev was preceded in death by a brother, Bruce Baum; her mother Shirley and father Ben Baum.
Two-thirds of cases will be diagnosed in later stages with a 30 percent chance of a five-year survival rate.