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When three of Katherine Miller’s children showed up at her house last Saturday, she didn’t think anything of it.
When her caregiver, Paula Hatton, helped her dress in pink and white, Miller didn’t give that a second thought either.
When Miller’s contingent of family visitors wheeled her onto the porch later that day and she heard sirens in the distance, she wondered where the emergency vehicles could be going.
“They’re coming for you, Kathy,” Hatton told her. “You’ll see.”
A short time later, Miller saw a bright pink fire truck, a red fire truck and a police car.
The little procession made its way along the street and came to a stop in front of her house.
Miller, an El Dorado resident who first began battling cancer in 1987, was touched by the thoughtfulness of the Guardians of the Ribbon and members of the El Dorado Fire and Police departments who escorted them.
“It meant so much that they would take their time to come over,” said Miller. “You could just never know what it meant to me.”
Although Miller has survived several battles with various cancers, her most recent diagnosis is terminal and she is not expected to live much longer.
“She has been so strong through all of her illness,” said Hatton, “a true hero to us all.”
The Guardians of the Ribbon, who brought Miller a bouquet of pink flowers, had not been scheduled to be in this area until October. But when Tawnia Newell, office coordinator at the Newton Medical Center’s Central Care Cancer Center, where Miller has been going for treatment, told the Guardians of the Ribbon that Miller didn’t have until October, they decided to make a special trip to El Dorado.
“These people deserve all the recognition they can get,” said Miller. “You can’t put a price on that and you can’t describe it.”
The Guardians of the Ribbon, a not-for-profit group made up primarily of firefighters, EMS, law enforcement officers and other dedicated volunteers who support women with all forms of cancer, travel in pink fire trucks and other emergency vehicles throughout the country.
“They are a group of truly wonderful people who travel around and promote cancer awareness,” said Hatton. “These are some truly exceptional men to dress up all in pink and take time to care for total strangers.”
When three of Katherine Miller’s children showed up at her house last Saturday, she didn’t think anything of it.
When her caregiver, Paula Hatton, helped her dress in pink and white, Miller didn’t give that a second thought either.
When Miller’s contingent of family visitors wheeled her onto the porch later that day and she heard sirens in the distance, she wondered where the emergency vehicles could be going.
“They’re coming for you, Kathy,” Hatton told her. “You’ll see.”
A short time later, Miller saw a bright pink fire truck, a red fire truck and a police car.
The little procession made its way along the street and came to a stop in front of her house.
Miller, an El Dorado resident who first began battling cancer in 1987, was touched by the thoughtfulness of the Guardians of the Ribbon and members of the El Dorado Fire and Police departments who escorted them.
“It meant so much that they would take their time to come over,” said Miller. “You could just never know what it meant to me.”
Although Miller has survived several battles with various cancers, her most recent diagnosis is terminal and she is not expected to live much longer.
“She has been so strong through all of her illness,” said Hatton, “a true hero to us all.”
The Guardians of the Ribbon, who brought Miller a bouquet of pink flowers, had not been scheduled to be in this area until October. But when Tawnia Newell, office coordinator at the Newton Medical Center’s Central Care Cancer Center, where Miller has been going for treatment, told the Guardians of the Ribbon that Miller didn’t have until October, they decided to make a special trip to El Dorado.
“These people deserve all the recognition they can get,” said Miller. “You can’t put a price on that and you can’t describe it.”
The Guardians of the Ribbon, a not-for-profit group made up primarily of firefighters, EMS, law enforcement officers and other dedicated volunteers who support women with all forms of cancer, travel in pink fire trucks and other emergency vehicles throughout the country.
“They are a group of truly wonderful people who travel around and promote cancer awareness,” said Hatton. “These are some truly exceptional men to dress up all in pink and take time to care for total strangers.”
Survivors and those whose lives have been affected by cancer are encouraged to sign the trucks as a traveling memorial bearing the signatures and sentiments of those who have been through quite a journey.
“They stayed an hour and she got to sign their truck,” said Hatton. “She’ll travel with them [through her signature] to promote awareness.”
Miller’s family was also impressed with the Wichita area chapter of Guardians of the Ribbon.
“It meant so much to them that someone outside the family would care so much,” said Miller.
“It was wonderful to see the smile on her face and the feeling of love we know she could feel from everyone,” said Hatton. “That was priceless.”
To learn more about Guardians of the Ribbon or to make a donation, visit www.pinkhealskansas.org.
