Life-changing experience

• Beverly Massey's battle with myogenous leukemia has influenced her career choice and changed her look.

Cathy Higgins

LEESBURG — Today Beverly Massy is just like any other teenager.

But that wasn't always the case for the 19-year-old.

Early in 2004, Massey was diagnosed with acute myogenous leukemia, a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. This meant that while trying to complete her senior year at Albany High School, she had to make frequent trips to Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta for chemotherapy.

After several months the Leesburg resident did go into remission, but she had a relapse in June 2005.

"On Sept. 21 (2005) I had a bone-marrow transplant," Massey said.

The transplant was successful, and today Massey is in remission once again.

An additional benefit to her restored health is that Massey's hair is growing back after falling out from the chemotherapy. But it's not the same straight, light brown strands the young woman once had. Her post-chemo locks are short, dark and curly.

"It's taken awhile to get used to," she said. "But once I went swimming and I came up out of the water with my hair straight. I said, 'Ugh, I don't like it straight.' "

Not only does Massey have a new look, but she also has a new friend — the donor who made her bone marrow transplant possible.

Massey plans to meet her benefactor in October. But she has no idea who the donor is — only that it's a female.

"That's all I know about her," Massey said. "I think maybe she's got freckles. I didn't have freckles before my transplant, and now I have them."

But the two are learning bits about each other when they exchange letters through Egleston Children's Hospital about once a month.

"We both love angels," Massey said.

Massy also exchanged birthday presents with her donor.

"For her birthday I made her a box," Massey said, explaining that she painted the box purple and blue and decorated it with items such as the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 13:4-9 and a cross key chain.

When Massey turned 19 in August, the donor sent a set of glass coasters that house photographs.

Just because Massey is on the other side of her cancer battle, it doesn't mean her life is problem-free. She's currently dealing with graft-versus-host disease, a complication for bone-marrow transplant recipients.

"That's under control with medications," Massey said, explaining that the healing process takes longer than most people realize. "People think once you're done with chemo, it's done. But that's not how it is."

Instead, she explained, the Egleston Hospital staff continues to monitor Massey.

"Last week I had a sore throat, and they kept an eye on it," she said. "They watch every little thing to make sure you do go into a relapse."

But she's not letting any setbacks hold her down. Instead, she recently enrolled at Darton College's nursing program.

"I want to specialize in oncology," Massey said.

The freshman credits her cancer battle with impacting her career goal.

"We actually just wrote a paper, 'What has Shaped You Into the Person You are Today,' " Massey said.

That impact also motivates Massey to share about leukemia in schools and to raise funds for cancer awareness.

"I'm helping out with Light the Night," Massey said, explaining that she's helping to raise funds for the Georgia Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. "One thing I'm doing is that I've been taking (paper) balloons to different stores (for fund-raising)."

She also plans to join at least 100 fellow Southwest Georgia cancer survivors in the survivor's walk the day of the event.

"I'll be there with my white balloon," Massey said.

Those who are there in support of cancer patients carry red balloons.

The walk is set to begin with registration at 5 p.m. Friday at Riverfront Park.

"We're expecting 750-1,000 people to come out," said Albany Walk Coordinator Ali Dunn. "At least 75 teams are participating, and that doesn't include the individual participants."

During the two-hour registration period, DJ Bobby Powell will entertain the crowd.

"Last year he got everybody to do the electric slide," Dunn said.

Powell will be joined by Chuck E. Cheese and the South Georgia Wildcats mascot. Snacks, face painting and additional activities will also be available.

At 7 p.m. the annual walk will kick off. Participants will make their way around a two-mile stretch of downtown Albany that covers Pine, Jefferson and Broad.

This is Albany's third consecutive year to take part in Light the Night, which raised $60,000 at last year's event.

"This year our goal is $72,560," Dunn said, explaining that the funds go toward patient aid and resources and education.

Massey is one such cancer survivor to benefit from some of that funding.

"They reimbursed us the gas money for all of our trips to Atlanta," she said.

For information about Light the Night, call (800) 399-7312, ext. 2045.