 | Why am I including in my blog of hope, a story of an Asian American woman who recently died of breast cancer at age 57? Because Jeannette Wang's story is FULL of LIFE bursting with HOPE and LAUGHTER amid CHALLENGE throughout. Her unwavering optimism, no matter how difficult her life challenges were, is a bible on how to live life fully. I know I'm one of the lucky ones to have known Jeannette. |
A multi-talented woman, Jeannette NEVER let cancer define her, rather her wit and humor, self confidence , and love of family and friends kept her alive and still inspire me today. Even at her funeral, the priest commented, "When God made Jeannette, he broke the mold!" Who was this special lady?
Jeannette was born in Taiwan and at just 3 years old, her parents divorced and she and her brother James were sent to live with her aunt and uncle and five cousins in Saigon.
Jeannette was born in Taiwan and at just 3 years old, her parents divorced and she and her brother James were sent to live with her aunt and uncle and five cousins in Saigon.
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With the Vietnam War raging, in 1970, at age 13, she joined her father on another side of the world in Yonkers, N.Y. Jeannette learned English quickly and, after high school, she went to Manhattan College where she graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
She began her business career with Air Products, but soon met her husband, a physicist, whom she married. Three wonderful children followed quickly.
Jeannette devoted herself to being a housewife and mother. Later, she became a real estate agent to earn extra income, but Jeannette never could do anything half way. She became the leading sales agent with William B. May Realty, got her broker’s license, became a Certified International Property Specialist and was appointed the first Asian American Treasurer and board member of the Westchester County Board of Realtors.
Active in community affairs, Jeannette served two terms as President of the Organization of Chinese Americans-Westchester, Hudson Valley Chapter, a non-profit volunteer organization that promotes the political, economic, and social well being of Asian Americans.
Active in community affairs, Jeannette served two terms as President of the Organization of Chinese Americans-Westchester, Hudson Valley Chapter, a non-profit volunteer organization that promotes the political, economic, and social well being of Asian Americans.
Her claim to fame was leading OCA-WHV in a four chapter coalition effort to get CBS to fire two radio shock jockeys for their racist depiction of Chinese restaurant workers.
She also was a member of the Rotary Club, Secretary of the Irvington, N.Y. Chamber of Commerce, a fundraiser for the United Negro College Fund, chairperson of the Junior League, an active member in the Women’s Interracial Leadership group, and President of the Parent Teacher Student Association.
Jeannette was diagnosed with breast cancer late in 1999 and her husband wanted to treat her with traditional Chinese herbs. Eventually the tumor became so large that her doctors begged her to get medical treatment before it became too late. In 2004, she underwent chemotherapy and then a mastectomy with more chemotherapy for another year.
She also was a member of the Rotary Club, Secretary of the Irvington, N.Y. Chamber of Commerce, a fundraiser for the United Negro College Fund, chairperson of the Junior League, an active member in the Women’s Interracial Leadership group, and President of the Parent Teacher Student Association.
Jeannette was diagnosed with breast cancer late in 1999 and her husband wanted to treat her with traditional Chinese herbs. Eventually the tumor became so large that her doctors begged her to get medical treatment before it became too late. In 2004, she underwent chemotherapy and then a mastectomy with more chemotherapy for another year.
Jeannette eventually separated from her husband and moved into her own apartment and started a new career with the American Cancer Society. Because of her fluency in Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghainese and French, Jeannette became a vital part of the cancer society's new Call Center where she advised and counseled newly diagnosed non-English speaking cancer patients to help them navigate through different free ACS programs.
With her business partner, Alan, they eventually opened their own successful boutique real estate sales company called Triumph Property Group Westchester. After being business partners and then best friends, Jeannette and Alan became life companions and started a new life together. Alan sang Jeannette's praises, "Her warm, engaging, outgoing personality and her zest for life are contagious. Her insights are keen and her judgment always right on target. Just don't go to movies with her as she will tell you the ending in the first 10 minutes of the movie and she is almost always right!"
With her business partner, Alan, they eventually opened their own successful boutique real estate sales company called Triumph Property Group Westchester. After being business partners and then best friends, Jeannette and Alan became life companions and started a new life together. Alan sang Jeannette's praises, "Her warm, engaging, outgoing personality and her zest for life are contagious. Her insights are keen and her judgment always right on target. Just don't go to movies with her as she will tell you the ending in the first 10 minutes of the movie and she is almost always right!"
