Ann Allport

Ann Allport is an 83-year-old grandmother’s grandmother. She is constantly on the go, traveling to Philadelphia to help her granddaughter who is the mother of twin babies or going to Savannah to visit her brother. With six children, 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, Ann devotes much of her time to her family. "I so enjoy seeing the children and love visiting those babies."

So, when she was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2002, it was a surprise to her and her large closely knit family.

"I felt tightness in my chest and my daughter insisted I see my doctor who ordered a chest x-ray. That’s when they found a spot on my lung. My doctors thought it might be a scar from pneumonia but just to be safe, they sent me to Roswell Park. That decision probably saved my life." The doctors at Roswell Park did a biopsy and found that the spot on Ann’s lung was an early-stage lung cancer. Ann was given the opportunity to be one of the first patient to undergo a new surgical procedure called Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery or VATS lobectomy. During the minimally invasive technique, surgeons removed her tumor along with half of the lung through three tiny opening between the ribs, rather than performing a major operation. Ann was able to go home in just a few days.

"It was nothing like I expected. I always thought you went through a lot with cancer, but this was easy," Ann said.

"A major surgery would have put Mom in a nursing home for weeks, maybe even months," said Ann’s daughter, Eileen. "We hired a nurse’s aide to come and help her for the first few weeks, but she is doing fine now. With VATS, she was able to return to her own home and maintain her independence."

This holiday season will be especially busy for the Lockport grandmother when the family gets together.

"I prayed to God all my life and I know he was watching out for me. It was through his good will that I am able to continue to enjoy my family today."

Ann Allport’s message of hope for the holidays: "Don’t smoke, watch your diet. Always put your faith in God and live every day the best you can."