2007
Lynne McNichol, 2007 “Crowning Achievement” Award Winner
Lynne Mc Nichol was a thirty-three year old, single mother of three suffering from what she believed to be a toothache. After visiting her family dentist he informed her that she more than likely needed a root canal and referred her to an oral surgeon.
Lynne put off making the appointment for three months due to a lack of funds; finally the pain became too unbearable so she borrowed the money from her father and made the appointment.
After the customary ex-rays were taken the doctor requested that she call her family. The news that day was devastating; by 5:00 PM she, along with her mother and sister found themselves in the office of an oncologist. The official diagnosis was Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. In the honest words of the doctor he informed Lynne that most people don’t survive this form of cancer and if they do they will live the rest of their lives disfigured and in pain. Once recovered from the shock, Lynne remembers saying, “Dying is not an option, I have three children to raise.”
She had her first surgery to remove the malignant tumor in 1989; along with the tumor doctors removed the pallet of her mouth, her sinuses, a tear duck, all but five of her teeth and all of her gums on the ride side of her face. Besides the physical pain, Lynne endured the emotional trauma of her disfigurement and didn’t leave the privacy of her home for many months.
Since then she has had eleven subsequent surgeries including those to reconstruct her face. Through the pain and anguish Lynne remained hopeful and optimistic. In 1994 she married her husband, John Mc Nichol and had two more children, both boys.
Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma is considered one of the deadliest cancers and a survivor is not considered fully cured until they are cancer free for twenty years. This year Lynne is counting down to year twenty and with just a couple of months to go she serves as an inspiration to all who meet her.
Lynne accepting her award