Bunco Night to Benefit Nancy Wehrman

September 2 Ladies of the Lake Bunco Night to benefit Nancy Wehrman

By Mark Mathews, Editor of the Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer

Click here to view the article on the Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer's website.

All of the proceeds raised during The Ladies of the Lake Cancer Support Team's Tuesday, Sept. 2 BUNCO Night at Lakeside Lutheran Church will benefit Nancy Wehrman, who was diagnosed with Leukemia in January.

Nancy is a well-known and active member of the Lake Gaston community. She's a long-time member of the Lake Gaston Ladies Club, Gastonettes, Fabulous Flying Aqua Babes, Littleton chapter of the P.E.O., and a singer in the Annual Lake Gaston Singers for the Christmas Cantata.

Feeling tired is how Nancy described herself from Thanksgiving through the Christmas holiday season last year. She figured the busy holiday season schedule was the culprit, and she would have plenty of time to rest after it was over. Still, something wasn't right.

I told Lori Dobson, who stands next to me in the Christmas Cantata, I'm a lifelong singer. I grew up with a music teacher as a mother. I know how to get a nice big breath for singing, and I can't get one. So, there were signs early on. I just didn't know what they were."

In January, Nancy had flu-like symptoms. She believed she would feel better in a few days. However, the symptoms worsened throughout the week, and she decided to head to urgent care to get checked out. Unfortunately, the physician said she didn't have what he needed to complete a diagnosis and sent her to the emergency room in South Hill. Her white blood cell count was 46,000. A typical white blood cell count is 10,000 to 11,000.

"They started throwing around the word leukemia, and I was no, no, no, you are mistaken — that is not what is going on," Nancy said. "So they transferred me to Duke, and indeed, I had what is called Acute Myeloid Leukemia. It has what they call mutations, and I have two mutations of Acute Myeloid Leukemia."

Nancy had an unsuccessful round of chemotherapy, which she said she was told it was because of the type of leukemia she had. The chemotherapy regimen changed, and she had four consecutive successful chemo sessions.

"I'm currently in remission, and to stay in remission I would have to keep getting chemo, but my chance on a total cure is a bone marrow transplant, which is scheduled for Sept. 9," she said.

Nancy's brother, David, was initially scheduled to be the donor for the transplant, and it was a 100% match. Nancy soon had more than her leukemia on her mind. She had her brother's health to worry about. David suffered a stroke on July 22. He is back at home in Virginia Beach and has started outpatient physical therapy. A second donor was discovered and matches 11 out of 12 points, which Nancy says is pretty good.

Nancy will begin another round of chemotherapy sessions from Sept. 4 through Sept. 7, followed by a Sept. 8 rest day. She will be given anti-rejection treatments on Sept. 12 and Sept. 13 to increase the chances of a successful bone marrow transplant. The long road to recovery will still be a long way from over.

"I will have a baby immune system, so we'll have to take precautions for a full year." Nancy said. "I will not be allowed to do any yardwork for another year. And I have to be very careful not to get too much sun. After one year I will get all my childhood vaccinations again."

Nancy has already defied the odds twice. She was told that after her original diagnosis, she would not have been around if she had waited another week. The second odd-defying episode was when she pondered not going through chemotherapy treatments and living the rest of her life without the rollercoaster impacts of chemo. Her doctors told her that particular decision would have put her life expectancy at approximately two weeks.

Steve, Nancy's sister, Cheryl, and at times her dear friend Sheryl have been her primary caregivers. The Lake Gaston community has also been an instrumental part of Nancy's journey through a difficult time.

"I can't tell you how many people have reached out, and I'm so thankful for them, and I'm so thankful for everybody's prayers," Nancy said. "I think it's twice I've defied all odds and I believe it's due to all the prayers from all these people I know, and people I don't know. I'm so thankful for this community."

Special September Bunco for Nancy Wehrman

The Ladies of the Lake Cancer Support Team's BUNCO fundraiser for Nancy Wehrman is at 7 p.m. on Sept. 2 at Lakeside Lutheran Church, 2427 Eaton Ferry Road, Littleton, North Carolina. Everyone is welcome to attend and play the easy-to-learn, fast-paced dice game. BUNCO Night is $10 to play, and snacks are provided for the players. BUNCO Night is an event of good times, fellowship, door prizes, and a shot to win the 50/50 drawing. More importantly, BUNCO Night proceeds all go toward a worthy cause. Go to ladiesofthelake.info for more information about the Ladies of the Lake Cancer Support Team.