Echelon Design Inc. announced that one of its employees, a cancer survivor, was a recipient of The Randy Smith Foundation Memorial Grant.
Pam Milburn was honored at the 20th Annual Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic (RSMGC) held at Chateau Elan in Brasselton, Ga., Oct. 10.
The grant was established by RSMGC to help individuals and families in the exhibition industry who have suffered from severe tragedies or face insurmountable medical expenses.
In 2012, Milburn was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian-based pseufomzoma peritonei, a very rare and incurable form of cancer. For the next year, she endured four different forms of chemotherapy and an invasive surgery to remove the cancerous mass from her uterus.
Her cancer has been in remission for nearly two years; however, Milburn needs to have a scan and a blood test every three months and will have to continue this schedule for the rest of her life. The doctors are positive that the cancer will return as there is still some fluid in her system.
According to Milburn, “I am going to do everything in my power to make myself as strong and healthy as possible in the hopes that round 2 (3 – 4 & 5) will not be as devastating. I also would like to help make women aware of this very quiet killer. There is no test for it. There are no signs that would be found in your annual visit to the doctor. The only sign was the discomfort. The words I heard from my doctor are words that no one should ever have to hear. It is important for awareness to be consistent, as for we never know the moment all the effort pays off.”
Milburn’s last scan was in June, and as of today, she is cancer stable with a release to come back in six months.
Founded in 1986, Echelon a Gilberts, Ill. based firm, focuses on integrating all facets of design, architectural, multimedia and visual communications using state of the art technology for trade shows, corporate environments and museums.
