Carin's Story....

 

Having my foot run over by a forklift when I was 14 put me in the hospital for surgery. As I watched and waited on nurses for my care, my interest in a nursing career was being forged. My grandmother’s influence played a part in my choice as well. She couldn’t finish her nurse’s training when she was young but always worked in doctor’s offices, both as medical assistant and secretary. So there I was, Eastern Kentucky University School of Nursing getting my BSN RN.

 

Little did I know that my knowledge of nursing from 15 years of experience in everything from pediatrics to geriatrics would be of benefit when I became a patient. In August of 2004, I found a lump in my right breast that led to a biopsy in February of 2005. Surgery in March revealed one positive lymph node requiring eight chemotherapy treatments.

 

Unfortunately, I did not have short-term disability for the four months I was off work. But my nurse co-workers did what nurses do – take care of their patients. This time it was me. They held multiple fundraisers such as bake sales, raffles, and karaoke as well as gathering monetary donations. With their help, I was able to pay my bills and eliminate financial worry and stress.

 

I returned to the job I loved and even had a baby.  A call from my doctor on August 17, 2010, revealed the hip and back pain I had been experiencing was not muscle strain but metastatic breast cancer. The PET scan revealed cancer had spread throughout my bones and liver, bumping me to Stage 4.

 

After ten radiation treatments, I now receive chemotherapy every four weeks along with the infusion of an osteoporosis drug to rebuild my bones. This regimen had taken me completely out of the workforce and I am now on total disability.

 

Having no income at all was frightening and my “nurses” knew I was scared. But here they came to the rescue again with bake sales, pink bracelets to sell, raffles, a silent auction at a “Carin-oke”, and walking in a relay for life.

 

Carin Brown Addams, RN
Founder & President

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For 12 long years Carin was such a remarkable example of how others should never give up hope and fight the good fight, no matter the challenges in front of them.  On December 9, 2016, Carin passed from earth to join her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in heaven. 

 

Carin was courageous on many levels and inspired others to be as well.  She remains in our hearts as we now carry the torch of her legacy. We work to support nurses who may stumble but never fall.  

 

“Always remember that I didn’t give up, I fought the fight till it was my time”.
Carin Brown Addams, RN BSN