By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

RESERVE – When Reserve resident Daphne Triche first learned she had liver cancer, her first thoughts were, “How am I going to tell my children?”

“The second thought,” she said, “was ‘OK. What are we going to do to fight this?’”

That was a year and a half ago.

Liver cancer is a particularly aggressive form of the disease, so, as one might imagine, since then, Triche’s life has been filled with uncertainty.

Like many who suffer from liver cancer, Triche found out she had the malady while being treated for another ailment — in her case, kidney stones. When it was finally diagnosed, doctors determined she had had the disease for about six months.

Soon after, the doctors began treating her with intense radiation therapy. The treatments left the petit 40-year-old’s abdomen distended, filled with fluid.

“She looked like she was 10 months pregnant,” said her father, Barry Triche.

Those early treatments may have actually done more harm than good to Triche’s weakened body. Her doctors have since changed her treatment to one that is slightly less taxing.

“I’m taking a chemo pill, and I’m taking a chemo drip,” she said. “It’s a new regimen of chemo.”

Although she has experienced her fair share of hardship over the past 18 months, one of the lowest points came about a month ago. While in the hospital, Triche came down with a staph infection. When treatment failed, the doctors sent her home, telling her she had 48 hours to live.

There is no clear medical explanation for why Triche did not succumb at that time, but she feels it has much to do with the actions of her friends and family here in the River Parishes. These past 18 months have been filled with hardship, but Triche has also witnessed the height of human caring and compassion.

When they learned of Triche’s bleak diagnosis, a small group of locals including Natalie Tatje and Mikleen Louque led a crusade of prayer that through the use of social media websites spread all the way to Australia.

“We were all saying it was a miracle,” said Triche.

It was just one in a string of blessings bestowed upon Triche of late.

The same group of friends some time ago created a care calendar to make sure Triche and her family always had something to eat.

“As soon as I’m feeling better,” she said, “I’m going to pay it forward.”

Additionally, the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Department, where Triche has worked for four years, set up a blood bank just for her. According to Triche, the response was so overwhelming some donors had to be sent to the Blood Center.

Other groups, such as the LaPlace Lions Club, have made sure she and her family were taken care of around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Now her support network has taken up the task of helping cover Triche’s skyrocketing medical bills.

A few weeks ago, they held a football pool for the Saints season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. According to Tatje, spaces sold out in a week.

Now, their latest endeavor is a benefit lunch, on Sept. 23. The spaghetti and meatballs lunches can be purchased by contacting Renee Boudreaux at 504-487-6644 or Renee boo6644@yahoo.com. The meals cost $6 and orders must be placed by Wednesday, Sept. 22.

The entire experience has given Triche a new perspective as well as a newfound appreciation for the community in which she lives.

“This community, I can’t begin to tell you how much we’re being blessed by being here,” said Triche.

“We need lots of prayers, and we’re going to beat this,” said Triche.

Her father, too, has found solace by learning to see things differently.

“One day at a time,” he said.

“And appreciate the heck out of it,” added his daughter.