Unfortunately, 6 years after her mastectomy in 2009, the cancer metastasized to Jeannette's lungs and eventually to her liver and bones. The news took Jeannette to a new level of treatment. With the guidance of her family doctor, Dr. Harold Clarke, Jeannette and Alan decided to fly to Frankfurt, Germany for treatment with Dr. Ursula Jacob, a renowned oncologist.
Before leaving for Germany right before Thanksgiving, Jeannette gathered her now grown children and told them, "The last time I had cancer I fought it for you, this time I am going to battle it for myself. For the wonderful sunset in exotic countries that I have yet to travel with my partner, for the grandchildren that I will hold in my arms someday. For the many adventures that I have yet to savor. HOPE, no matter how small, is what keeps the human spirit alive."
In Germany, doctors performed a newly developed chemo sensitivity test to determine the best chemotherapy for Jeannette's genetic makeup. In addition, she underwent some experimental and cutting edge treatments that at the time were not available in the United States due to the very strict protocols and testing requirements mandated by the Federal Drug Administration. At the clinic in Germany, doctors also combined the chemo treatments with infusions of vitamins and other daily homeopathic treatments to help the body recuperate. Jeannette always believed that fighting cancer was a balance between taking the correct chemotherapy drugs along with supervised homeopathic medical treatments and the proper organic diet to boost the body's immune system. This was a pattern of treatment she continued for the rest of her life.
While receiving treatment in Germany, Jeannette and Alan kept a blog. Below are some of their precious entries:
In Germany, doctors performed a newly developed chemo sensitivity test to determine the best chemotherapy for Jeannette's genetic makeup. In addition, she underwent some experimental and cutting edge treatments that at the time were not available in the United States due to the very strict protocols and testing requirements mandated by the Federal Drug Administration. At the clinic in Germany, doctors also combined the chemo treatments with infusions of vitamins and other daily homeopathic treatments to help the body recuperate. Jeannette always believed that fighting cancer was a balance between taking the correct chemotherapy drugs along with supervised homeopathic medical treatments and the proper organic diet to boost the body's immune system. This was a pattern of treatment she continued for the rest of her life.
While receiving treatment in Germany, Jeannette and Alan kept a blog. Below are some of their precious entries:
(The meaning of courage-Day 5 in Germany, November 19th)
(Daisies Sprouting, Wednesday, November 25, 2009 entry)
( The Great Flood, Thursday, November 26, 2009 entry)
(Reminiscing Old Songs, Sunday, November 29, 2009 entry)
(Attack of the Genghis Cancer Clan, December 4, 2009)
After returning to the U.S. in December 2009, Jeannette, with stage 4 cancer, lived a life of hope for another FIVE years, defying all odds. Not held down by the cancer, Jeannette and Alan vacationed to Thailand, Hong Kong, and China and took cruises to the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas.
Sewing baby clothes and making jewelry became her new hobbies. Jeannette visited casinos regularly and loved to play the slot machines. Jeannette enjoyed scary and Chinese language movies, helped decorate a Florida summer home, fundraised for one of her daughter's favorite charities, and most importantly, held her first grandchild, Caleb.
After five years of unabated almost weekly chemo treatments, the doctors could no longer halt the spread of the disease. Jeannette chose to stop treatment and begin home hospice care. The daily stream of visitors from her many friends and devoted family filled her last days with joy. A few days before she passed, her immediate family joined together to tell Jeannette of their love and admiration for her. Her last wish was for her family to remain together, to love each other and to enjoy life to its fullest.
Majessa Pedrozo, the first recipient of the Jeannette Wang (Scholarship) Award, a college-bound student who has demonstrated exceptional personal achievement in the face of obstacles beyond her control. OCA-Westchester & Hudson Valley Chapter established the endowment fund with seed money donated by Alan and matched by Jeannette's family and friends to keep Jeannette's legacy alive. Alan and Jeannette's children, Stanley and Christine, presented the award to Majessa.
Photo credits: Chester Mah, Dan Lewis, Susie Yuen
Alan contributed to this story.
Alan contributed to this story.
