A fighter goes down

Contributed Auburn Villager Carmen McInroy on her 40th birthday

Carmen McInroy, a Lee County icon in the fight against cancer, has succumbed to the disease after an eight-year fight. McInroy, 40 and mother of two, died in her sleep Monday night.

McInroy first contracted cancer in 2002 and had numerous bouts with the disease before her death. Even as she underwent radiation and chemo treatments, she was a frequent speaker at cancer awareness events and was a leader in the "Paint the Town Purple" and Relay for Life campaigns that helped raise funds to fight the disease. A benefit concert in her honor raised thousands of dollars last year.

McInroy is survived by her husband, John, and daughter, Kayla, 14, and son, Cam, 11. In addition to her family, members of her Bunko group, affectionately known as the "Bunko Babes," were constantly at her side during the nearly decade long ordeal--taking her to her treatments, preparing meals for her and helping in any way possible.

"She was very much an inspiration to so many people," says Lynn Weaver, a member of the Bunko group. "When we were at Bethany House the last couple of weeks, they said they had never seen so many friends visit one person before."

McInroy was a therapist with East Alabama Mental Health before contracting the disease. Friends were amazed at the fight McInroy, in her early 30s when she first was diagnosed with cancer, waged against the disease--prolonging her life against strong odds.

"One of the things she taught me was how to stand up for yourself," says Weaver. "She said, ‘You are in charge of your health care. Take care and ask questions.' If she hadn't done that, she would not have lived so long."

Among other members of the Bunko group were Sophia Benson, Debra Beatty, Elizabeth Ham, Lynn Brackin, Alice Hodge, Nikki Eddins, Ginger Brannon, Monte Atkins, Judy Jones, Ester Getz, Diana Tulliers, Theresa Davis, Rebecca Dowdy, Sami Jo Vance and others.

"Carmen was just always happy," says Eddins. "It didn't matter what the situation, nothing ever got her down. She just wanted to be there for her children and enjoy life. Carmen was and will be an inspiration through her friends and family to encourage women and men to do breast exams and seek health care as soon as possible."

Local attorney Benson, also a member of the Bunko group, similarly lauds McInroy's educational skills.

"She is the best teacher I ever had," says Benson. "Carmen had so much wisdom packed in her. She was very logical and rational and made us all very aware of our surroundings and how blessed we are."

The Bunko group surprised McInroy with a trip to the beach about three years ago to see her favorite band. Of course, she was the star of the show when she was recognized and asked to have a picture taken with band members. The family took several trips during the last few years of her life. Among her favorites was an excursion to Egypt.

She brought each member of the Bunko group a present from Egypt and made certain all members got cards or presents every Christmas--even when her energy was zapped by the treatments.

A memorial service for McInroy will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the chapel at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life, Lee County, at 3054 McGehee Rd., Montgomery, AL 36111 or the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 60 E. 56th St., 8th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

Bunko friend Beatty summed up the group's feelings about her.

"Carmen was one of the most courageous women I've ever known," she says. "We've all joked that she was like the Energizer Bunny. She would take those treatments and we would think that she was so petite and that she was going to just give out, but she would re-energize. She worked at all these events. She just had a heart for cancer patients and their families. She had the biggest heart of anyone I've ever known. She just loved people."