Stan’s the man at cancer sufferer’s lowest point She introduced herself as Debi Hume and she is a Cancer survivor. In October 2009 Debi Hume received something unexpected news that would alter and not only turn her own life upside down but also the lives of her family and friends. The Hamilton woman was diagnosed with cell cancer and secondary breast cancer; the worst was yet to come, as Debi puts it “I was told there was no hope.” Her world became a series of hospital visits, poking, prodding and needles.
Transcript
Stan’s the man at cancer sufferer’s lowest
point
She introduced herself as Debi Hume and she is a Cancer survivor.
In October 2009 Debi Hume received something unexpected news
that would alter and not only turn her own life upside down but also
the lives of her family and friends.
The Hamilton woman was diagnosed with cell cancer and secondary
breast cancer; the worst was yet to come, as Debi puts it “I was told
there was no hope.” Her world became a series of hospital visits,
poking, prodding and needles.
The first operation was marginally successful and sent her back into
the dreaded depths of the hospital wards with an infection.
The only thing that seemed to cure Debi’s emotional, mental, and
physical pain was immersing her in activities.
“When I first got sick I tried to find the right thing to help me through,
painting, games, hell I even thought of reading a book, but that didn’t
last long,” said Debi.
Debi’s had to deal with not only her own physical pain as a cancer
patient, but the pain of allowing family members to become part and
parcel of her healing process, which meant that her 21-year-old son
gave up his working career to support his mother. The role reversal
where Debi was the care receiver was a key moment and hard pivotal
point in her recovery process.
“He is my world and I will never be able to thank him enough for
being there for me, some say its what you have kids for, but I tell you I
know lots [of children] that wouldn’t sacrifice anything and the guilt
that a parent feels when they can’t be the parent and roles are
reversed is destroying,” she said.
Debi then turned to one of her past time passions, music, a passion
shared also by her son.
“Music has always been mine and my son’s thing; we dance around
the lounge everyday to C4 and the radio blaring in the car, it’s
something we can both relate to and I guess it strengths our already
strong bond.”
But there is one artist in particular, Debi thanks the most.
Stan Walker; winner of Australian Idol is hitting the top charts at
present with an amazing line up of songs from Unbroken, Chandelier,
Black Box, Choose you and inside out. A number of which are Debi’s
favourites and of which she credits to helping her through her
recovery and aim of being cancer free.
She credits a number of Stan’s songs to certain stages of her cancer
fight.
“When I was at my lowest ‘Unbroken’ came out and it related to how I
was feeling at the time. A person did come into my life and helped me
sort my head out and every time I hear that song, to this day I cry and
thank the person that was there.”
The song ‘Chandelier’ even though it has references to a female, still
makes Debbie think of her son.
“He is my shining light, he is out of this world and his smile lights up
the room.”
‘Choose you’ one of Stan Walkers top singles resembles Debi’s trails
and tribulations through dealing with stress, anger and the
frustrations associated with cancer.
“This song also is about me and my family, no matter what is said or
done I wouldn’t choose anyone else to me with me.”
Last but not least another Walker song ‘Inside out’ refers to the end of
a treacherous journey for Debi.
“This song puts in to play that I am now me as I am, people will see
me from the inside, to be quite honest there is not much left on the
outside...”
Debi has a minor operation to come before she gets the final all clear
on her cancer but she has not let that stop her from starting a full-
time job as a clothing store manager at The Base shopping complex in
Hamilton this week.
The job will bring the start of another remarkable chapter in the life
of a woman who is also an amputee, having lost a leg in her 20s
following a motorbike accident.
And she hopes to meet Stan Walker, who did his high school
education in Hamilton, one day in the not too distant future.
Debi is also encouraging people to support the Brick For Life
campaign being run by the Hamilton CBD Lions to raise funds for the
New Cancer Society’s Cancer Lodge which is an accommodation
facility on Tainui St, Hamilton, servicing Waikato/Bay Of Plenty and
Coromandel region.
There is still $2 million (of a $5 million total) required to fund raise for
the new Lodge which was opened late February.
The new building will accommodate around 700 people from around
the region each year, free of charge, while they receive treatment for
cancer.
“Every dollar put towards this campaign will help someone facing
cancer crises in their life like mine,” she said.
To donate to the Hamilton CBD Lion’s Charitable Trust’s “Brick For
