Much like television’s “Home Improvement” characters Tim Allen and Wilson Wilson, Pat Smith and Myra Franklin’s friendship began with conversations over the fence.  The two women bonded over their love for gardening and their love for their pets and they are both military veterans, but they also share something deeper.  Pat and Myra are both fighting cancer.

“We’ve bee neighbors for six years, and we always saw each other on the weekends when we were both working in our yards, Pat said.

Myra was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in May 2011, been through seven surgeries and spent 11 weeks in chemo and radiation therapy.

“The same day I came home with good results for the first time, I found out that Pat was also diagnosed cancer in November 2011,” Myra said.  “It also happened to be head and neck cancer.”

Doctors first diagnosed Pat with a thyroid tumor, a cancer she was told was very treatable.

“ It turns out there was a tumor wrapped around my esophagus that would kill me,” Pat said.  “I was told I had six months to live.  I’m now going on 15 months.”

Although Pat and Myra both suffer from head and neck cancer, the symptoms differ.  Myra has not been able to eat or drink anything for more than a year and has lost most of her hearing.  She suffers from dry mouth, constantly sipping water, taking a water jug with her everywhere she goes.  Pat must keep tissue with her while fighting a perpetual cough.  

Both women describe the effects of chemo as a treatment that leaves them in a fog.  “I used to pride myself on my memory, but now I can’t remember what I did an hour ago,” Pat said.

Pat and Myra continue to support one another and encourage each other to remain active, attending church functions and other community events.  

“It is real easy to run and hide when you are going through cancer,” Myra said.

“We make each other get out and do different things,” Pat said.

Last week they went to the Pell City Sock Hop and have signed up to be volunteers at the Colonel Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home.

“We are also trying to get involved in some of the veterans’ support groups,” Pat said.  “I was in the Army Reserves for 14 years and Myra also served in the military.”

For Valentine’s Day Pat and Myra went to the Styles Make Smiles for Sweethearts event host by Lakeside Hospice and Primp and Paint Salon.

“They were such a delight and so encouraging to us,” Myra said.  “They made us feel so special.”

The event gave individuals going through cancer as well as cancer survivors the opportunity to receive pampering on Valentine’s Day, providing makeovers, manicures, and hair styles with wigs for people.

“We felt so much better when we left,” Pat said.  “It meant so much that the owners would give up their time and their building location for us.”

Myra agreed with Pat, saying there are so many people who go unrecognized for helping cancer patients like family and friends and other organizations like the ACS.  “There are things so many people do that you wouldn’t think mean a lot, but they really do.”

Pat and Myra say the other key to fighting cancer besides their friendship is their faith in God.

“When you have cancer you’re as close to God as feeling His breath, just one breath away,” Myra said.

The ladies continue to cherish the friendship they share, swapping words of encouragement and gardening together.

“If we go out, we’ll probably go out with shovels in our hands, planting something,” Myra said.

“And that’s the way we want to go anyway,” Pat said.