A Friend in Need

For women, the journey of friendship takes us to many places--dinner parties, shopping sprees, bridal showers, birthday parties and sometimes, even to the cancer ward. 

That’s the journey that Fort Lee native Cathy Kellinger and her friend Denise Awaad have traveled. Both O.R. nurses in the Center for Ambulatory Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center, the two have stood together on their feet for hours on end taking care of patients because taking care of others is what nurses do best.  

Then one of the caretakers became a patient.

Awaad was diagnosed with breast cancer and decided to have a bilateral radical mastectomy in order to make sure that no trace of the cancer would remain. Rather than letting it get her down, Awaad decided to beat cancer and get her master's degree at the same time. She didn’t let a little thing like breast cancer, or a double mastectomy, get in the way of her living her life. 

During her five year check-up, Awaad found out that she was cancer free. Finally, she could look forward to the future with her husband and two daughters by her side. 

Then in 2009, Awaad started to experience muscle weakness she called “noodle legs,” but the doctors thought it was just the result of chemotherapy. But in February 2011, in addition to her increased muscle weakness, she started to have difficulty swallowing and was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gherig’s Disease.

ALS is a rapidly progressive neurological disease that is almost always fatal. Awaad had to leave HUMC, and in the short time since she’s been diagnosed with ALS, she now needs help with the basic activities of daily life. Awaad’s husband, an EMT with the Garfield Ambulance Corps. and a police auxiliary in Lyndhurst, along with her two daughters, are caring for her at their home in Lyndhurst. They are hoping to make the bathroom handicapped accessible so Awaad can continue to stay in her home surrounded by those she loves the most. 

In the spirit of area police and fire departments that gather to support their “brothers” in times of need, Kellinger is spearheading the effort to raise money to assist her friend and her family in their time of need by organizing a Beefsteak Dinner on Oct. 16th at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Englewood. Tickets are $50/ticket and includes food and entertainment. 

Entertainment will be provided by The Cameos. The proceeds will be used to reconstruct Awaad’s bathroom. 

Kellinger is asking everyone who hears about Awaad’s story to help get the word out because that’s what friends do. 

For more information on how you can help, or for tickets, call Cathy Kellinger at 551-206-7253.