Celebration of Life: Community Support Pours in for Dearborn Woman with Cancer

Nancy Misovich rarely thinks about herself. A dedicated mother of five and involved member of the Dearborn community, she hasn't let breast cancer stop her from rallying in support of keeping Dearborn's pools open.

And so the community activism group Save Our Pools decided to give back to her.

More than 200 people attended a fundraiser for Misovich and her family, held Tuesday night at pool.

Organized by SOP members, the event included a live band, swimming, food and a silent auction and raffle filled with goods donated from businesses and residents.

Misovich, who rarely had a moment to herself at the event, said she was "humbled" by the gathering of people.

"There's so many friends to visit with, so many people that have been saying prayers for me or thinking of me," she said. "I think when you're diagnosed with any type of cancer, people just come out of their way to help you."

When she was first asked about this event, Misovich said she was initially shy, but with some prodding she was able see it in a different light.

"I didn't look it as a fundraiser, (but) as a celebration of life—celebrating friends and family and people that have been praying for me," Misovich said.

She added that prior to the event, she had been "looking forward to seeing people that I haven't seen while I've been going through this."

Dearborn resident and Summer-Stephens pool devotee Joyce McCreary helped organize the event, saying it was important for Misovich to know the support that the community had for her.

"The reason that I helped put this on for Nancy was so that the community could come around her and support her in her fight with cancer," McCreary said. "Nancy puts always everybody before herself and she needed to see all these people being here for her."

She added that the event was a group effort, and that anyone who was contacted was more than willing to participate.

"Everybody pitched in," McCreary said. "I don't think there's one person that can take credit for this, it was everybody."

And with a gathering of families enjoying the pool, it was a perfect way to pay tribute to Misovich–an active member of SOP and lifelong Dearborn resident. She added that the city's public pools have been an integral part of her life and now her children's lives.

"I grew up with pools," she said, "and I love the neighborhood pools."