New Orleans - Over the last few weeks Fox 8 has searched for unsung heroes in the community, people who give back without seeking a reward. Fox 8 is honoring it's first Jefferson Award winner.
Christine Dittman and her family, like so many others, were chased out of St. Bernard Parish by Katrina. But losing everything was nothing compared to her daily battle to surivive. As Hurricane Katrina headed for South Louisiana Christine was dealing with two storms. Just days before Katrina hit, she was told she had stage four Ovarian Cancer.
"I remember going to the hospital Thursday for the CAT Scan, and they had my first oncology appointment the Monday of the storm,"Dittmann Said.
Katrina delayed the doctors visit, and she , her husband, and their then seven year old son went first to Baton Rouge, then on to New Jersey to stay with family She immediately began chemo treatments. Ten months later the Dittmanns returned to Louisiana. She was still battling cancer, but wanted to do something to help others.
Her motivation was strong. "When I got back here I knew I had a duty or a calling, " she said.
Two years ago, Dittman began treatment at Touro Hospital. At the time there was not much in place in the way of support for cancer patients. Last year Touro's Supportive Cancer Center opened up, and Dittmann told the center's director and therapist Robert Gardner she was ready to help.
"We talked about starting a support group," Dittmann remembered.
Now, once a month, the two host a roundtable of cancer patients easing their fears, answering their questions.
Gardner was impressed with Dittmann's tenacity, even as she went through grueling chemo treatments.
"She really stepped up, and she felt like she needed to give back to going through the same experiences," he said.
Dittmann described helping one woman through her first round of chemo by saying, "I've been through 45 rounds, you'll be fine."
Dittmann helped to launch a newsletter for women with gynocological cancers. She writes articles for the quarterly newsletter. Her only payment is knowing other patients know they're not alone. Robert Gardner calls her positive outlook amazing, given the fact this cancer will likely kill her.
He added, "She is an example of someone continuing to fight the odds."
Dittmann gives back to the community, while still being a wife and a mother to her 11 year old son. She says her cancer has spread to other organs, and she doesn't know how much time she has left. She says she'll use her time to help others.
