;)
Mildred Martinez, Tsimshian from Metlakatla, (left) had been dancing strong at AFN's Quyana Alaska Friday night, but then the dancing stopped and she told the crowd about her fight with cancer. What started out as breast cancer had migrated to her spine, into which a metal rod was inserted, and then two tumors went to her brain.
In February, her doctor told her that her situation was hopeless, that it would be futile for him to treat her further and that she should just go home and prepare to die, because she would not make it past April.
Yet, here she was, six months past the deadline her doctor had given her, dancing with a group of Tlingit and Haida dancers from Juneau.
She spoke of how she had not given up just because her doctor said she was done, but had fought on and had found a physician in the Lower 48 who believed she could still make a fight of it. He began to treat her and so she is still here.
"Everyone has the right to fight for their life," she said.
Her fight is not over. Although she still lives, the cancer is still with her and she will soon travel Outside for chemo treatments.
Martinez expressed her faith in God, and stated her belief that He will help her through this.
;)
Out in the crowd, hands lifted up in prayerful support.
;)
Her fellow dancers gathered around her and sang, "How Great Thou Art."
;)
When the song ended, the box drummer returned to his drum. The booming sound that he created was one of power and strength.
;)
After she danced down from the stage and moved in traditional style toward the exit, a hand reached out to her. It would not be the only one.
;)
She danced toward the exit.
;)
Before stepping through the exit into the hall, she received a hug.
;)
She joined in (back row, far right) with her fellow dancers as they waved through the TV cameras to their relatives and friends down in Southeast Alaska, and to well-wishers in every part of Alaska.
So many people who this morning did not know who she was now pray for her. In the Alaska Native community, that means a great deal.
As for me, I am in the same situation I was last night, but it is even later, I am more tired, my headache is worse and there is simply no way I can even look at the bulk of the day's take.
It seems a small matter. It will all hold. The pictures of all these people that I have been meeting and photographing will be there for me to run another day.