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One year ago, Megan Filkins was in the hospital recovering from a 10-and-a-half hour brain surgery, unable to give her speech at the opening ceremony of Ohio State’s annual Relay For Life.
After more than 15 full-brain radiation and chemotherapy treatments, Megan finally had the chance to tell her story.
Alongside her mom, Debbie, Megan spoke to participants Saturday during the Luminaria ceremony at Relay For Life held at Fred Beekman Park. Dressed in her orange Relay For Life committee T-shirt with a sash and medal that said “Survivor,” Megan shared the story of her battles with the disease while glow sticks were placed in bags (luminarias) along the track, each to represent someone lost to cancer, someone currently battling it or someone who has overcome the disease.
“I share my story with people because it gives them a sense of hope,” Megan said. “My family is one of my biggest support systems, so I feel blessed to tell my survivor story with my mom.”
“Megan is an inspiration,” Megan’s mother, Debbie, said, as she told her story from the perspective of a cancer patient’s caregiver.
Debbie spoke at the closing ceremony of last year’s Relay For Life, assuring participants that her daughter would be present for this year’s event.
“We have truly been blessed that she is with us tonight, and we can thank each and every one of you for doing your part,” she said to the crowd of participants.
Megan was diagnosed with melanoma in August 2004 and was re-diagnosed last May, when doctors found a tumor the size of a Ping-Pong ball in the right frontal lobe of her brain. An MRI scan later found another large tumor and more than 15 small tumors spread throughout her brain.
Following her surgery and chemo-radiation treatments, Megan now receives treatments through a pill she is able to take at home.
“I have been feeling great,” she said. “It’s great to be able to be here at Relay this year because one year ago, I didn’t even know if I would be alive.”
This year Megan was a member of Relay’s survivorship committee and was the top individual fundraising participant, raising more than $2,500. Additionally, she participated in a Relay For Life last weekend in her hometown of Ironton, Ohio, where her team raised $16,500 for cancer research and education.
Relay For Life is not only a fundraising event, but a celebration of life and progress in cancer research, said Kathleen Neff, the co-event chairman of Relay For Life at OSU.
“Relay is an extremely emotional and inspiring experience,” Neff said. “I don’t consider myself a very emotional person, and I still find myself overwhelmed at times – especially hearing a story like Megan’s.”
Megan said she agrees.
“There are so many people who have not been directly affected by cancer who still volunteer their time and their money,” Megan said. “I wish I could thank all of these people because they are doing an awesome thing.”
More than 1,000 participants on 112 teams were involved in OSU’s Relay For Life. The event’s grand total of funds raised was $106,348.97.
As if fighting cancer and raising awareness and money for research are not time-consuming enough, Megan recently transferred from OSU to Bohecker College in Westerville, where she is studying to become a nurse. She said she hopes to become a nurse in oncology, sharing her experiences with patients the way many nurses have also done with her.
“Nursing is such a compassionate career,” Megan said. “I would get to know my patients and I could give some people a real glimpse of hope.”
Meredith Miles can be reached at [email protected].
