Pamela Rezewski may be a rookie when she joins her first Susan G. Komen for the Cure walk Sept. 28-30, but she is a veteran when it comes to fighting cancer.
Rezewski, senior administrative assistant of Risk Management Services who has worked at the University 27 years, was diagnosed in October 2004 with breast cancer.
“I think the hardest thing for me to do was to tell my children of my diagnosis. Especially my son, since he was so far away (in the military),” says Rezewski. Then, as Rezewski started chemotherapy, her father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She says she felt it wasn’t time for her to leave this earth; she had to survive so she could encourage and support others.
“Cancer is a very devastating disease. It becomes a part of you and it’s on your mind all the time, “Rezewski says. “If you get an ache or pain you think the cancer is back.”
Setting goals helps people endure their fight with cancer, she says. “My goal was to make it to my son’s wedding,” Rezewski says, adding she couldn’t have reached it without the help of co-workers, friends and family.
“This department was great in working with my schedule with the chemo, surgeries and radiation treatments, they were very understanding and let me stay connected, which is very important to get back to some kind of normalcy,” she says.
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Her work at U-M involves a broad range of administration, claims systems and training support functions. When she gets a break from her work schedule, she’s busy walking to further the advancement of breast cancer research and treatment. Rezewski says she wants to raise awareness about early detection and encourage women to do regular breast examinations, adding this is part of the reason for her involvement in the Komen event.
During the event, some 3,000 people walk 20 miles a day and camp out two nights in tents. Every two to three miles, the walkers take a break where juice, fruit, water and bathrooms are provided. In order to participate, each walker must raise $2,200. Contributions for Rezewski can be made to www.the3day.org/michigan07/pamrezewski.
To prepare for the event, Rezewski walks three or four times a week. As the walk nears, Rezewski plans to walk 18 miles on Saturdays and 15 miles on Sundays with a training group organized by radio station WMGC 105.1-FM and an Ann Arbor Group also walking in the Breast Cancer 3-Day. The Ann Arbor group includes other U-M staff members. “I’ve already been to hell and back, I know I can do the first day. I’m just afraid of getting up and having to do it the next day,” she says.
Surviving cancer has changed Rezewski’s outlook on life. She doesn’t sweat the small stuff anymore. She also appreciates every day with her husband and children and takes the time to enjoy gardening, walking dogs for the Humane Society, or reading a book on the deck of her house.
“I have learned to take each day as a gift and opportunity — to enjoy the sun, trees and life,” she say. “Above all, I want my efforts to give encouragement to someone newly diagnosed, that there is hope.”
