KENNEWICK -- Terry Flores of the Benton County Clean Air Authority died Friday after a five-year battle with cancer.
She was the catalyst behind a bill passed by the state Legislature allowing terminally ill public employees to remove themselves from contributing to their retirement plans.
Flores was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2005. She made a plea to Sen. Jerome Delvin, R-Richland to have the law changed because she continued to work but knew she'd never collect retirement.
Delvin took up her cause and the bill -- aptly titled the Terry Flores bill -- passed unanimously the same year.
Funeral services for Flores have not been announced yet.
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Busting the myths of ovarian cancer with information
Busting the myths of ovarian cancer with information
What if there were a cancer that had practically no symptoms, no routine screenings and the few symptoms that might exist were dismissed by your doctor? And what if, when the cancer was finally diagnosed, it would probably be too late to save you?
And what if that cancer could have been found and cured if there'd been more awareness? Wouldn't you be downright mad? Sure you would. I was four years ago. But unfortunately, this still describes most women's experience with ovarian cancer today.
Hang on though, ovarian cancer only strikes women over 60, right? Especially those who don't have children? That's what I thought four years ago. But, while the average age of diagnosis is 63, some 30 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are under 55. I was diagnosed at 39, when my twins were 2 years old.
Faces of Cancer: Richland Christian counselor lost wife, 3 children to cancer
Faces of Cancer: Richland Christian counselor lost wife, 3 children to cancer
As a Christian counselor, Dick English is familiar with the Old Testament story of Job, a man who has everything taken away but refuses to curse God. As a man whose family has been wiped out by cancer, he sees Job as a role model.
Since 1977, English's family has endured six bouts with cancer, and his wife and three sons all have died at the hands of the disease. His last child, Troy, passed away just a few weeks ago.
"People will teasingly call me 'Job,' " English, 68, said with a brief smile. "But the reality is that I'm not on drugs, I'm not buried in denial. I've had some rough times in life, but at the same time, there's so many people who have prayed for and continue to pray for me. There are some rough things in life, but at the same time, there's a whole lot of joy."
Faces of Cancer: Pasco girl, 2, fights with winning smile
Faces of Cancer: Pasco girl, 2, fights with winning smile
If her beautiful smile could defeat cancer as easily as it disarms everyone she meets, Olivia DeCoria of Pasco would have the same concerns as any other 2-year-old.
Behind the perpetual happiness is a fierce little warrior who has yet to be given a fair shake in life.
The daughter of Julie and Brandon DeCoria was born with a rare chromosome disorder called "13Q deletion."
Faces of Cancer: West Richland woman takes holistic approach to battle
Faces of Cancer: West Richland woman takes holistic approach to battle
WEST RICHLAND -- Cancer. It might just be the scariest word in the English language.
But one West Richland woman -- a two-time survivor -- is not afraid of the word or the disease.
"It's a terrifying word," she said. "But the reason someone gets sick is because of their immune system."
Faces of Cancer: Salon owner helps others battle cancer
Faces of Cancer: Salon owner helps others battle cancer
Before becoming friends with someone who had cancer, Franki Anderson didn't even realize the Tri-Cities had a cancer center. Today, she is one of its biggest supporters.
Anderson, owner of Franki & Co. hair salon in Kennewick, began cutting Terry Bailey's hair in 1999.
The longtime Tri-City radio executive was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which had metastasized. He also was on the board of the Tri-Cities Cancer Center and encouraged her to help raise money for the cause. So she launched Cutting for Cancer, a "cut-a-thon" event at her salon. It raised $5,000.
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