Phoebe tree-lighting event offers hope to cancer patients

ALBANY – Paige Rice said she always attended Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital’s annual Lights of Love ceremony, at which the Phoebe Foundation honors the work of its staff in the  Phoebe Cancer Center and citizens in the community who have been impacted by the disease,

Never, though, did she think she’d be the cancer survivor asked to light the hospital’s Christmas tree during the ceremony.

“All the times I came to this event, I thought, “Gosh, I hope it’s never me who’s called on for the tree-lighting,” Rice said. “But tonight, I’m glad it’s me.”

Rice and her close friend Shelly Green, both cancer survivors, were given the honor of lighting Phoebe’s Tree of Hope during a cool Tuesday-evening ceremony on the Phoebe campus outside the Cancer Center.

“I cried, I prayed, I had my doctors and nurses pray with me,” Green, who with her husband owns Custom Interiors in Albany, said. “I’m in remission now, and what I’ve learned in my journey is that I always have this place (Phoebe) in my corner if I need it.”

Green’s journey began in January 2023 with a melanoma diagnosis. Just months later, Rice was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Before the friends threw the switch to light the Christmas tree Tuesday, several Phoebe officials marked the occasion with comments about the Phoebe Foundation, the Cancer Center and heaped praise on cancer survivors like Rice and Green and the staff in the center who treat cancer patients in the region.

“What we’ve learned as a staff – and what (Green and Rice) have learned during their journey – is that we get through the difficult times by leaning on each other and leaning on the community,” Dr. Jay McAfee with Radiation Oncology Associates said.

Oncologist Dr. Jose Tongol, who has frequently played live shows in the region and has recorded some of the original songs he’s written, read part of a poem he wrote for Green and Rice. The poem was titled “Dynamic Duo.”

Phoebe Foundation Director Parker Douglas encouraged the attendees and the community to continue their support for efforts like the Tree of Hope by donating to the foundation.

“Donations this year are being directed to the Cancer Center,” Douglas said. “By giving, you help us bring hope and healing to our community.”

Dr. Davis Kenney wrote a song titled “Lights of Love” especially for the occasion, and he performed it during the ceremony. Lyrics included, “No defeat, we’re gonna win this fight. The Lights of Love are gonna shine tonight.”

Green said she’s sharing her story to give hope to other cancer patients.

“I hope my story will give someone hope as they go through their own journey,” she said. “There were a lot of times during this experience when I was without hope.”