Business, community rallies around woman battling cancer

Oct. 21—At just 27, Cindy Helm was not sure how much longer she would be alive.

She was diagnosed with sarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer, and doctors told her most people do not survive the disease that tears through the tissue, vessels and other areas of the body.

"They told me it could come back anytime," said Helm. "I spoke to a doctor, and he told me you are really lucky to be alive. Sarcoma is one that you don't live through."

Helm defied the odds then, and she hopes to do it again.

The Kings Mountain mother of four is battling breast cancer and said her experience has been quite different than her first bout with cancer 31 years ago.

"It's hard on me," said Helm. "I'm really tired a lot. I sleep a lot."

Tuesday evening, folks in Cleveland County gathered to hold a breast cancer fundraiser at Revolution Brewhouse in Kings Mountain that included a cake auction, spaghetti dinner, car wash and more.

"It's breast cancer awareness, and I wanted to do something to support a local woman that was going through it," said Pilar Michelle Huggins, owner of Revolution Brewhouse.

Helm was told most people who have had sarcoma should expect the cancer to return in some form or another.

This time, her second stint has been more troubling because of her chemotherapy treatments, something Helm did not experience when she was first diagnosed with cancer in 1990.

"I had a radiation implant bed and radiation from a beam where they put the medicine in my arm," said Helm. "I stayed in the hospital for a week, and I didn't lose hair or anything."

As she tackles the disease for a second time, she remains hopeful her condition will change. Helm was told she will have to remain on chemo until next year.

"This cancer has been bad," said Helm. "I've had really long hair, and I lost that, my eyebrows and eyelashes."

Although her first go around with cancer was not as aggressive as it is now, it changed her life drastically. Helm has been on disability because her first battle with cancer caused her to lose feeling in her hand. Still she considers it a blessing to have her arm because doctors told her she should weigh the options of removing it. Between 1990 and 1992, she underwent 13 surgeries.

"They wanted to amputate my arm," said Helm. "I still have it thank God. If I don't tell anyone about my arm, people don't realize what's going on."

The 59-year old expressed her gratitude for those who have rallied behind her. Outside of cancer survivor assistance program Go Jen Go in Charlotte, she said she has had to weather the storm alone. The fundraiser provided a little bit of relief when so many times, she is fighting tooth and nail to get through her day.

"Up until this point, I have only had the people from the Go Jen Go program," said Helm. "They are the ones that told Pilar about me. Until then I've never had help. My ex-husband helps when he can. I am excited about the event. It's really a blessing."

Vendors donated a portion of their earnings, and other restaurants in the downtown area came out to show their support. 133 West donated salad and dressing, 238 Terra Mia Ristorante donated breadsticks, and cakes by LadyBug Farms Bakery were auctioned off.

Community involvement has been a point of emphasis for Huggins whose restaurant opened October 2020. She hopes the event gives Helm a small taste of what happens when the people of Kings Mountain come together. Proceeds from the event will go toward new tires and help pay for Helm's treatments.

"It's what I'm striving to do," said Huggins. "Even though she doesn't have family here, we hope to be that for her."

Huggins is going to keep the efforts going until Oct. 31 by donating half of the sales from her Rosé wine bottles to Helm. Call 704-750-4372 for more information about how to help.

Latrice Williams can be reached at 704-669-3339 and lwilliams6@gannett.com.

___

(c)2021 The Star (Shelby, N.C.)

Visit The Star (Shelby, N.C.) at www.shelbystar.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.