In Conversation: Kecia Scott, Event Day Volunteer Chair, Pittsburgh Affiliate

Editor's note: Pittsburgh Event Day Volunteer Chair Kecia Scott spoke with PanCAN's Paula Mukherjee about her journey as a caregiver and volunteer.

Paula: What is your connection to PanCAN's mission?

Kecia: I was born with a connection to this cause.

My grandfather was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two months before I was born. He was diagnosed in March, and I was born in May. He told the family that he just wanted to live to see my first Christmas, and he did. He died on December 27.

In my adult life, I have another connection to PanCAN's mission.

Kelly was more than my best friend. She was my person, my confidant and my sounding board. She was the person I went to for everything, and she played a crucial role in my life for years.

Kelly was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2022.

Paula: How did Kelly get diagnosed?

Kecia: She had recently retired and I encouraged her to go to her doctor for a regular checkup. Kelly felt bloated after eating. There was one evening where she had some cookies and felt miserable, but she thought it was a bug. Routine bloodwork showed that she had diabetes.

After diabetes was on the radar, I started googling her symptoms and told her I came across pancreatic cancer as a possibility. She looked at me and said, "I think I would know if I had cancer, Kecia."

I agreed; surely, she'd know if something was seriously wrong. Her symptoms were subtle until about a week later. I noticed that her hands had become yellow. The next day, her eyes were yellow.

Kelly called her doctor and went in for scans. They showed a pancreatic tumor with a bile duct blockage and internal bleeding. It was a silent monster.

I became her 24/7 caregiver through her treatment and hospice care. It was the honor of a lifetime.

Paula: How would you describe Kelly?

Kecia: She embodied the word hero. She was courageous and did everything with class and dignity.

She was my daughter Tiffany's role model and gave me a lot to live up to as well. We will always remember her fortitude, positive attitude and the grace with which she handled everything.

Kelly survived for five months. As hard as it was to go through that, I'm so grateful for that time.

She asked me not to write that she had lost her battle in her obituary. I never would. I believe that her life continued and the cancer died.

Paula: When did you learn about PanCAN?

Kecia: After Kelly was diagnosed, my dad told me he had a connection to a pancreatic cancer survivor, Theresa, who volunteered with PanCAN. I called her and she gave me advice and resources. She was very supportive.

Paula: What inspired you to get involved as a PanCAN volunteer?

Kecia: I began after Kelly's death. I was so accustomed to being a caregiver. My internal clock was still set to wake me up every two hours to give Kelly her pain meds.

The chapter of caregiving had closed, and I felt like the grief had overtaken me.

I thought about how Kelly always had a positive outlook. She would always say that we'd continue on and take it a day at a time. This became my motto: one day at a time, strong and courageous.

I knew I needed to channel my grief somewhere and I started looking into pancreatic cancer organizations and events. I found PanCAN PurpleLight, helped with event sign-in and met the affiliate volunteers. That got the ball rolling.

I needed to do something so I could still feel like I was taking care of Kelly. Volunteering with PanCAN is the way I can do it. Kelly didn't get the outcome that we wanted, but I didn't want to stop caregiving.

I live several hours away from Pittsburgh and made frequent trips with Kelly to go to the emergency room. I'm still making the same trips, but now it's to help other people. I go for PanCAN PurpleStride, PurpleLight, Hockey Fights Cancer and affiliate meetups.

Kelly's life still matters. It still has purpose and has led to a ripple effect of caring.

Paula: You're part of the PurpleStride Committee and help to plan and execute PurpleStride. How is that experience?

Kecia: The work we put into PurpleStride is so worth it when you show up and see a sea of purple.

You know that every person there has a story. They're in the trenches with this disease or were in the past. It's amazing to see folks turn out and raise money in honor or in memory of their loved ones.

I can see everybody pull together. When I was going through this with Kelly, I didn't know what a big community there was.

Paula: What is your favorite memory from PurpleStride?

Kecia: One of my favorite things is to see the "I walk for…" signs that people fill out and pin to their shirts. We carry our loved ones with us on every step of the walk. Seeing survivors get recognized is another favorite moment every year.

Aside from that, my favorite memory is from my very first PurpleStride. It took place less than a year after Kelly passed. It was one of the first trips I took to Pittsburgh after her death, and I could feel the trauma of her loss coming back.

After the emcee recognized the survivors, she asked the caregivers in the audience to put their hands up in a heart shape. I could see the hearts go up all around me.

I was so moved that I could barely raise my hands.

It was one of the first times I was recognized as a caregiver. Caregivers always focus on the patients, and we do everything we can to help them and make them comfortable. To have a moment at PurpleStride to say "hey caregivers, we see you" - it was the most touching thing.

Paula: Registration for PurpleStride 2027 is now open! What are you excited about?

Kecia: It's always exciting to see participants sign up to volunteer on event day. It's so nice to join with the affiliate and see the event come together.

As a PurpleStride participant, the biggest reason I walk is Tiffany, my daughter.

When she was 11, I watched her hold Kelly's hand to say goodbye while simultaneously praying for a miracle. It's still hard to think about. She had to go to school and pretend like cancer wasn't wreaking havoc at home.

When I told her that Kelly was stopping treatment, she thought it meant that the cancer was gone. I had to explain that it wasn't the case.

Tiffany is now a junior in high school. She hasn't forgotten Kelly.

We wear purple in our family pictures for her. During Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in November, Tiffany decorates our yard with purple ribbons in the trees and purple outdoor lights. She wants to do her senior project on a topic related to pancreatic cancer.

We walk for each other. We walk for the whole community. Even though a breakthrough didn't come in time for Kelly, I'm still praying for that for everyone else.

Paula: What advice do you have for caregivers and others who have been impacted by pancreatic cancer?

Kecia: Even when you don't feel strong, you are. Take one day at a time. When things seem overwhelming, just focus on the moment you're in.

There are moments when you celebrate and moments when your anxiety is crushing. Let yourself feel all of it. I felt every single second of the peaks and valleys.

It was the hardest thing I ever went through, but there is no greater honor than being a caregiver for someone you love so much.

After Kelly died, my dad came to my house. He hugged me and said, "She was very courageous." I was crying and nodded. He added, "And so are you."

Stay the course and take one day at a time. Be strong and courageous, like Kelly.

Paula: Thank you, Kecia, for everything you do for the PanCAN community!