SUPPORT SYSTEMS

SUPPORT SYSTEMS

Photos by Chris Lassiter

Y'Family' Carries ZumbaInstructor Through Cancer Journey

By Dawn Medley

Wendy Shutty was in her second-floor office on Coalter Street when her friend and colleague Melissa Simmons called her with the mind-spinning diagnosis: triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form that is harder to treat. In a matter of minutes, Shutty was on Simmons' porch, opening her front door to give her a hug and reassure her that the entire STAUNTON-AUGUSTA FAMILY YMCA was in her corner for the fight ahead.

"To hear that this high-spirited, off-the-charts energetic woman had cancer just hit me like a ton of bricks," said Shutty, YMCA Fitness Director.

During the 10 months of chemotherapy, surgery, and recovery that followed, the members of Simmons' Y network made good on Shutty's original promise. They have been her cheerleaders, her surprise gifters, and her anytime-of-theday-or-night texters.

In other words - in addition to the unwavering care of her husband, Tim - they have been her lifeline.

"It has been astronomical how many people from the Y have contributed, reached out to check on me, or given us a gift card or an encouraging note," said Simmons, a Zumba instructor since 2011. "Many of them I know, but there are just as many that I don't know personally."

As the SAYMCA joins organizations and individuals around the country in observing National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Simmons' supporters are gearing up to buoy her through the next phase of treatment and recovery. Longtime friend and workout partner Carmen Crummett has been alongside her every step of the way, rallying staff members and Simmons' former Zumba students to lift her spirits and mark significant moments in her journey.

"We know that we can't go through it for her, but we all just want to do what we can to remind her that we're here for her and we care," Crummett said.

Since Simmons' initial diagnosis in November 2021, Crummett and a core group of about 15 members and Y staff have designed and sold T-shirts, created a personalized blanket, gathered gift cards and donations, made video messages, and organized group visits on her front yard to show their ongoing support.

Many, like Associate Executive Director Candace Martin and her mom, Kathy, have been unceasing in their encouragement.

"They send me a card in the mail every week! No lie - a card every week since December," Simmons said.

During a recent class session, the group spontaneously set aside time to pray together for their friend's continued strength and positivity.

"Since the beginning, Melissa has just stormed through her treatment and surgery, but she still has some challenges ahead, and we want her to know that we're not going anywhere," Crummett explained.

Each year, around 343,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the second most common cancer among American women, just behind skin cancer. But Simmons prefers to focus on the statistics from a different perspective - like the fact that there are more than 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.

"After my diagnosis, several women that I knew from the Y have reached out to me to let me know that they had survived breast cancer - something I never knew about them when we were in classes together," she said.

Although Simmons reluctantly had to pause from leading Zumba and her visits to the Y have been very limited because Covid-19 and other illnesses pose a serious threat to her weakened immune system, she was able to slip in for a few sessions of Yoga4Cancer when it began in spring 2022. Simmons joined a handful of cancer patients and survivors to learn breathing techniques, modified poses, and holistic approaches to strengthen their minds and bodies.

She wasn't surprised at all to find that the class immediately extended her support community and improved her outlook.

"I was used to working out every day prior to chemo, so that was a way for me to at least get out and do a little something, as much as I could manage," Simmons said. "It was wonderful to be with that group of women, and inspiring to know that many of them had gotten through something similar to what I was going through."

Shutty treasures the times when Simmons stops into her office just outside the studio after class. She continues to check in with her regularly, in anticipation of her giving the news that she is cancer-free.

"We just cannot wait for her to ring that bell," said Shutty, referencing the chime that Augusta Health cancer patients are invited to ring when their treatment is complete.