In Sickness and in Health: WCVB reporter Kelley Tuthill visits CM

Channel 5 Boston reporter Kelley Tuthill visited Catholic Memorial School on Thursday morning, November 6 to speak with the sophomore class about her courageous struggle with and victory over breast cancer. A member of Team 5 Investigates and former co-anchor of NewsCenter 5's Weekend Edition, Tuthill chronicled her story of surviving breast cancer on her own blog at The Boston Channel website.

After a majority of the sophomore class participated in the Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk on October 5, they invited Tuthill to speak to them and give them one survivor's own story.

"I grew up in a house with three sisters and two daughters so this is not my comfort zone! But I'm happy to be here with you guys. And I'm really grateful that you've given so much to this cause--that means so much to me."

Tuthill spoke about coping with breast cancer on a daily basis and the hope she has for a cure. She spoke of her faith, her family, and the daunting statistics about breast cancer in the United States that still worry her.

"There are amazing strides that are happening and your help makes a difference," Tuthill told the students. "No matter how much support you have, you can still feel alone. When you see other people come out in support it really makes a difference."

Sophomore team leader Mrs. Peg Sittig, who co-organized the event with campus minister Mr. Brian Scott, was impressed by Tuthill's inspiring message. "She spoke about her husband, who was with her in sickness and in health. You hope that these young men will be able to do that for whomever--moms, wives, sisters, aunts.."

"This event really had an impact on the boys," Mrs. Sittig said, "some of whom have already known someone afflicted with breast cancer."

The sophomore team of teachers developed the interdisciplinary topic of breast cancer that would run as a thematic thread through all classes this year. In science classes, Dr. Frisardi's students will study the causes of cancer. In history classes, Brother Oxx will discuss how different diseases have affected different ethnic populations over time. In English, Mrs. Demoura's students will write interpretatively about Tuthill's poetic credo: "Bitter or Better?"