Cancer
Students pour their hearts into 'Cancer Stories'
By Sarah Hofius, USA TODAY
The first time Sally Ann Cruikshank met cancer patient Geraldine Thomas, she was nervous.
Cruikshank's mother had died of cancer, and "even though it had been eight or nine years, it was still so fresh," says Cruikshank, a journalism student at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia.
But soon after she met Thomas, 75, Cruikshank could not help but adore her wit, wisdom and positive attitude. Thomas, who had advanced lung cancer, even baked banana bread for her doctors and nurses.
"She was just an amazing woman," Cruikshank says. "She was like a second grandmother to me."
When Thomas died months later, it was only a day after Cruikshank's last visit.
But Cruikshank was not just a friend - she was a journalist. She filmed Thomas' appointments and treatments, her good days, her bad days, her last days, her life.
Cruikshank had worked on other journalism projects before, but this was different. Radiation rooms turned into interview rooms, oncologists became professors and cancer patients became close friends.
Cruikshank was one of 30 journalism students who worked on the two-year project, prompted by an advisory board member at the university's Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center who longed for something that would detail patients' lives.
The students and faculty produced a documentary and compiled a book of real-life stories and photos called Cancer Stories: Lessons in Love, Loss and Hope.
They witnessed patients' most intimate moments: One learned her cancer had spread to her liver; another was told a lump had been found in her breast.
But they also witnessed joyous occasions, watching as some patients learned their cancers had gone into remission, or spending Christmas morning with families.
Students learned not only about journalism, but about compassion. "The students poured their hearts into this project and were really committed to doing justice to the patients' stories," says Maryanne Reed, acting dean of the journalism school.
The documentary won a 2004 Midwestern Regional Emmy. Both book and documentary will be available in early February.
Among the students and patients participating were Jennifer Roush, who writes about breast cancer patient Pam Tsuhlares, and Jonah Jabbour, who filmed ovarian cancer patient Brenda White and says she cherished the opportunity to spend time with White and her family.
Ivy Smith got to know Tammey Mason, who had a mastectomy just four days after her breast cancer diagnosis. When Smith got married on New Year's Eve, her flower girl was Mason's daughter. "I felt like I was part of her family," Smith says.
The project also taught students how hard it is to balance journalism with friendships. Melissa Nethken, who photographed Tim Grounds' battle with melanoma, says when he had a mole removed, he was crying in pain, and instead of helping him, she had to take pictures. "As a friend, you don't want to do that."
What former grad student Clint Wilhelm learned may even save his life. Although his dad had colon cancer, Wilhelm, who co-produced the documentary, would not have gone for a colonoscopy if not for the project. "It taught me the lesson that early detection can save your life," he says.
Cruikshank would like to think her work might help a young girl facing the situation she did at age 13 when she learned her mother had cancer. "Maybe if she watches it she'll feel a little better."
The book, which includes a DVD of the documentary, is available for $40 from the WVU Press at www.as.wvu.edu/press or by calling 866-988-7737.
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