Aflac has been engaged in the fight against childhood cancer for nearly 20 years. During that time, the company has been fortunate to meet many unsung heroes who have made a real difference in the fight against childhood cancer. To honor these individuals, Aflac has created the Duckprints award. Duckprints champions these heroes through ceremonies at childhood cancer hospitals, user-generated nominations on www.duckprints.aflac.com and in social media.
The goal of Duckprints is to generate a groundswell of excitement that will result in an increase in both donations and awareness, with the ultimate mission of eradicating childhood cancer.
The Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is one of the largest childhood cancer centers in the country. The Aflac Cancer Center is committed to providing childhood cancer patients a brighter future throughadvanced medical treatment, family-centered care, a child-friendly environment and innovative research. Aflac is proud to have donated more than $87 million to the Aflac Cancer Center, with the goal of reaching$100 million by the end of 2015.
In honor of Mother’s Day and Aflac’s goal to help support the fight against childhood
cancer, Aflac will donate $2 to the Aflac Cancer Center for every post or tweet of former
Aflac Cancer Center patient Trisha Henry Gaffney’s inspiring story using #Duckprints.
Trisha’s uplifting story of surviving cancer and her path to motherhood is featured below.
Cancer Survivor and Mom, Trisha Henry Gaffney
On Valentine’s Day 1996, 19-year-old Trisha was diagnosed with embryonal
rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive tumor usually found in the head, neck, hands
or feet of young children. Trisha’s was the first reported case to occur in the right
ureter, the tube connecting the kidney and bladder.
After going through surgery to remove her right kidney, ureter and a portion of her
bladder, Trisha spent a year at the Aflac Cancer Center undergoing chemotherapy
and radiation.
Following her treatment for this rare form of cancer, Trisha Henry Gaffney was
eager to put her health problems behind her. The last thing she wanted to do was
dwell on the effects of her illness.
Trying to Get Back to Normal
Trisha was eager to get back to school, and in January 1997, she went back to Illinois ‒ where she was a student and scholarship swimmer at the University of Illinois ‒ to finish the last few months of chemotherapy. Her treatment ended in April 1997, and she was ready to put her focus on all of the positive forces in her life. During her treatment at the Aflac Cancer Center, Trisha had started dating Andrew Gaffney, a fellow swimmer from high school. She had a big group of friends in Champaign, Ill. she looked forward to seeing again. In addition, she became a journalism major with the goal of focusing her energy on telling others’ inspirational stories of overcoming obstacles.
In 1998, a friend encouraged Trisha to visit the Cancer Survivor Program at the
Aflac Cancer Center. The Aflac Cancer Center provides specialized, long-term
follow-up care and helps identify and treat problems associated with the effects
of cancer treatment to help survivors lead a full life, including school, work and
a family of their own. However, the idea of going to even more doctors didn’t sit
well with Trisha. “You don’t want your cancer to define you,” Trisha said, “but as you get older, you realize it plays a much bigger part in your life than you’re willing to admit.”
Hearing More Bad News
After several years of going to general doctors for check-ups, Trisha finally made an appointment with the Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer Center.
“After college, I devoted myself to my work and being normal,” Trisha said. “I put cancer behind me. Then it reared its ugly head at 32.” During her first appointment at the Cancer Survivor Program, Trisha received her health records. She
was able to gain a broad understanding of her entire health history, including her treatments and the issues they could cause, called late effects.
After meeting with the Medical Director, Trisha went to a fertility specialist, who delivered some devastating news. The lab work showed Trisha’s chemotherapy and 23 radiation treatments had wreaked havoc on her body. Only one ovary was functional, and the radiation had damaged her uterus; she was approaching an early menopause, and she would not be able to carry a child. “It’s devastating when you can’t have a family,” Trisha said. “I froze my eggs that year. I thought, ‘Screw you, cancer! I want my own kid.’”
Taking Control and Moving Forward
After her sister’s best friend offered to be a surrogate, Trisha and Andrew, now her husband, became parents to Isabella in April 2013. Isabella just celebrated her first birthday, and this Mother’s Day will mark Trisha’s second, thanks to the Aflac Cancer Center and its programs. The impact of the Aflac Cancer Center isn’t lost on Trisha. Without the
intervention of doctors and nurses in her health, her life would be incredibly different.
“If I hadn’t had my friend telling me to go to the Cancer Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer Center,” Trisha said, “I wouldn’t have my daughter.”
Armed with the knowledge about her medications, treatments and the
potential challenges ahead, Trisha is empowered to be an advocate for her own
health. She knows it is survivorship that defines her ‒ not cancer.
She encourages survivors to take advantage of the resources available through
the Aflac Cancer Center so they can become healthy, happy adults ‒ and
parents if they choose. “It is great that in this day and age, children will most likely live,” Trisha said. “But once they do, they’re going to have some expectations about that life.”
We are calling on you readers to be a voice for all the children that are fighting for their lives daily. To help is so easy and only takes seconds!
Now through Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 11), Aflac will donate $2 to the Aflac Cancer Center for a variety of social media Duckprints activities using #Duckprints, including:
– Twitter: $2 for every Duckprints tweet or retweet using #Duckprints
– Facebook: $2 for every Duckprints post or share using #Duckprints
Who Is Aflec?
Aflac is the number one provider of supplemental insurance in the United States. Aflac is different from health insurance; it’s insurance for daily living. Aflac pays cash benefits quickly and directly to you to help with daily expenses whenyou’re sick or hurt. The benefits are pre-determined and paid regardless of any other insurance you have.
