Vaughn & Melinda — Survivors, Caregivers & Loved Ones
Husband and wife power duo Vaughn and Melinda Arthur have always been involved in the cancer community. Before they met, Vaughn was treated for cancer and has been an advocate ever since. Having had several friends and family members face cancer diagnoses, Vaughn’s priority is advocating for survivorship. Recently, Melinda was diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. Before her diagnosis, Melinda and Vaughn had been involved in various activities for those affected by cancer because it was important for them to participate in a great cause. Now that Melinda has been diagnosed with cancer, being involved in different cancer communities provides a vast support network. Her diagnosis has brought new challenges and learning experiences for both she and Vaughn.
Vaughn is Melinda’s caregiver, but he is also a 30+ year survivor. When asked how that impacts their relationship, Vaughn said “because it’s been a long time since I had cancer, I feel like we’re learning everything together, especially the emotional side.” Vaughn and Melinda have always had a strong marriage but going through this experience together and learning new boundaries have brought them even closer. “Sometimes I just need someone to let me talk,” Melinda said. “and he offers a sympathetic ear. Having been there, it’s different talking to him rather than my parents or my friends. He feels like a more valuable listener.”
Vaughn and Melinda are integral members in their local cancer community. Vaughn is a Livestrong Leader, advocating for different cancer issues in his local community in Virginia, and acting as a representative in a large national network of those affected by cancer. Each year, he travels to Washington DC with Livestrong for One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) to speak with his representatives and advocate for increased funding for cancer care and research. OVAC is a group of public health organizations that aim to communicate the need for cancer research-related funding to Congress and the White House. The couple is also dedicated to their local Livestrong at the YMCA, which Vaughn helped introduce to their hometown in Virginia. After learning about the program, Vaughn fought to implement Livestrong at the YMCA in order to help those affected by cancer in his local community. Livestrong at the YMCA is a 12-week post-treatment exercise program designed to help those affected by cancer get back on their feet together.
Furthermore, both Melinda and Vaughn volunteer with the 24 Foundation, and have participated in 24 Hours of Booty for a very long time. The 24 Foundation is a non-profit organization that fundraises for cancer research and whole-person care. Vaughn and Melinda joined Team Collin, a group that was created in honor of their friend’s child who was diagnosed with Leukemia. Team Collin participates at the annual 24 Hours of Booty cycling event to help fundraise for cancer research, quality of life care, and navigation services. Both Vaughn and Melinda are extremely passionate about sharing the story of the 24 Foundation and Team Collin.
Being involved in so many groups and teams centered around exercise, it’s easy to see that physical activity plays a very important role in Vaughn and Melinda’s lives. For Melinda, exercise gave her a support community when she was diagnosed, but it also gave her a leg up when starting treatment. Recent research has shown that exercise before, after and during treatment can improve quality of life, including (but not limited to) mood improvements, and relative reduction of common symptoms[i]. An accomplished athlete, she believes her overall fitness and cardiovascular health put her at an advantage starting treatment. However, with the coronavirus and quarantine, she hasn’t been able to be involved in all the activities that she was before. “COVID has made everything so much harder,” she said. Many of the things she does to stay healthy and active aren’t viable options right now, but she still finds time to hop on her bike!
Along with being an athlete, Melinda is also an accomplished artist. She paints commissioned portraits of people’s pets. After starting chemotherapy, she had a hard time working on pieces and she just recently started painting again. While painting became difficult and frustrating during treatment, Melinda discovered a new talent in creative writing. She joined an online creative writing group for people affected by cancer and found a new method of communicating her feelings and progress to her friends and loved ones. Through her writing, Melinda can share a first-person perspective of what it’s like to live with cancer. Some of her posts tackle the “meaning behind hair”, and others list the pros and cons of chemotherapy. She posts her writing to her blog in order to share her experiences with her support network and to educate her readers on the realities of living with cancer.
Vaughn and Melinda continue to work through difficult experiences and the tribulations of recovery. Apart from having a strong marriage and loving relationship, Vaughn and Melinda are very impactful individuals. They are both accomplished athletes and leaders in their local and national communities using their talent and voices to serve cancer survivors across the United States. Even with COVID-19 allowing them a small break from the cancer-space and more time to take care of themselves, their passion still drives them to help others affected by cancer, now and in the future.
[i] APA COURNEYA, KERRY S. Exercise in Cancer Survivors: An Overview of Research, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: November 2003 — Volume 35 — Issue 11 — p 1846–1852 doi: 10.1249/01.MSS.0000093622.41587.B6
