Vicki Marie Derr Hitesman

born November 2, 1958

She was the most beautiful girl that I had ever seen when we met in early 1975.  She had long dark hair (sometimes in pig tails) with brown eyes, very petite and braces on her teeth.  The first time we talked was at the Watson Theater.  She had a light blue shirt on, jeans and her hair in pigtails eating candy.  My heart skipped a few beats.  She was a majorette and a very talented one.  She won dozens of competitions and was the head majorette at WRHS for 4 years.  We used to talk on the phone for hours.  She was an exceptional student with lots of energy.  When she twirled her baton at football games the pigtails, white boots and tight costume was too much to bear for a 16-year-old boy.

            We married after a long dating period of 6 years on June 27, 1981 after she completed nursing school and my college education.  She was an LPN and was the best nurse that others and I ever knew.  We struggled as many young couples do with a new marriage of living together, sharing finances, and all the emotions that go into marriage.  We rented an apartment for $125 a month that used to be a chicken coop. It was great!  Vicki was an LPN at Williamsport and I was working at International Paper in Lewisburg.  After only 2 ½ years of marriage Vicki started to lose weight, had an uncontrollable cough and no energy.  She was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease in March 1984.  The treatments were brutal which made her sick, lost her hair, lowered her blood count but she always rebounded.  The tumor that encompassed 40% of her chest was shrinking.  Finally in August 1985 the chemotherapy ended and the tumor was gone.  The last treatment was the same day the basement was being dug for our new house in Allenwood.

            In 1988 Vicki became pregnant, I qualified for the Boston Marathon, she was working again and life was really exciting.  Derek was born on 6/1/89 and David was born on 7/16/93.  Vicki loved her boys more than her own life.  She volunteered her time for the American cancer society, little league baseball and a wide variety of school functions.  Life was normal for many years, life was good and we both worked – Vicki at Kramms in Watsontown and I worked at Wood Mode in Kreamer – as well as raising two wonderful children.  Things changed in 2006.

            We celebrated 25 years of marriage on June 27, 1981 with no fanfare thinking that we would have more and more anniversaries.  In July 2006 she started to feel drained and had respiratory problems.  After a wide variety of tests, a small solid tumor was found on her lung.  She never smoked!  After more tests and stays at Geisinger, the tumor grew and grew at a rate beyond treatment.  Her doctors and nurses did everything, and I mean everything to control the cancer.  The cancer spread to her bone and liver.  She fought so hard but the disease finally won on September 9, 2006.  Vicki died after 2 months of illness.  She was the most bravest and most courageous person that I have ever known.

            Today’s race is not about the death of Vicki.  This is a celebration of her life and all the great things that she did in her 47 years on earth.  Tragedy strikes us all; it is how we deal with it that is important.  We can focus on anger, blame, gossip, judging and jealousy or we can move forward as Vicki would want us to by focusing on positive things.  This race is one of the many positive things that this tragedy has produced.  All of the participants and helpers should be commended.  All of you need to remember that life can be unfair but it comes down to people and our interaction with others that is important.

            Today enjoy the race, and the camaraderie of others.  Dedicate this race to Jessica, Vicki or anyone else that is currently battling cancer or whom has lost the fight to this horrific disease.  Above all celebrate your abilities and enjoy the companionship for those around you.  Do not feel sad but look forward to the future when this disease is no longer.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your participation in the JesVic 5k.  Enjoy the celebration and memory of a wonderful person that I will always love and cherish.

Paul Hitesman