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By Ayanna Eckblad

Nicki Griffith of Austin was surprised when she received a phone call from one of the organizers of upcoming Freeborn-Mower County Relay for Life, asking if she would be the year’s honorary chairperson.

Jean Eaton, one of the event’s organizers, told Griffith that she was the first person she thought of when it came to selecting someone for the position.

A little over a year ago, Griffith, 54, began a difficult battle with a rare type of cancer.

Griffith was born and grew up in Albert Lea, graduating in 1988 and getting an education in fashion merchandising from Riverside Community College. She has worked in management and assistant management positions at Maurices in Albert Lea, Runnings in Austin and Gap in Medford. She is very close with her family, which consists of four siblings and many nieces and nephews. She also had one brother who passed away from bladder cancer.

In 2023 Griffith began feeling sick with nausea that persisted for months. She said she was working on getting ready for her niece’s graduation at the time, so she put off seeing a doctor. Her health continued to decline as she became weak and lost weight. Her friend, Crystal Konner, expressed concern and eventually convinced her to go to a local urgent care.

Griffith had blood work taken and left for a family event in Wisconsin while awaiting the results. While away, Griffith’s blood work came back and doctors were concerned something serious was going on.

Back in Minnesota, Griffith’s niece took her to the emergency room when she developed jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes. Doctors performed a CT scan along with more blood work, which came back with increasingly concerning results.

For a complete diagnosis, Griffith needed an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP. However, she was unable to get the test in Austin or Rochester. Due to her worsening condition, she was admitted to St. Marys Hospital to await an ERCP when it became available. Griffith said she remembers speaking with one of her nieces, a physician in Washington state, and her niece was concerned.

A window for the ERCP test arrived. The test was performed, followed by a biopsy.

“They knew it was cancer right away, but it still took a few days to hear the results,” Griffith said. When the results came back, she was diagnosed with ampullary adenocarcinoma, a rare cancer of the digestive system, specifically the bile duct, pancreas duct, liver and small intestine.

Not only was this type of cancer rare, it also was highly unlikely to occur in someone Griffith’s age of 53 at the time.

In July, Griffith underwent a surgery known as the Whipple procedure. This operation involved removing her pancreas, gallbladder, spleen, some of her liver, some of her stomach and 18 inches of the intestines. Her surgeon for the procedure was Mark J. Truty, a hepatobiliary and pancreas surgeon and surgical oncologist in Rochester, who she said is a top surgeon for the Whipple procedure.

“He was just so good,” Griffith said.

While in recovery for the surgery, Griffith experienced difficulty breathing and extremely low blood pressure. It was discovered her lungs were flooded with fluid, and she had a heart attack. She was taken back into surgery to put stents in her heart. Due to her low blood pressure, however, she had to have the surgery awake. She was administered pain medication, but was still able to feel the procedure. She described the experience as one of the most uncomfortable few hours of her life. Even during this difficult time, her lighthearted nature showed through as she joked with the surgeons during the surgery.

She spent 27 days in the hospital, recovering from the Whipple procedure, her heart condition and serious ulcers.

“I almost did not survive,” she said. “I had so many different departments when I was in St. Marys.”

This included a general team, Whipple procedure team and cardiac team, among others.

“My wonderful sisters stayed in Rochester with me,” Griffith said, speaking about her siblings, Deb Leif and Penny Donner. “I have a total village that takes care of me.”

Following her time in Rochester, Griffith returned home. She had chemotherapy and radiation at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin. She had wonderful things to say about the chemo team, radiology team and oncologists in Austin and Albert Lea. She specially thanked her doctors, Akeem Lewis and Mina Hanna.

She encouraged people to look into receiving cancer treatment in Albert Lea and Austin if they need it. She said the doctors and hospital staff she worked with are now her friends.

“It’s such a close-knit family, and it’s so much more convenient,” she said.

Griffith described her recovery as long and hard. She is currently navigating life with diabetes, a result of the pancreas removal. She tries to be positive and stay active.

“You try not to Google, and you live your life,” she said.

As the type of cancer she was treated for has an 80% chance of recurrence, doctors continue to monitor her carefully.

Griffith said her experience has changed the way she cares for her friends and family members who go through cancer. She explained everyone feels bad when they hear a loved one has cancer, but it is not until you go through it yourself that your compassion and empathy explodes for them.

Freeborn-Mower County Relay for Life will take place at 5 p.m. Aug. 9 and 10 at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. As the honorary chairperson, Griffith will give a speech before the walk begins.

This year’s Relay for Life event will have luminaria bags available to purchase for $10. People can use these to honor a survivor, caregiver or in memory of someone lost to cancer. Luminaria bags can be picked up and dropped off at the following locations:

• Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce at 132 N. Broadway Ave.

• All the Things studio and boutique at 136 S. Broadway Ave.

• Brick Furniture in Austin at 504 Main St.

Grinders in Austin at 604 Third Ave. NW