GREAT VALLEY - Cheri Simcox is used to helping others!

She’s an emergency medical technician/advanced life support (EMT/ALS) trainer and a regular on Great Valley-Ellicottville ambulance emergencies.

Over the summer, however, she discovered she had cancer. She had surgery and is undergoing chemotherapy at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. Her concerns were not only for herself, but her husband, Abby, who is a paraplegic.

Many of her friends, EMT students and firefighters from around the county who have trained with Cheri will attend a spaghetti dinner and benefit for her on Saturday beginning at noon at the Great Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Clubhouse. There will be live music, Chinese auctions, 50/50 drawings, gift baskets and more.

Christy Wiser, one of the organizers, has known Cheri for about five years. She’s a volunteer firefighter, fellow EMT and secretary of the Great Valley Volunteer Fire Department. She’s driving Cheri to and from her monthly chemotherapy sessions.

“There probably isn’t a fire department in this area she hasn’t taught at, or had some interaction with,” Mrs. Wiser said. Cheri also teaches EMT classes at St. Bonaventure University and through the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office. Mrs. Wiser said organizers of the benefit are trying to let her former students know about the benefit, as well as friends and area businesses.

The chemotherapy has caused Cheri to miss some teaching assignments for some of her EMT classes, and forced her to cut back somewhat on responding to ambulance runs, Mrs. Wiser said. The couple lives on Abby’s disability income and her part-time EMT instructor’s pay and EMT stipend.

Cheri declined when she first heard about her friends’ efforts to set up a benefit.

“I said no. I was completely against it,” Cheri said. “I do for people; people don’t do for me.” After her friends said they were going ahead with it anyway, Cheri had to admit, “I have the most wonderful friends in the world. I can’t tell you how blessed I am.”

Cheri said she had a fibroid tumor removed in August that was later found to be cancerous. In 99.5 of cases, such fibroid tumors are benign. There is a 50/50 chance being cancer-free after several years with this type of cancer.

In Cheri’s case, the tumor was cancerous and doctors discovered some of the cancer may have spread; that’s why the chemotherapy is necessary. She is half-way through with the therapy and has an 80 percent chance of being cancer-free over the next several years.

“All our friends are coming forward to help,” Cheri said.

She was most grateful to Mike and Laura Finnegan who drove down from Cattaraugus very early one morning to help turn Abby, which Cheri couldn’t do because she was too weak from chemotherapy. Friends don’t wait for her to call to ask for help.

Cheri also realizes the hundreds of EMTs she has trained over the past 19 years to go out and help save lives have done just that. She now coordinates county EMT training through the county health department, and also teaches through BOCES. After learning of her health problem, many of her former students are now asking how they can help her.

Those unable to attend Saturday’s benefit may make a monetary donation at Cattaraugus County Bank in Salamanca, or at the Great Valley Fire Hall.

“I’m still out there teaching,” she said in an interview earlier this week. “I’ve only missed four classes so far; I forgot one because I had ‘chemo-brain’ and I just forgot.”

She also goes on ambulance runs when she feels well enough.

Cheri, who shaved her head when she began losing her hair when the chemotherapy started, is resolute.

“I fully intend to beat this.”

She added, “Tell all of my friends that I thank them from the bottom of my heart, and Abby too. We are so blessed. I will come through this and they will have to put up with me for a few more years.”

(Contact reporter Rick Miller at rmiller@oleantimesherald.com)

Reader Comments

There are 1 comment(s) comments to this story.
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bradfordera.com.

Patti wrote on Nov 27, 2009 6:12 PM:

" Cheri is a truly wonderful person. She has touched so many people. She is always there when you need someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on. NO matter how busy she is, she always make time for those who need her. I am one of her past students and I grew up in Great Valley. I feel truly special for knowing her and I hope she pulls through. She is a very passionate and strong willed person. Cheri if you read this, I thank you for everything you have taught me and for all the times that when I needed someone to talk to you were there for me. I wish you the best. "

Report Abuse

Reader Comments

Submit a Comment