First place, Feature Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark Advocate
First place, Feature Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateStacey Heath was diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer in June. After much thought she opted for a mastectomy on her left breast and a DIEP flap tissue reconstruction. During her surgery, however, it was discovered that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and she was upgraded to stage 3 cancer. This meant her battle with cancer would be longer than originally thought. After recovering from her surgery Stacey began her chemotherapy treatment. It's two weeks and one day after her mastectomy, and the discovery that the cancer spread to her lymph nodes. Stacey went back to Columbus to talk with Dr. Lilly about her new treatment plan.
First place, Feature Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateIt's the evening before her surgery and Stacey Heath is surrounded by loved ones; her pastor and his wife, her parents and her husband. They gather in prayer for her safe recovery, for the doctors, for her children. Tears are shed, tensions released and the atmosphere in the room seems lighter after praying.
First place, Feature Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateJust before bed, Anna Kate becomes anxious and breaks down. She runs to her mom, begging her not to leave in the morning. Stacey holds her close telling her everything will be fine and that she loves her very much. Once Anna Kate's tears stop, her parents and grandparents get her to bed and finish preparations for the morning.
First place, Feature Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocatePlastic surgeon, Dr. Tiwari checks Stacey's heartbeat as she slowly comes out of the anesthesia. Stacey's mastectomy and reconstructive surgery lasted about six hours. In that time, Darin never left the hospital, waiting anxiously for any update from the doctors. The world crashed around him when Dr. Lilly informed him the cancer had in fact spread to Stacey's lymph nodes.
First place, Feature Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateStacey took her second walk through the hospital hallways when her family came to visit. As she neared her room, Darin and Noah ran ahead to hold a finish line up to encourage Stacey.
First place, Feature Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateFour days after her mastectomy, Stacey was released from the hospital. On the drive home, one of her drains slipped out. Stacey collapsed on the couch, exhausted and in pain while her mom and husband took care of her.
First place, Feature Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateAfter Dr. Lilly left the exam room, Stacey began to cry. She had just received the news her breast cancer was a more aggressive form of cancer, but one that was easy to treat. Her tears were tears of joy mixed with exhaustion. This was the news they had been hoping for since the devastating news the cancer had spread.
First place, Feature Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateSince Stacey's breast cancer diagnosis, her daughter Anna Kate has stayed closer to her mom. They spent this lazy day off in bed watching TV shows together in between naps.
First place, Feature Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateStacey has become a walking pharmacy with perceptions for nausea, diarrhea and pain.
First place, Feature Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateStacey Heath spends time with her cat, Bob. When clumps of hair began to fall out, Stacey called on her friend to help her cut off her hair. It was 14 days after her first chemotherapy treatment and right on schedule with what her doctors had told her.
First place, Feature Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateAfter her first round of chemo Stacey had to check herself into the local hospital due to a dangerously high fever. She was in the hospital for three days.
First place, Feature Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark AdvocateWhile trying on wigs at Stefanie Spielman Cancer Center Stacey realizes her eyelashes have also fallen out.
Second place, Feature Picture Story - Carrie Coachran / Cincinnati Enquirer
Second place, Feature Picture Story - Carrie Cochran / Cincinnati EnquirerSeptember, 2014: Joe takes a moment to soak in the sun, charging his glow-in-the-dark shirt. He doesn't stay out long, as the heat tires him quickly. It's been almost two years since he was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, an incurable brain cancer considered to be the most aggressive. After trying chemotherapy twice, Joe decided that quality of life was better than how long he lived. Joe believed people shouldn't fear death.
Second place, Feature Picture Story - Carrie Cochran / Cincinnati EnquirerJuly 30, 2014 "I told Laurie I'd give her fifty years when I finally convinced her to marry me – which took some doing, I might tell you. A lot of doing." Joe married Laurie in Dec. 2007, three and a half years after his first wife, Becky, died of breast cancer.
Second place, Feature Picture Story - Carrie Cochran / Cincinnati EnquirerAugust 2014: Laurie, a professional musician, plays The Beatles' "Martha My Dear." "To all the sudden be a mom, stepmom, three kids that were still fairly young, and a husband – the whole thing was such a wild thing for my little rock star to do," Joe said.
Second place, Feature Picture Story - Carrie Cochran / Cincinnati EnquirerApril 13, 2015: Alex Neyer, Joe's oldest son, sees his father for the first time since Joe was put on continuous Hospice care. Alex had just moved to Florida, where he was staying with his grandparents – Becky's mom and dad. "Obviously when he dies is gonna be a very emotional time for everybody. All of his wisdom leading up to it, I don't think it's for that stretch of time. I think it's for after that, the years after."
Second place, Feature Picture Story - Carrie Cochran / Cincinnati EnquirerApril 13, 1015: Laurie breaks down in the kitchen as she hears the sobs of the three sons as they visit with their dad upstairs at his bedside. Aaron had driven down from Cleveland and Alex had just got in on a flight from Florida.
Second place, Feature Picture Story - Carrie Cochran / Cincinnati EnquirerApril 15, 2015: Joe hadn't eaten in days and is delusional, but asked for ice cream. Laurie feeds him Graeter's black raspberry chocolate chip. It will be the last thing he eats.
Second place, Feature Picture Story - Carrie Cochran / Cincinnati EnquirerApril 18, 2015: Laurie gives Joe medicine as he is in and out of delusions and consciousness.
Second place, Feature Picture Story - Carrie Cochran / Cincinnati EnquirerApril 18, 2015: Laurie "You wonder what people wait for, or how timing comes about for each of us. Maybe they’re made to make sure that we’re all going to be okay."
Second place, Feature Picture Story - Carrie Cochran / Cincinnati EnquirerApril 16, 2015: Hospice had been giving around-the-clock care to Joe for several days. This is the first night that he was taken off of 24-7 care, because his pain stabilized. Here, Laurie tries to stay awake so that she can give him his anti-seizure medicine.
Second place, Feature Picture Story - Carrie Cochran / Cincinnati EnquirerApril 23, 2015: Will Turbyne, Joe's best friend, arrived hours before Joe died. He drove up from Texas in a pick-up truck. "He’s a gabber. God, I love him, I love him dearly," Joe said in August.
Second place, Feature Picture Story - Carrie Cochran / Cincinnati EnquirerApril 21 2015: Joe's sister, Diane Rose consoles Laurie as the hospice nurse cares for Joe upstairs.
Second place, Feature Picture Story - Carrie Cochran / Cincinnati EnquirerApril 23, 2015: In Joe Neyer's final hours, his wife Laurie sings, "Dirty Knees," a song she wrote about him. Two and a half years earlier, Neyer was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. Months after his diagnosis, he decided that he will not get treatment. "By accepting death, you can actually enjoy life," he said.
