Opinions Editor
Photo: Chris Clark
For most of CMU, February means hearts of pink and red, romantic gestures and embracing the idea of love, but for Professor Gabriele Mayer-Hunke, a German and English teacher at CMU, February symbolizes teal ribbons, a fight for survival and embracing life.
On Feb. 26, 2008, Mayer-Hunke left her English 111 class early and was rushed to St. Mary’s after experiencing incredible pain in her lower abdomen. An ultrasound was taken in hopes of discovering the source of Mayer-Hunke’s discomfort. After two hours of anxiety and uncertainty, Mayer-Hunke and her husband, Kyle, were told that the ultrasound had revealed the presence of ovarian cancer.
“We were devastated,” said Mayer-Hunke. “When you get news like that, you’re already looking into your grave.”
Mayer-Hunke remembers feeling hopeless until her doctor gave her options.
She was referred to a doctor in Denver, and, in less than a week of being diagnosed, she had a bilateral oophorectomy performed, removing both of her ovaries, and was embarking on her “sentence,” as she calls it, of six rounds of chemotherapy every three weeks.
“That’s when the fight started,” she said. “That’s when my warrior came out.”
Mayer-Hunke remembers how weak the chemotherapy “poison” made her feel. Thankfully, her two sisters flew in from Germany to support her through her battle with the illness, and her husband, whom she claims was her biggest support, stood by her side through all of the ups and downs of chemo.
“Neither one of us knew how to be a patient or a caretaker,” said Mayer-Hunke. “We had to learn, and we did so together, everything together.”
Along with the support of her “cancer-posse,” Mayer-Hunke’s sense of humor and great optimism carried her back to health. Often sporting a shirt that said, “I’m having a no-hair day,” Mayer-Hunke made the best of every situation during her struggle with cancer.
Mayer-Hunke also kept a journal throughout her experience. As she reflects on the journal today, she says she feels cathartic. She’s proud of her success over the disease and of how her struggle positively affects her.
This month, Mayer-Hunke will celebrate her five-year “cancerversary,” as she calls it. And though she is now cancer free, the disease still plays a role in her life every single day.
“I’ll always be very closely connected to cancer,” said Mayer-Hunke. “You wouldn’t think so, but it’s an entire subculture. But what reminds me of my battle every day and is closest to my heart is the Relay for Life.”
She plays a heavy role in the CMU Relay for Life team and organizes a bake sale in Wubben Hall on the last Friday of every month.
Mayer-Hunke also conducts motivational speeches about her disease and is constantly raising funds and awareness about ovarian cancer. Mayer-Hunke also makes and sells scarves and purses out of old t-shirts, jeans, and other material. She calls it “up-cycling.”
Mayer-Hunke also reminds herself daily of her accomplishments by proudly wearing a teal ribbon and constantly having one of her fingernails painted teal. One might think that after surviving such a horrible disease, Mayer-Hunke would want to forget about her struggle and focus on her wellness. Instead, she wants to raise awareness and live a life of meaning and purpose for other victims of ovarian cancer who were less fortunate than her.
This February, as thoughts of Valentine’s Day buzz through your mind, keep Gabriele Mayer-Hunke in your thoughts as well. It’s humbling, as a CMU student, to know that the faculty is composed of survivors like Mayer-Hunke.
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