Look Who it Was Random video

Local Woman Remembers Mom Who Died of Lung Cancer

364 views · Published 27 November 2012 · 1:47 · Indexed 25 October 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2012 · News & Politics

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By Jerry Askin   As you can imagine, it's never easy coping with the loss a loved one during the holidays. Jami Belflower spends her Thanksgiving morning, like always, in the kitchen cooking. It's the third year this holiday will come and go, and her mother Dianna won't be there to help. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in September of 2009 and died 6 months later."I think growing up in the south, it's kind of a tradition to go over to your mama's house, cook with her, use her receipes," says  Belflower.This year, Jami's using her mother's recipes to make everything from green beans, candy carrots and sweet potato pie.She says her mother was a heavy smoker. So, on this special holiday, Jami has a message she hopes will impact others."First and foremost stop smoking. My mom smoked for 30 years and though that was her choice, it wasn't my choice to lose her," says Belflower. The CDC says more Americans die from lung cancer than any other kind.  More than 158,000 Americans died from it in a single year. Doctors say the cancer is more common among people aged 50 and over, but anyone can catch it - and here are some symptoms. "Coughing up blood, weight loss, shortness of breath," says Dr. Upasana Chokraborty from Erlanger Hospital.For Jami Belflower, she says Thanksgiving is simply a time to be thankful for the ones you love."You've got to take this time during the holidays, it's not about shopping, it's not about turkeys, it's about spending time with the people you love while you still have them," says Belflower.Jami says she'll soon be graduating from Chattanooga State.  She plans to be a social worker and hire folks to do grief counseling....all in memory of her mother.

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