Laurie Hart Douglas

After recently being diagnosed with breast cancer, Laurie Hart Douglas has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments with only one left to do at this time.

“I had to do eight overall,” Hart Douglas said. “I’ve done seven, and now only have one left. Soon, I’ll get to ring that bell.”

A benefit for the Mayville woman, put together by her friends will be held on Saturday from noon-4 p.m. at the Mayville VFW, 10 Memorial Dr. The benefit will include a beef on weck dinner for $10 at the door, along with a Chinese auction, raffles, music and drawings. Donations of gift certificates, baskets, merchandise and other cash gifts can be dropped off at the VFW at any time.

Hart Douglas has been going to Roswell Park Cancer Center for her treatments ever since she discovered the cancerous bump that led to the eventual removal of both the bump and her lymph nodes. She described her experience as a struggle, especially since both her mother and father passed away from breast and bladder cancer, respectively.

“You really do just have to go with the flow,” Hart Douglas said. “It has been hard, but the people at Roswell have been so nice, and just a blessing — it’s a wonderful place. I told my sister that I don’t think I’ve met one person who hasn’t been nice there.”

Hart Douglas also recently retired from the Mayville Diner where she worked for the last 18 years, and says now she spends most of the time “hanging out” with her husband, Don, and their three kids, 10 grandchildren, and her two sisters.

However, the treatments have placed a strain on the family financially.

“We do get a lot of bills,” she said. “I am on Medicare and my husband and I are both on social security. But even with the financial aid from Roswell, who have been paying for 80% of it, we have been scraping by. We just don’t have the money.”

It was Hart Douglas’ family who came up with the idea for a benefit to help her to pay for her chemo treatments, and something that they all kept a surprise from her.

“It’s really nice to know that my friends and family care enough to do this,” she said. “It helps with the struggle. I get tears in my eyes just thinking about the fact that they did this for me, and somehow managed to keep it a secret for a very long time. It’s very heartfelt and makes me feel loved, and like I’m going to get better for sure.”

In the end, it is the love from her family and friends that encourages Hart Douglas to get to the end of her treatment and to be able to keep going.

“I just love and appreciate all that everyone is doing for me,” she said. “I know that there are so many behind me and cheering me on, and that gives me just a little bit extra energy to help me keep fighting. I’m 66 later this month. I’d like to live to be 86 or even 96. I’m going to keep going — I’ve got a lot left to give. It’s nice to know that my family is right there with me.”