This article came from the Mobile (Alabama) newspaper...

[Guest guest]

this lady is an inspiration to me and to a lot of other people too.

Her story shows that b.c. can kill sometimes but it never defeats the

spirit.

I am keeping this article as a reminder to myself that we should fight!

Doris

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standard.xsl\

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Friends remember Cherri this month

10/13/02

By MONIQUE CURET

Staff Reporter

After Cherri Cochran died July 26 of breast cancer, letters poured in

to her husband. Many writers explained that they had not met Sam

Cochran, Mobile's chief of police, but they had met his wife and she

had helped them with their struggles.

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" People just thought so dear of her, " he said. To date, he has

received about 300 letters.

One of those was from Essie Hulett, who works in the records division

at the Mobile Police Department.

Seven years ago, when Hulett was diagnosed with breast cancer, a

colleague suggested that she contact Cherri Cochran. Cochran, who had

undergone a mastectomy and reconstruc tive surgery, was able to

comfort Hulett as she faced the prospect of a mastectomy.

" I was devastated and just went all to pieces, " Hulett said of her

initial reaction to her doctor's advice.

Cochran, who was very proud of her own reconstruction and offered to

let Hulett see it, convinced Hulett that she would not be maimed by

the surgery.

" She was just so open and kind, " Hulett said.

Many of the people whose lives Cherri Cochran touched will dedicate

memorials and host events in her honor this month, which is devoted to

Breast Cancer Awareness.

Pink is the color that usually symbolizes breast cancer, but Cochran's

friends and family describe her more as a feisty red -- paddling her

kayak with gusto, planting her garden each season and planning a trip

for friends and family that she didn't live long enough to join them on.

She battled for 10 years the cancer that eventually claimed her life.

Reaching out:

Sam Cochran said he was sorting through e-mail messages after his wife

died when he came across one addressed to her. The writer told Cherri

that she knew someone newly diagnosed with cancer and " you need to

work your magic with her. "

She used herself as an example, her husband said. She was able to talk

frankly with those who had cancer because she understood their fears.

met Cochran through the American Cancer Society, where

Cochran served as a member of the board of directors and as a

volunteer counselor to other breast cancer patients.

, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer six months before,

said Cochran explained what to expect physically and emotionally. She

provided her home and work phone numbers and told she could

call any time.

" She was my mentor and my role model, " said.

Geraldine , whose daughter was Cochran's friend, said Cochran

called her just after she found out she had breast cancer.

recounted Cochran's advice: " This happened and this is the way I

handled it and you can do it too.

" Cherri treated it like it was a piece of cake, " said. " I credit

her a lot with my positive outlook on it. "

Sam Cochran said of his wife: " She was that motivating force for others. "

'A unique transformation':

Within a year of being diagnosed with cancer in 1992, Cochran began

volunteering with local organizations for cancer patients and

survivors, her husband said.

" There is without a doubt a unique transformation that takes effect

with cancer survivors, " Sam Cochran said.

Living your life as an example to others is " what being a cancer

survivor is, " he said.

His wife already had an outgoing personality, Sam Cochran said, but

being diagnosed with cancer increased that tendency and " made her a

better person. "

Buddy Wilder, one of the founders of Camp Bluebird, a camp for adult

cancer patients where Cochran volunteered, said organizers tried to

get Cochran to attend the camp as a guest.

But she always served as a counselor, instead.

" She didn't want to be catered to, " her husband said. She wanted to be

the one doing the catering.

At Camp Bluebird, which takes place each year in Octo ber and April in

south Baldwin County, Cochran would take a few minutes to talk to each

camper. She committed details about them to memory, such as names of

children and grandchildren, Wilder said.

During meals at Camp Bluebird, diners sit at round tables in groups of

eight. At Cochran's table, Wilder said, she'd be the first out of her

chair if anyone needed a refill or another dinner roll -- even though

at times she likely was suffering from as much pain as the campers.

Cochran also served on the board of directors for Camp Rap-A-Hope, a

camp for children with cancer.

She spent a few days each summer at the week-long Citronelle camp,

said McNichol, the children's camp executive director and

Cochran's close friend.

She loved horses and would assist with the children's horseback riding

lessons. She also arranged to have the Mobile Police Department's

mounted unit visit the camp, McNichol said.

Cochran visited the camp for the last time about six weeks before her

death.

'She didn't live sick':

Just a handful of weeks before she died, the Cochrans went kayaking

with McNichol and her husband Charlie.

Cherri Cochran paddled ahead of the others, according to

McNichol, then looked back and prodded her friend's husband.

" What's the matter, Charlie Mac, can't keep up? " Cochran called.

" She didn't live sick, " said McNichol.

The couples first met through the men, who both had attended the FBI

National Academy in Quantico, Va., in 1995. Charlie McNichol, a

15-year veteran of the Daphne Police Department, soon will leave to

take a position at the U.S. attorney's office in Mobile.

McNichol got involved in Camp Rap-A-Hope through Cherri Cochran.

Because of Cochran's planning, her family and the McNichols will still

travel to Gatlinburg, Tenn., for the Thanksgiving holidays, a trip

they have made together in the past.

" She planned for days she had and the days she didn't have, "

McNichol said.

" It never slowed her down, " Sam Cochran said of his wife's disease.

Memorials:

The three porch swings seem like a fitting memorial.

Each has a different shape cut out of its back: one a heart, another

an anchor and the third an angel.

When Wilder first tried to choose one for Camp Bluebird to dedicate in

Cochran's honor, he said the heart seemed like a logical choice. Then

he saw the anchor and thought that also would be appropriate, since

Cochran loved water sports.

But the third one, with an angel, " was most fitting for Cherri, "

Wilder said.

He bought all three. They face Weeks Bay and on Thursday were

dedicated in Cochran's honor.

, who was counseled by Cochran, is chairwoman of another event

in Cochran's honor.

Paint the Town Pink, an American Cancer Society Breast Cancer

Awareness walk, will be held on Oct. 19 in memory of Cochran.

McNichol said Camp Rap-A-Hope has received several donations in

Cochran's name.

One couple sent a donation in Cochran's honor and later sent a second

donation in someone else's memory. But with the second donation, the

husband enclosed a note that read: " I think this honors Neil and makes

Cherri smile. "

" Cherri is continuing to make a difference, " McNichol said.