Ellie “Mickey” Schilling-Morris
School Bus Driver, Retired Real Estate Broker and Agent,
and Survivor of Laryngeal Cancer
Wilkinson, IN
Mickey’s journey may have begun 30 years ago, she just did not pay close attention. Remember that statement. It will be referenced later. Her mother died at the age of 35 of breast cancer. It was a long time ago, and Mickey was only 4 years old, so it did not register with her, other than the fear. The word cancer, in those days was a death sentence. Her childhood consisted of adults discussing cobalt treatments, radical mastectomies, radiation and lots of drugs that made her mother very ill. Mickey remembers a hospital bed in her mother’s bedroom, and she can’t really remember her mom other than laying in that bed.
Mickey started smoking cigarettes at around the age of 15 or 16. At the age of 30, non-cancerous polyps were discovered on her vocal cords. “I should have taken the warning. I should have changed my lifestyle. I should have stopped smoking that day. I did not,” explained Mickey.
“During the years I had made several attempts to stop smoking. From hypnosis to vaping...I had tried it all. The day I was diagnosed with cancer on my voice box, was the day I put all forms of nicotine down.”
At the age of 64, she was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. She discovered it herself.
“My treatment was fast but hard. Five bouts of Chemo and 32 radiation sessions. Did I mention a feeding tube? The tube was the most challenging for me. I had negative feelings about the feeding tube. In the end, I trusted what my oncologist told me. The feeding tube was just a tool I needed at the time. I could handle that. In the end I lost 42 pounds.”
What did she gain?
A sense of gratitude.
An understanding of strength, hers and her family’s.
The determination to give back, to give something to someone that needs it.
To request Mickey for your local event, please contact us at info@headandneck.org or complete the online form.
