Missy Farr-Kaye stood within the media room 4 years in the past after the NCAA Ladies’s Championship and pointed towards the grey T-shirt she’d placed on over her uniform to have a good time Arizona State’s newest nationwide title.
“I’m a scar roadmap,” she stated, referring to the 15 surgical procedures, radiation and chemotherapy she’d endured as a two-time breast most cancers survivor.
Farr-Kaye’s sister, Heather, died of breast most cancers at age 28, and Missy was identified with breast most cancers at age 30 and once more at age 40. Final November, at age 53, she was identified with colon most cancers. Her dad battled colon most cancers too.
Simply earlier than Thanksgiving, Farr-Kaye’s three sons dropped her on the hospital door for surgical procedure – to take away the mass and her appendix – and picked her up three days later. COVID-19 saved her from having any guests. That was laborious, she stated, however her nurses had been angels.
“It seems like I’m going to maintain my hair,” stated Farr-Kaye, who was at house, hooked as much as an IV when she answered the telephone.
Farr-Kaye started chemotherapy on Dec. 28 and might be on a 14-day cycle. Proper now it’s wanting like one week at house, and one week at work. The remedies are scheduled to finish in mid-April, simply in time for the NCAA postseason. She’s battling by means of the unintended effects of chemo, together with neuropathy and nausea, with the assistance of Netflix and sports activities.
Medical doctors caught the most cancers early and imagine she might be cancer-free following remedy. Farr-Kaye teared up on the telephone when speaking about her sons, who vary in age from 17 to 27.
“That look of worry in your baby’s eyes, even once they’re not youngsters anymore,” she stated, “is hard to take.”
Farr-Kaye will rely closely on her outdated teammate at ASU, affiliate head coach Michelle Estill, the 1991 LPGA Rolex Rookie of the Yr. Estill returned to her alma mater to teach alongside Farr-Kaye within the months earlier than ASU received the 2017 NCAA title.
With the Solar Devils internet hosting this 12 months’s NCAA Championship at Grayhawk Golf Membership in Could, a delayed alternative on condition that COVID canceled the 2020 championship, there are many causes to count on impressed play out of ASU this spring.
“We’re finished sitting round,” stated Estill of the Pac-12 returning to competitors later this month.
Farr-Kaye views teaching as a calling slightly a job. The COVID-19 pandemic has been life-changing and perspective-shifting for everybody. Farr-Kaye’s most up-to-date most cancers prognosis introduced the Solar Devils even nearer.
“Life isn’t all the time truthful, and it doesn’t all the time make sense,” stated Farr-Kaye. “I need to put together them for all times. I really feel that’s a part of my function in why I coach.”
The tradition Farr-Kaye builds at ASU, Estill famous, is centered round a household environment. Each participant from final 12 months’s roster returned this spring, together with fifth-year senior Olivia Mehaffey.
“We cried collectively after which we pulled ourselves up as a result of coach is such a task mannequin and chief,” stated Estill.
“The love we’ve got for one another actually shines in occasions like this.”
