ELA-8 Teaching and Learning Center Director Laura Hicks and her husband, Wendell, are being featured together in Harbin Clinic’s Faces of Hope photography exhibition. The Darlington parents join five others in the latest installment of the collection, which is on display at the Tony E. Warren M.D. Cancer Center in Rome.
The large-scale photos and accompanying stories of locals affected by cancer are displayed in hopes of encouraging passersby.
“We wanted the Center to have some very powerful and meaningful artwork,” said Janice Hopkins, director of operations at the Cancer Center. “We felt that the photographs and stories would be inspiring, and bring hope to those and their families who came here for treatment.”
Wendell Hicks found out that he had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after discovering a swollen lymph node on his neck. Following his diagnosis, he was fortunate to learn that it was a slow-growing cancer. After biological therapy for 24 months, he was given a clean bill of health, and has been in remission for the past two years.
Not long after the Hicks family began to catch their breath, Laura was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer after a planned bilateral mastectomy last fall. Now, having completed several successful rounds of chemotherapy, she will take biological treatments through November and will then continue with followup medication for the next five years.
“It is very humbling and is an honor to be able to share our story,” said Laura Hicks, the mother of Sawyer (’15) and Gibson (‘19). “Oftentimes when people receive a cancer diagnosis, you automatically think the worst. As many bad days or uncomfortable days, I wouldn’t change anything because it gave me a greater faith and gave me an opportunity to glorify God in the valley."
The Faces of Hope series, now in its second phase, was an idea spearheaded by Darlington parent and Harbin Clinic oncologist Dr. Missy Dillmon, who saw a similar exhibit in a healthcare facility in another state. The exhibit features the talent of Rome-based photographer Kelly Moore (’95), who has been involved since before the Cancer Center opened its doors in 2010.
“I try to tell a story with my photos," said Moore. "Having lost a parent to cancer, it kind of allowed me to be a part of it in a happy way. It is fun to get these folks in the studio and see a smile come out of a horrible story."
The staff at the Harbin Clinic Tony E. Warren M.D. Cancer Center conducts research studies, utilizes cutting-edge treatments and incorporates special regiments as experienced physicians work with patients to determine their best course of care.
“Thank God for these wonderful doctors. I don’t think people realize what a great facility we have in our own backyards,” added Laura Hicks. “They are brilliant and they are fighters. They advocate for us when we don’t even know what to say.”
Faces of Hope is free to view and is open during the Cancer Center's regular hours of operation. The facility is located at 255 W. Fifth St. in Rome.
Click here for more information about the Tony E. Warren Cancer Center and cancer care at Harbin Clinic.
Click here to read Laura and Wendell Hicks' own words about their ongoing journey from cancer diagnosis to renewed health.
Click here to see photos from a special blood drive that was held in Laura Hicks' honor on the Darlington campus in March.
