Community welcomes home cancer patient
“Only jump forward” is 21-year-old Elizabeth Barber's motto.
Her inspiration comes from a stuffed kangaroo she got from her friends. That kangaroo went with Elizabeth to every chemotherapy treatment she underwent for non-Hodgkin lymphoma as a reminder that like a kangaroo, Elizabeth won't move backward.
Friends and family lined Haverford Drive late Tuesday afternoon to celebrate Elizabeth's last chemotherapy treatment — a tremendous leap forward in her cancer recovery.
“We are excited,” said Janet Barber, Elizabeth's mother. “We're hoping by May 1, she's feeling great.”
“(I'm feeling) pretty good,” Elizabeth added. “I'm very happy. Overwhelmed.”
Janet said she knew in October 2019 something wasn't right with Elizabeth. At the time, Elizabeth had such hip pain she couldn't walk to her Penn State classes. She was diagnosed in December 2019.The news forced her to leave her civil engineering program while she underwent six chemotherapy sessions. Every 21 days, Elizabeth has had an 8-hour IV treatment at the Hillman Cancer Center in Butler.It's been a tough few months for the Barbers. But there's a bright side.“It's been a beautiful show of compassion and support,” Janet said.Janet said the support began the moment the Barbers received Elizabeth's diagnosis. Thoughts came from relatives in Missouri, Connecticut and New York and acquaintances as far away as Jerusalem.“That makes a world of difference,” Elizabeth said. “Without my family and friends, I could not have gotten through this.”People sent prayers, blankets, flowers and balloons. Some dropped off food or gift cards. One friend brought baskets of fruit weekly, each delivery a new sculpture created from healthy food.“Every single day something came to our house,” Janet said. “It really does take a village to get us through something like this.”
Elizabeth's best friend, AnnMarie Lowerre, contacted Janet with the idea to throw a surprise homecoming parade.“It was actually my mom and I who talked it out,” Lowerre said.Lowerre, who is studying musical theater at Youngstown State University, has known Elizabeth since fourth grade. They share a five-person friend group.When the group first heard Elizabeth's diagnosis, Lowerre said there was nothing to do but sit and pray.“It was all pretty scary because we didn't have any answers,” Lowerre said. “Kind of like it is now, in the real world.”With her mother, Eva, Lowerre organized a secret Facebook campaign April 3 inviting people to celebrate Elizabeth's last treatment. Visitors were encouraged to bring signs and pets because Elizabeth loves animals.The surprise also included a video with words of encouragement for Elizabeth. Lowerre contacted people to ask them if they'd like to be part of the project.“I got so many videos,” Lowerre said. “(People) are just so excited to be part of something.”
If lymphoma has disrupted the Barbers' lives, the coronavirus pandemic has turned things upside down.Because she can't access the YMCA for physical therapy, Elizabeth is using virtual instruction. Her plans to try alternative care like acupuncture and reiki have also been put on hold.“Every Sunday before her chemo before coronavirus, she'd go get her nails done,” Janet said. “It would be a talking point with the nurses.”Now, Elizabeth mostly stays home. She might go for a drive by herself or get a coffee, but Janet said she stays away from crowds. The people she sees the most are her family, including Janet; her dad, Paul; her sister, Emily; and her brother, Matthew.“We're together 24-7,” Janet said. “This has been our lifestyle since December.”
Homecoming<iframe width="100%" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8oBUvOGWdPY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Going into Tuesday, Lowerre said she had 29 families signed up for the homecoming and expected as many as 40 people. She felt the actual turnout would be a surprise.It was for Elizabeth.“Thank you,” Elizabeth said. “From the bottom of my heart.”Janet said the support the Barbers have received over the last five months must be reciprocated.“We've got to be there for others when they need us,” Janet said.Elizabeth wants to encourage people facing a similar diagnosis. To do that, it's important to face the truth.“You're going to have a lot of bad days,” Elizabeth said. “Take it one day at a time.”Janet said Elizabeth will close this chapter of her life and never open it again. When she goes for a follow-up down the road, Janet believes Elizabeth will be healed. She knows it in her gut, just like she knew something was wrong in the first place.There's something else Janet knows.“People are just good,” Janet said. “I think there's more good than bad out there.”
