Hollings Horizons Winter 2025 - Flipbook - Page 13
T H O S E F I V E T E N E T S kept her moving forward during a bumpy cancer
journey filled with setbacks and unexpected twists.
Now, after surgery at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center and chemotherapy at
Tidelands Health, a member of the Hollings Cancer Network, she is finally
beginning to feel like she’s getting back to being herself.
Maintain a positive mindset
Morin readily acknowledges that her determination to maintain a positive mindset
was challenged along the way.
She developed sepsis after surgery and had to be re-admitted. Swelling from fluid
in her abdomen made her look six months pregnant. Altogether, she was in and
out of the hospital for two months and had to have a home health aide for months
afterward to help to drain the fluid.
But she found pockets of positivity. Her insurance company paid for the home health
aide. And the intense, uncommon surgery, a laterally extended endopelvic resection,
performed by Justin Harold, M.D., went well.
Reject negative commentary
Morin’s husband shielded her from well-meaning people making thoughtless
observations. “I didn't want to hear anyone's advice because everyone's situation is
different — every single one. Everyone knows someone who had something, but no
one knows my exact, particular situation. And so I felt it very important to listen to
my doctors only,” she said.
Surround yourself with positive people
Naturally, Morin’s husband and two adult children, Christopher and Breanna, were
her main supports, but she also found unexpected community support. “I'm kind of
a private person — but my husband is not,” she said. “So he enlisted the help of all of
our friends and family and put something on Facebook, and the amount of support
that we received was absolutely unbelievable.” She said that positive comments and
prayers coming in from across the country lifted her up.
Dr. Harold was absolutely
amazing. My husband and
I cannot say enough about
him. Just from the first
time that I met with him, he
calmed my nerves, and he
explained everything,
all the possible scenarios.
And he gave me hope.
Debra Morin
Don’t think about cancer all the time
It’s not easy not to think about cancer when you have cancer. Morin did her best to
limit focusing on cancer until she had to, like when visiting the doctor. Outside of
that, she tried to ensure she had plenty of downtime. And she could sometimes fill
her time with joyful activities — like going wedding dress shopping with her daughter.
Give yourself permission to go slower than usual
Morin has always been very active but knew she “needed to put the brakes on, take
care of myself and stop if I felt a little tired.” She allowed herself to rest and even to
nap when she felt she needed to.
LOOKING AHEAD
Morin is getting stronger one day at a time. The journey has not always been easy,
and she is grateful to have come out on the other side.
“If it means I'm going to live and I'm going to hopefully get to see grandchildren
and get to spend more time with my children and my family, then all of it is worth it
if I can beat this thing,” she said. “And it looks like I have so far.” ◗
hollingscancercenter.musc.edu
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