On Saturday, June 28, friends, family and supporters gathered at Sebastian’s Riverview Park for the inaugural Sammi’s Walk, a one-year memorial for Samantha Lovely Gautier, who died of ovarian cancer June 20, 2013, after a battle that had lasted almost seven years. She was only 24.
Sammi’s Walk, a fundraiser for the Ovarian Cancer Research Center, was organized by Samantha’s parents, Lucy and Kevin Lovely of Sebastian; her sister Melissa Lovely; husband Paul Gautier, a deputy with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Department; and friends Amanda Hackford and Jeanne Bresett.
While her Sebastian River High School classmates looked forward to graduation, college and travel with their whole lives ahead of them, 17-year-old senior Samantha Lovely was receiving news that would put an end to the life she had known. The active, popular SRHS senior had been diagnosed with Stage 2 ovarian cancer following surgery to remove a pair of tumors – it was Valentine’s Day 2007.
From that point on, Samantha’s life became a series of chemo treatments, scans, nausea, weakness, hair loss and, when the cancer advanced to Stage 3, more surgery.
After that first year, there were two years of remission and Samantha wrote, “I cherished life and did things I always wanted to do, like competing in fitness and sky diving. These things kept my mind off of everything.” Then, in late December 2010, the cancer came back, with a vengeance.
When the cancer returned, she wrote in her journal: “The re-diagnosis was harder than the first one because I am now aware of ovarian cancer. I at times wonder ‘why me?’ but see that this is truly a blessing- I have met such amazing women. I am fighting for my life and I continue to fight. I have an amazing family and, although I am unable to have children, my boyfriend has two amazing sons – Tyler and Mason – whom I love and care for!
“I am taking every day as a survivor and cherishing it because I want to make a difference! I want to kick cancer in the butt! P.S.: Paul’s (my boyfriend’s) mother was diagnosed as well with ovarian cancer when she was 22. I believe this is why he was so strong! She sadly passed away at the age of 35. Although I did not meet her she is my inspiration!” On June 6, 2012, Samantha and Paul were married.
This year, Sammi’s Walk consisted of three laps around the park, with a raffle drawing between each lap. Registered walkers received T-shirts in the official color of the fight against ovarian cancer – teal – and face-art stickers, the cancer ribbon symbol, also in teal. The symbol is a butterfly with teal and black wings.
Family friend Rick Mosby was in charge of keeping the music going during the morning. He had been a boxing instructor and Samantha had been his first student. “I think she was about 15,” he recalls. “She had a mean right hand!”
Bill Honey is a teacher for the Sebastian River High School Hospital and Homebound Program for students who can’t go to school because of illness or injury. “What a great kid,” he says of Samantha. “I always knew she was special, so mature about her cancer. I got to be kind of like family. Her memory will never die. She is still touching a lot of people.”
Jack and Wendy McLoughlin and son Kieran came to support the cause. They recently moved to Sebastian from Albany, NY, and, says Jack, “We met Kevin when we needed plumbing work done – Kevin was my plumber. They are a great family.”
Everyone who knows Paul Gautier says he was nothing less than Samantha’s Guardian Angel, remaining by her side during the entire journey. “June 23 would have been our two-year anniversary,” he says. “She had the kind of spirit that is still alive. We can’t let that type of spirit go. This,” he gestures around the park, “was the kind of thing she wanted to start when she was sick – helping others.”
Gautier lost his mother and his sister to cancer, both at 36, and has a striking tattoo on his left shoulder honoring all three women – a cross for his mom, a pair of boxing gloves for Sammi and a dragonfly for his sister. Of walking through such a difficult, heartbreaking time with his wife, Gautier says firmly, “This is a great beginning. Sammi’s Walk proceeds will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Center. And we’d like to send someone to the First Descents Camp in Colorado.” First Decents offers young adult cancer fighters and survivors a free outdoor adventure experience designed to empower them to climb, paddle and surf beyond their diagnosis, defy their cancer, reclaim their lives and connect with others doing the same.
Said Gautier, “it shows survivors that they can continue to live their life.” Sammi had attended it and benefitted greatly, loving the kayaking and mountain climbing. “It helps restore confidence. It was such an effective thing for Sammi. The survivors are an awesome group.” Gautier himself has been chosen to attend a camp for caregivers in Massachusetts.
His experience by Sammi’s side has led him to understand that for the cancer patient, enduring the long, grueling chemo sessions, the unabated fight for survival is much the same as a veteran returning from war having gone through horrific life-and-death experiences. “They suffer from post-traumatic stress. They both have death on their minds. They have both been fighting; they have both been in battle.”
Sammi’s mother Lucy said her daughter loved butterflies from the time she was a little girl and, in her final moments, told her mom that she would be a butterfly angel. “When I’m sad,” says Lucy, “I see a butterfly and I know my baby’s in heaven.”
The family is planning to make Sammi’s Walk an annual event, possibly a 5K walk/run. For further information, call Amanda at 772-473-2695; or Melissa at 772-633-0015.
