Hospitals celebrate National Cancer Survivor Day

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - Hundreds of people gathered with St. Bernards Medical Center and NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital to celebrate those whose lives have been impacted by cancer.

Robin Wolfe is a three-time cancer survivor. She is currently battling a fourth cancer diagnosis.

“I went through my test. I went through it, I passed it. I am a survivor. I will stand. I am going to be alright,” Wolfe said.

Cancer survivor: a phrase that means resilience, fighter, strength, courage in the face of one of the hardest battles a person can fight.

Jill McBride is a breast cancer survivor.

“People tell you, you’re so strong, you’re so strong. You don’t really have any other option but to be strong,” McBride said.

“I love the Lord, and whatever he asks me to do, I’m going to do it. I fight because I’m in his army. So I will fight until I can’t fight anymore,” Wolfe said.

Cancer doesn’t just affect those diagnosed with it, but also those around them. June Williams is a breast cancer survivor and recently lost her husband to cancer.

“My children had experienced their father’s journey with cancer, and as I said, he did not survive, so when I was diagnosed, I wanted to remain positive for my children,” Williams said.

Bill Drake’s wife was a 27-year cancer survivor until she passed in December of 2024.

“She was a fighter. To fight like she did for that long against those kinds of odds. When you say survivor, I think of her automatically,” Drake said,

Each survivor has their own journey, their own fight, but sometimes they need to come together to celebrate.

“It’s definitely a family, and you just deal with it one day at a time,” Drake said.

“To see other people and know that they have fought this same battle no matter what kind of cancer it is,” McBride said. ”It’s amazing to see other people, and you know that they really do know what you’re going through.”

“What we have to focus on as cancer patients is what cancer cannot take from me. It cannot take my hope, cannot take my joy,” Williams said.

To report a typo or correction, please click here.