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National Cancer Survivors Day Attracts 800 at Saint Barnabas Medical Center
Livingston, N.J. – More than 800 individuals with cancer, their friends, family, and health caregivers attended Saint Barnabas Medical Center’s annual Celebration of Life on June 2, in honor of National Cancer Survivors Day. The special event featured guests Hamilton Jordan, the former White House Chief of Staff under President Jimmy Carter, as well as baseball legend Yogi Berra who threw the first ball to kick off festivities.
Celebration of Life, hosted by The Cancer Center and The Valerie Fund Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Saint Barnabas, focused on an “All-American” theme that included baseball memorabilia, a 12-foot Uncle Sam, a picnic lunch, music, a magic show, a healthy cooking demonstration, and hula hoop contests for the children – all on the grounds of Saint Barnabas Medical Center. During the event, cancer survivors released live butterflies in honor of their recovery. The first survivor to release a butterfly was Hamilton Jordan who survived three cancer diagnoses in all: lymphoma, melanoma, and prostate cancer. The 57-year-old Jordan discusses his experiences with the disease in the bestseller, No Such Thing as a Bad Day, that is both his memoir and a cancer survival story. He and his wife, a pediatric oncology nurse from New Jersey, also founded Camp Sunshine, a retreat for children with cancer or leukemia.
Historically, Saint Barnabas Medical Center treats more newly diagnosed cancer patients than any other facility in New Jersey. Celebration of Life 2002 was Saint Barnabas’ eighth annual event.
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Among the more than 800 guests at Saint Barnabas Medical Center’s annual Celebration of Life 2002 were guests of honor Hamilton Jordan and Yogi Berra. Hamilton Jordan, second from left, is former White House Chief of Staff under President Jimmy Carter, as well as a cancer survivor. Beside him, Baseball Legend Yogi Berra threw the first ball into the crowd to begin festivities. Beside them, from left, are Richard Michaelson, M.D., Chief of The Cancer Center of Saint Barnabas; John Bonamo, M.D., Executive Director of Saint Barnabas; Anne Nepo, M.D., Medical Director of The Valerie Fund Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Saint Barnabas; and Andrew Zablow, M.D., Vice Chairman of Radiation Oncology at Saint Barnabas.
Enjoying festivities at Cancer Survivors Day 2002, are from left, Stuart Leitner, M.D., Section Chief of Medical Oncology at Saint Barnabas Medical Center; Hamilton Jordan, former White House Chief of Staff under President Jimmy Carter, as well as a cancer survivor; and Richard Michaelson, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of The Cancer Center of Saint Barnabas.
Releasing butterflies in honor of cancer survivors at Cancer Survivors Day 2002 are, from left, Jane Kanowitz, M.D.; Miguel Conde, M.D.; and Michael Scoppetuolo, M.D., all medical oncologists at The Cancer Center of Saint Barnabas.
