Tribute To A Special Lady

I was enjoying a quiet Saturday morning at home last week, having a cup of tea and reading the paper. I flipped the pages and came to the obituaries. I read the Diane Sackett Nannery had died. The tears started to roll down my cheeks.

Did I know Diane? Not really. I had met her at a few breast cancer community events, had read her book and even booked her to speak at a symposium we offered on Long Island. She was just a strong force and unbelievably strong woman that I immediately felt a sense of loss.

Diane was a United States postal worker. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993. In 1995, she decided that the post office should offer a breast cancer stamp with the additional proceeds to go to breast cancer programs. She was turned down. She was turned down 26 times before the stamp was finally approved in 1996. Now, that is persistence.

When Diane learned how lymphedema is a possible side effect of breast cancer, she co-authored a book, Coping With Lymphedema, about the condition. It remains, one of the two top resources for lymphedema information for the patient today. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/det...

She also began the US Postal Workers' Breast Cancer Coalition. This group continues to lobby as true breast cancer activists.

She was also instrumental in forming the Victory Day train - a pink-ribbon festooned free ride on the Long Island Railroad to join in the celebration of breast cancer survivors at Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson. This is a well-received annual event. Even those of us who live on Long Island drive west to get on the train and share the experience with other survivors.

Several years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer again and yet, she never stopped fighting for the cause. I can remember her speaking at an outreach program on Long Island - her commitment was evident; she matter-of-factly announced her new illness to the group and urged us all to keep going forward - to help the newly diagnosed and to find the cause and cure of this disease.

Diane is survived by her husband and mother. She was an inspiration to us all. The sisterhood of survivors has lost a founding member, but her memories and the legacy of commitment that she left behind will help us to renew our own dedication to the cause. http://www.matherhospital.com/News/Fortu...

Thanks, Diane.

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