AUBURN - Her health is still at risk, but the kindness of Halyna Hawuczyk remains undiminished.
A medical fundraiser was held Sunday afternoon for the Ukrainian immigrant at the Sicz Club to help pay for expenses incurred after she was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer.
More than 300 people attended the event at the social club located at the corner of Perrine and Washington streets.
“The community came out and it was great. We did much better than expected,” said one of the event's organizers, Eugenia Droczak.
The surgery to remove one of Halyna's kidneys was performed January at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. She praised the team of doctors that have treated her over the past eight months, including many weeks of radiation treatments.
“I'm very appreciative for the job they did, for everything. I'm so happy,” said Hawuczyk, with a kind smile. “But I hate hospitals. I don't want to go no more.”
When she first heard she had a rare form of kidney cancer, Hawuczyk said she was “scared, surprised, embarrassed.” She knew something was very wrong when she started suffering severe pain in her stomach. Doctors weren't sure if she had a blood infection, or possibly a bad ear infection. They were baffled at first.
The Hawuczyk family has decent health insurance but the surgery was expensive and the follow-up care creates more debt each week. Still, Hawuczyk said, she is far more fortunate than many who face such serious medical conditions.
Her greatest comfort is her network of friends, family and fellow church members who've helped in many ways.
Luba Lysiak met Halyna (pronounced “ha-la”) just a few weeks after she came to the U.S. more than a decade ago. They first met at SS. Peter & Paul Church, which is directly across the road from the Sicz Club. She didn't know a word of English.
“We've been friends ever since,” said Lysiak, who herself moved to the U.S. from Ukraine in 1964 when she was 14.
Retired oral surgeon Dr. Joseph F. Karpinski Sr. was helpful in finding the best medical care for Hawuczyk.
“Maybe, without him, I would not live today,” said Hawuczyk, who was also very appreciative of the friendship and support she has received from one of the area's most well-respected physicians, cardiologist Dr. Rama Godishala, among many others.
Hawucyzk distinctly remembers when she left her home for a new life in America - July 21, 1994.
“The language barrier was a problem, but since Dr. Karpinski speaks Polish - and Ukrainian and Polish are similar - he was able to help Halyna,” said Lysiak.
Halyna met her husband, Harry Hawuczyk, at his cousin's birthday party in 1995. They were married the following year.
Her illness “came as surprise. Healthy all her life and this comes up,” said Harry, who jokingly added that a benefit fundraiser for himself would not have nearly the turnout his wife's did. “People love her. If she can live with me this long, you can see why.”
Family friend Mike Helas works for NYSEG, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. The K of C donated $250 to the fundraiser.
“She's a wonderful, wonderful, lady. Very caring, understanding, intelligent. She'll help you out any way she can,” Helas said.
Recently, Helas and his girlfriend, Vera Walczyk - along with Halyna, Tanya and Marika - spent three weeks in Ukraine together. They visited Halyna's parents in the city of Ternopil, a town of around 220,000 people.
“She has a wonderful family there,” said Helas. “The countryside and people are so beautiful, so very nice. You come to their house and you're like family.”
It was Halyna's first visit home since she'd left 13 years ago.
Hawuczyk has worked at McQuay International, the air conditioning plant in Auburn, for many years now. She missed five months of work following her surgery. At home, she is blessed with three children - Tanya, 19, Marika, 16, and 7-year-old Gregory. Tanya and Marika were both born in Ukraine. At home, the family speaks Ukrainian most of the time. They live just outside Port Byron.
Tanya Hawuczyk graduated from Port Byron High School in 2006, and is now attending Cayuga Community College. She plans to be a registered nurse, a goal she's had since she was just 8.
“I always wanted to be a nurse because I like helping others. I enjoy helping little kids,” said Tanya.
The second half of a high schooler's senior year is often one of the most enjoyable of their young lives. But Tanya knew her help was needed at home while her mother was recuperating.
“I've helped raise my brother since he was a baby because my parents were often working,” she said.
Asked how she would describe her mother to someone who'd never met her, Tanya said, “She's a great mother. She's a great cook. She enjoys making other people happy.”
Helping Sunday, both spiritually and practically, was Father Mihai Dubovici of SS. Peter & Paul, a native of Romania.
“In every family, faith is very important,” he said. “Whatever she has to go through, she's going to only be able to overcome it by God's grace.”
Halyna Hawuczyk is certainly a woman of strong faith and determination.
“I have to fight. I have three kids and a husband. I have to live for them,” she said.
