Star Walk of Fame

Michael Walachy
Palos Verdes, CA

Honored by Arlene Walachy

Michael Walachy is being honored by his wife, Arlene, a three-time cancer survivor, as December’s Star of the Month. Michael has been a Star for more than 20 years—through his wife’s diagnoses of ovarian cancer in 1983 and 1993, and breast cancer in 2005. He sat in many waiting rooms throughout Arlene’s surgeries, chemotherapy sessions and checkups—one of the hardest things a Star endures is waiting. In 1983, survival rates for ovarian cancer were very low, and Michael remembers thinking his wife only had six months to live, yet he never let her see his heartache. He remembers, “When we got the news of her first diagnosis, I didn’t know what to do. I saw how upbeat she was, so I knew I needed to stay positive to keep her going. She’s a fighter, and I wanted to be as supportive as I could – the best way to do that is to give your love to someone.” As a caregiver, Michael has had his own sacrifices throughout his wife’s treatment. Maintaining a stressful job and taking time off for doctor visits made his work life more difficult. He was also unable to continue his morning exercise routine because he took over many household tasks for Arlene, but never showed his stress – and she understood this. “It was my body and I knew what was happening to me – Mike didn’t. As a survivor, I can see that sometimes caregivers are helpless. I had some sense of control, but needed his support to get me through,” she said. Through five surgeries and 18 chemotherapy treatments, Michael was by Arlene’s side to comfort her. He came to the hospital after work every day with a smile on his face to cheer up his wife. Perhaps his most important job as a caregiver was highlighted in this year’s Star Campaign public service announcement – going out late at night to get his wife milkshakes when it was the only thing she could drink. Since 2006, Michael and Arlene have both been involved with TWC- South Bay Cities in Redondo Beach, CA. They participate in support sessions, work the front desk and attend health fairs to help promote TWC. Their remarkable cancer journey is an inspiration to cancer survivors and caregivers everywhere.