Speaking for the survivors
Camille Ponseti studied for her A.P English exam for more than a year, but come test time she wasn’t in her seat. She had more important things to worry about.
The previous day, the Homewood High School junior rushed to the hospital with severe stomach pain. She had been in minor pain and had a fever on and off for a few weeks, but wasn’t aware it was anything serious – until doctors discovered and removed a grapefruit-sized tumor on her ovaries.
Believing it to be an ovarian cyst, they sent Ponseti home to recover for a few weeks.
It was May 2012 when Ponseti returned for her follow-up visit and was told the pathology report on the cyst came back with surprising results. It was actually a rare germ cell cancer, Dysgerminoma, a malignant tumor of the ovary.
According to cancer.org, less than 2 percent of ovarian cancers are germ cell tumors. But the doctor said there was a 97 percent survival rate, which helped her
remain strong.
“Being told I have cancer was a numbing feeling,” Ponseti said. “It took a while to set in.”
Although the tumor was removed, its rupturing could have potentially released cancer cells into her body. Trace amounts would have been too small to detect; the best way to eliminate recurrence was to treat it aggressively.
This meant surgery to insert a power port and four rounds of four-hour chemo sessions every morning for five days with a two-week break in between.
Spending the summer between junior and senior year sitting around home and hospital isn’t the ideal lifestyle for a high school girl, but Ponseti made the
best of her situation.
She and her parents, Jaime and Trish Ponseti started a journal on caringbridge.org to give family and friends updates of her progress from diagnosis to treatment completion.
In the journal, her mother quoted her saying “bring it on,” if hair loss and a tough summer were all it took to keep her life.
Treatment came with a few silver linings, Ponseti said. She enjoyed the opportunity to become closer to her family and friends.
She also experienced the kindness of the community, which played a large role in
providing meals and motivation during her treatment. Using the website takethemameal.com, multiple families worked with the Ponsetis’ schedule to bring meals for the duration of her illness. The family made sure to individually thank each family in the CaringBridge journal.
Throughout her treatment, a theme of “Teal for Camille” emerged, embracing the national color for ovarian cancer awareness.
People started painting their toenails, including her brother, Jake, who came to visit from Auburn.
“I started getting tagged on Facebook in pictures of feet, even from people I didn’t know, with the caption ‘Teal for Camille.’” Ponseti said. “Even boys did it. It was really cool.”
Ponseti stayed active in marching band despite her ill health. At the first home game, the band presented her with a plaque. The drum majors even made teal string wristbands and donated proceeds from selling one to each band member to the American Cancer Society in her honor.
Her aunt sent the family teal wristbands with “Teal for Camille” on them, and her boyfriend, Lew Price, wore teal shoes.
The school even voted Ponseti the 2012 Homecoming Queen.
“This community is like a family,” Ponseti said. “If something bad happens, even
to someone you don’t know, everyone rallies together.”
After four chemotherapy sessions, more testing and finally the removal of the port, Ponseti has been deemed cancer-free.
Knowing her chemo was less vicious than other treatments, she said the hardest part was losing her favorite attribute — her long red hair. But she’s found a positive side to that.
“It’s literally a weight off my shoulders,” she said, laughing, “and I’m healthy again.”
In good health, Ponseti is ready for the next of life’s challenges. She’s currently considering accepting an academic and a music theater scholarship from Auburn University.
Before that challenge, however, is the responsibility of being the honorary chair for Relay for Life.
As the “face” of Relay in the community, she serves as a reminder that survivors are the heart of event and the reason to continue to fight cancer.
Her responsibilities include being a spokesperson and assisting to promote Relay for Life, as well as speaking at the Survivor Dinner and Ceremony.
Ponseti has embraced this role and is putting a team together for the fundraiser. As president of the HHS Improv Club, she has a target group of friends to enlist. Their current goal is to raise $1,000. Ponseti has previously attended Relay for Life walks to show support, but now she’s one of the ones being supported.
“I can relate to the survivors now,” Ponseti said. “This experience helped me get
perspective of what really matters and not to be too worried or concerned about things that are less important, like too much schoolwork.”
In her caringbridge.org journal, Ponseti wrote that she’d never truly embraced how amazing it is to feel normal.
Ponseti and her team will join Relay for Life at Homewood Central Park on April 26.
Each team member pays a $10 registration fee, and those who raise $100 or more will receive a Relay T-shirt. The Survivor Lap will begin the fundraiser at 4 p.m., and the Luminaria Ceremony will begin after dark. There will be entertainment and games throughout the night. To get involved, email kristi.lovell@cancer.org or visit relayforlife.org.