How to help
To assist Mrs. Hawuczyk with her ongoing medical expenses, support can be sent to her at the following address:
Halyna Hawuczyk
c/o Very Rev. Archpriest Mihai Dubovici
SS. Peter & Paul Church
136 Washington St.
Auburn, NY, 13021
More than 300 people attended the event at the social club located at the corner of Perrine and Washington streets.
“The community came out and it was great. We did much better than expected,” said one of the event's organizers, Eugenia Droczak.
The surgery to remove one of Halyna's kidneys was performed January at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. She praised the team of doctors that have treated her over the past eight months, including many weeks of radiation treatments.
“I'm very appreciative for the job they did, for everything. I'm so happy,” said Hawuczyk, with a kind smile. “But I hate hospitals. I don't want to go no more.”
When she first heard she had a rare form of kidney cancer, Hawuczyk said she was “scared, surprised, embarrassed.” She knew something was very wrong when she started suffering severe pain in her stomach. Doctors weren't sure if she had a blood infection, or possibly a bad ear infection. They were baffled at first.
The Hawuczyk family has decent health insurance but the surgery was expensive and the follow-up care creates more debt each week. Still, Hawuczyk said, she is far more fortunate than many who face such serious medical conditions.
Her greatest comfort is her network of friends, family and fellow church members who've helped in many ways.
Luba Lysiak met Halyna (pronounced “ha-la”) just a few weeks after she came to the U.S. more than a decade ago. They first met at SS. Peter & Paul Church, which is directly across the road from the Sicz Club. She didn't know a word of English.
“We've been friends ever since,” said Lysiak, who herself moved to the U.S. from Ukraine in 1964 when she was 14.
Retired oral surgeon Dr. Joseph F. Karpinski Sr. was helpful in finding the best medical care for Hawuczyk.
“Maybe, without him, I would not live today,” said Hawuczyk, who was also very appreciative of the friendship and support she has received from one of the area's most well-respected physicians, cardiologist Dr. Rama Godishala, among many others.
Hawucyzk distinctly remembers when she left her home for a new life in America - July 21, 1994.
“The language barrier was a problem, but since Dr. Karpinski speaks Polish - and Ukrainian and Polish are similar - he was able to help Halyna,” said Lysiak.
Halyna met her husband, Harry Hawuczyk, at his cousin's birthday party in 1995. They were married the following year.
Her illness “came as surprise. Healthy all her life and this comes up,” said Harry, who jokingly added that a benefit fundraiser for himself would not have nearly the turnout his wife's did. “People love her. If she can live with me this long, you can see why.”
Family friend Mike Helas works for NYSEG, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. The K of C donated $250 to the fundraiser.
“She's a wonderful, wonderful, lady. Very caring, understanding, intelligent. She'll help you out any way she can,” Helas said.
Recently, Helas and his girlfriend, Vera Walczyk - along with Halyna, Tanya and Marika - spent three weeks in Ukraine together. They visited Halyna's parents in the city of Ternopil, a town of around 220,000 people.
“She has a wonderful family there,” said Helas. “The countryside and people are so beautiful, so very nice. You come to their house and you're like family.”
It was Halyna's first visit home since she'd left 13 years ago.
Hawuczyk has worked at McQuay International, the air conditioning plant in Auburn, for many years now. She missed five months of work following her surgery. At home, she is blessed with three children - Tanya, 19, Marika, 16, and 7-year-old Gregory. Tanya and Marika were both born in Ukraine. At home, the family speaks Ukrainian most of the time. They live just outside Port Byron.
Tanya Hawuczyk graduated from Port Byron High School in 2006, and is now attending Cayuga Community College. She plans to be a registered nurse, a goal she's had since she was just 8.
“I always wanted to be a nurse because I like helping others. I enjoy helping little kids,” said Tanya.
The second half of a high schooler's senior year is often one of the most enjoyable of their young lives. But Tanya knew her help was needed at home while her mother was recuperating.
“I've helped raise my brother since he was a baby because my parents were often working,” she said.
Asked how she would describe her mother to someone who'd never met her, Tanya said, “She's a great mother. She's a great cook. She enjoys making other people happy.”
Helping Sunday, both spiritually and practically, was Father Mihai Dubovici of SS. Peter & Paul, a native of Romania.
“In every family, faith is very important,” he said. “Whatever she has to go through, she's going to only be able to overcome it by God's grace.”
Halyna Hawuczyk is certainly a woman of strong faith and determination.
“I have to fight. I have three kids and a husband. I have to live for them,” she said.
How to help
To assist Mrs. Hawuczyk with her ongoing medical expenses, support can be sent to her at the following address:
Halyna Hawuczyk
c/o Very Rev. Archpriest Mihai Dubovici
SS. Peter & Paul Church
136 Washington St.
Auburn, NY, 13021
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