Hug the Momma benefit set for local known for giving hugs
COSHOCTON - Winnie Ellis said the outpouring of support she has received is overwhelming.
Friends, family, members of the community, her church and former co-workers have offered to help since they heard of her cancer diagnosis, she said.
“It’s so humbling to have people be so giving. It’s just, wow,” Winnie said. “I’m just truly blessed.”
She was diagnosed with spindle cell melanoma, a rare form of skin cancer, in October. A short time after receiving the diagnosis and embarking on a treatment plan, she found out she would not have a job to return to after her treatments. Winnie was an executive secretary at the Coshocton WestRock plant, which closed in December.
To help the family cope with out-of-pocket medical expenses as well as every day bills, her son, Nathan Holmes, will host a benefit this weekend. The Hug the Momma benefit will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Turtle Creek Tavern, 5571 N. Hamilton Road in Columbus.
Local supporters have donated raffle items, and there will be a 50-50 drawing and a pasta bar. Live music will be performed by Acoustic Mayhem.
Nathan, who is a chef at the tavern, organized the benefit with the help of his brother, Johnathan Holmes.
“Nathan said they have held benefits for so many people, now he is going to do one for his mom,” Winnie said. He came up with the unique name because she is known for being a hugger. “He said that everyone who knows my mom knows how much she likes to give hugs.”
When Winnie found a lump in her neck in September, she was told she had cancer of the parotid salivary gland located in the jaw that had possibly spread to a lymph node in her neck and lung. In October, surgeons removed a mass the size of a golf ball from her jaw and one the size of a racquetball from her neck. That’s when she was diagnosed with spindle cell melanoma.
After 20 intense daily radiation treatments, scans showed the spot on her lung had more than doubled in size, leading her doctors to determine that her cancer was stage 4.
Winnie said it was then determined she was a candidate for Keytruda, a new chemo immune therapy used to treat former President Jimmy Carter’s melanoma. The treatment boosts the immune system instead of killing off all of the good cells, she said.
Winnie’s next treatment will be Feb. 29. She will receive treatments every three weeks for at least the next year, with CT scans every nine to 12 weeks to monitor the response of the cancer. More surgery and radiation might be in her future if the new treatment doesn’t work. However, the success rate is around 60 percent, which is higher than previous treatment options.
“It gave me hope,” said her husband, John, who also was shocked by the diagnosis.
“You read about these things with other people, but you never in a month of Sundays think something like this will come back to you,” he said.
With co-pays, deductibles and expenses as they travel back and forth to Columbus for treatment, not having Winnie’s income will make it challenging, John said. But people have “come out of the woodwork” to help.
“I’m so humbled and thankful for everything that people have done for us,” he said. “We just want to thank everyone for their love and support.”
In addition to working at WestRock, Winnie also served on the board of directors for United Way of Coshocton County before her illness. She and John are members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Coshocton.
Winnie has heard friends and former co-workers from the community are planning to attend the benefit to show their support, and she is looking forward to seeing them there.
“Everybody is welcome to come. I have plenty of hugs to give,” she said.
In addition, a GoFundMe page has been set up at www.gofundme.com/hnwpnfzw.
If you go
What: Hug the Momma benefit for Winnie Ellis
When: 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Turtle Creek Tavern, 5571 N. Hamilton Road in Columbus.
FYI: Benefit includes raffle items, a 50-50 drawing, a pasta bar and live music by Acoustic Mayhem. A GoFundMe page can be found at www.gofundme.com/hnwpnfzw.