Relay for Life honors caregiver for her support

Published 9:27 am Thursday, July 31, 2008

Last year, the Freeborn County Relay for Life took on a whole new meaning for Beth Manges.

Just a few months earlier — on June 12, 2007 — her husband, Ray, passed away after an almost two-year fight with cancer.

In years past, the Albert Lea resident purchased luminaries for her brother and mother. But that year, she bought one for her husband, too.

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Now, a year later, after being chosen as the Freeborn County Relay for Life’s honorary caregiver, Beth is sharing her experiences with others in the community.

“My goal and hope is to briefly share with others what I went through,” Beth said. “And also let people know there’s a lot of people to help. That was my hardest part — letting people help.”

The position of honorary caregiver is a new one this year formed by the local Relay for Life committee.

“We as a committee felt that a caregiver is just as important as the survivor,” said Nikki Schumaker, co-chairwoman for the relay. “Caregiver is an important role in the recovery and support to the survivor. We go through everything they do just in a different way!”

Aug. 4: Bank night, which is the last big money collector night

Aug. 8: Relay for Life event, with opening ceremonies starting at 6 p.m. at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. Event goes overnight and into the following morning.

Schumaker said a caregiver needs to have a positive attitude to help the survivor maintain a positive attitude. Caregivers also face many other struggles including taking care of children and working.

Beth said her husband’s experience with cancer began like many others do. He was healthy and working, but then he started feeling tired and worn down.

On Aug. 12, 2005, Ray was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome — which is also known as preleukemia. He was 46 then.

He was in the hospital in Rochester from October through the end of December, a time during which she moved there to be with her husband and give support to him. Her mother and father took care of their three children, Kasey, Kristopher and Kendra, who were 4, 6 and 7 at the time.

Ray had several blood and platelet transfusions because of abnormal blood counts, and then on Nov. 4, he had a bone marrow transplant.

In January of 2006, Beth went back to work, and Ray was doing pretty well, she said.

But later that year, during Thanksgiving of 2006, he developed shingles — a disease caused by the same virus as the chicken pox. In February of 2007 he had to have a feeding tube put in for nutrition.

He was put on a ventilator the first week in June but died the following weekend. He was 48.

Though it is a difficult story to have to share, Beth said she is honored to be chosen as the honorary caregiver for this year’s Freeborn County Relay for Life.

“It took me a little bit to decide to do it,” she said.

The Freeborn County Relay for Life is Aug. 8 with opening ceremonies starting at 6 p.m. at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. The event goes overnight and into the following morning.