‘I didn’t see any reason to make a big deal about it:’ Mary Ann Cowger of Stonewood, WV, works way through breast cancer – WV News

STONEWOOD A long-time community volunteer, Mary Ann Cowger prefers to focus on others rather than her battle with breast cancer.

My boss and maybe one friend knew that I was (having the treatments). I didnt tell anybody, Cowger said. For the breast cancer surgery, I was off work for one day, and when they did surgery for radiation, I missed one day of work. I would leave work twice a day for the radiation treatments.

Diagnosed in the fall of 2014, the Stonewood resident had surgery that December, about two weeks after the cancer was found, before undergoing MammoSite radiation treatments twice a day for a week in January 2015.

They found (non-invasive cancer) from my annual mammogram. I was one of the lucky ones didnt even go into the first stage yet, Cowger said. I had radiation and surgery, but didnt need to go through chemotherapy or things that a lot of people have to go through.

It was a big deal, yes, but I didnt make a big deal about it. I didnt see any reason to make a big deal about it.

Cowger, daughter Debbie Thompson and son-in-law Kim Thompson of Bridgeport and Mickey Taylor of Fairmont have all dealt with personal or family cancer cases.

But they focus on giving back to cancer patients through United Hospital Centers community-based organization Wings of Hope, which Cowger and her daughter founded.

100 percent of what we earn goes toward the oncology department. We help patients getting treatment (through) gas cards, food, pay utilities or buy them a room if they need it. Whatever they need, Cowger said. I was doing Wings of Hope long before I had cancer.

Wings of Hope raises money through its Super Bowl Sunday Bingo at the Harrison County Senior Citizens Center in Clarksburg or T-shirt or donut sales. Cowger also donates pennies that she collects or is given.

For as small as we are, weve done really well so far and been able so far to meet everybodys requests, Cowger said. We do what we can, every little thing that we can do.

United Hospital Center clinical navigator Peggy Johnson cant recall a similar organization to Wings of Hope.

The Wings of Hope organization is one of the best things, Johnson said. We help a lot of people, mainly with gas and transportation.

At United Hospital Centers 41st annual Awards Luncheon, held April 16, 2018, at the Bridgeport Conference Center, Cowger received a pin for volunteering 100 hours.

Also a former March of Dimes advisory board member, Nutter Fort Lions Club member and former Ronald McDonald House, muscular dystrophy and Make A Wish supporter, Cowger lost a cousin from Rockport to cancer, a brother, William Conrad, to leukemia, and a grandfather Charles Conrad, (formerly a Clarksburg barber), died of cancer in 1959. Cowgers mother Mary, formerly of Stealey, lived to the age of 98 after surviving a bout of cancer in her uterus.

Everybody has a relative, friend, somebody, Cowger said.

Cowger has met even more who have been touched by cancer since joining the Butterfly Kisses support group, held at United Hospital Center in Bridgeport the third Monday of each month. Group members have dinner, group discussions and listen to speakers or even live music.

If you go to the group meetings, its amazing to hear the stories of what some of them go through, Cowger said. Its such a shame when you hear that you only need a mammogram every two years. Had I waited another year, where would I have been? (Experts) say that after 70 (years old), women dont need a mammogram, but I was 74 when they found mine.

You need a mammogram every year, even men. There are a lot of men that have breast cancer.

Cowger has also helped Butterfly Kisses participants, according to Johnson.

Though she did not have breast cancer for long, Cowger had support from daughters Debbie Thompson and Diana, and son Joseph. A neighbor, Joseph, changed her bandages a few days before Peggy Johnson, a United Hospital Center clinical navigator and neighbor, took over.

Shes a big supporter, Cowger said. Its amazing how you had to lay out all the bandages and do steps to do it properly.

Johnson said Cowger has been a longtime neighbor.

Every time theres something going on, shes always there to help, Johnson said. Were always helping each other. At one point, she made this upside down cake in an iron skillet, just brought it over for my daughters birthday.

Cowger received a biopsy in 2005, but doctors did not find any cancer.

As far as I know, my (annual) mammograms have been clear. Im getting ready for my next one in December, Cowger said.

Cowger, who grew up in Stealey, has lived in Stonewood since 1964. She got married when she was 16 years old to Jesse Cowger in 1958; he since has died.

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'I didn't see any reason to make a big deal about it:' Mary Ann Cowger of Stonewood, WV, works way through breast cancer - WV News