May 8, 2006 3:48 pm US/Eastern
NJ Teacher Racing For The Cure
by Alycia Lane
TURNERSVILLE (CBS 3) ―
The goal of Sunday's Race For The Cure is to raise money for the fight against breast cancer. One Hispanic woman shared her story as she fights for her life after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Jeannette Freeman-Martinez is a New Jersey teacher who some call a tower of strength. She calls herself "lucky," as in lucky to be alive.
Remembering her experience as a breast cancer patient brings tears to her eyes, but you'd never know it from her happy face.
Freeman-Martinez teaches Spanish to fourth graders at the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Turnersville, New Jersey.
She was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer in March of last year, which was devasting to her and her husband Carlos.
"But you know, I have a lot of faith and I pray a lot and I keep a positive attitude and that helps," Freeman-Martinez said.
It was not easy for Jeannette as she faced months of chemotherapy, two major surgeries, radiation and more.
One of her biggest hurdles was getting enough sick days from work to cover her absence financially.
But her co-workers from Thomas Jefferson Elementary School did the unthinkable. They gave up their own sick days for her.
"It tore me up to see someone go thru that, but we were there for her," said Principal Jeffery Pollock.
Freeman-Martinez received 126 sick days from co-workers who cared.
"There's been times where I don't use them myself and know she could use them and so just felt it was necessary," said teacher and friend Michael DiGennaro.
"Being able to give up one of your days feels like it's a way for us to help in some small way," said teacher Cheryl Dauth.
Throughout the whole ordeal, Jeanette's husband Carlos provided words of encouragement.
"He said that we're gonna beat this. No matter what, we're gonna beat it," she said.
Currently Freeman-Martinez's prognosis looks good. Her advice to others affected by the illness is to be positive and stay informed.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
