TYLER, Texas — It was a joyous day at the UT Health East Texas Hope Cancer Center this Wednesday for Sandra Porter, Ray Ingram and their entire family.
"When this started I did not see this day coming, it is finally here," Porter said.
"We are ready to give out these hugs today and do some more crying, so let’s go," Ingram said.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer back on Dec. 6 and undergoing 16 weeks of treatment, Sandra completed her last day of chemotherapy on Wednesday. She was surrounded by her family and friends, including Ray, who’s been with Sandra for each step of her journey.
"I’m thankful to Ray, he’s been there for her, he’s taken her to every treatment. He has not missed one. And I thank God for that, because when I wasn’t able to come, he was here," Sandra's mother Linda Tilley said.
While Ray acted as Sandra’s support system, the constant trips back and forth to the hospital weighed on him too. He credits the UT Health staff, specifically the women working the front desk, for providing the warmth and positivity he needed to persevere.
"It’s Miss Shana, Sharon, and Trina, they are awesome. When I walked through here and I met them son of a guns right there. Phew, them people good. Put my shades on cause I know I’m gonna cry," Ingram said.
It comes naturally to those ladies. They know every patient’s name, their family, their history, and they operate that way because they feel blessed to be able to provide these folks with care.
"We’re happy every day because it’s a blessing to get up and be here, so that helps us just kind of remember everyone, because everyone has a story. And when they come in we normally get to hear those stories. So with that being said, of course, we’re going to remember each patient because we get to have those conversations," Sharon Phelps, patient access at UT Health East Texas's Hope Cancer Center, said.
The unwavering support from everybody on staff at the Hope Cancer Center has really done a ton for both Sandra and Ray, as they’ve been on this rollercoaster journey.
"She was so educated, and she was so awesome. We came home we made our decision that day, we’re going to stay with UT Hope Center. Shoutout to them, they showed us amazing love, the whole health support team is amazing," Ingram said.
They're amazing people providing amazing care and giving Sandra another chance to live out a long, healthy life.