First to Give and First to Ring: Audrey Messer’s Unexpected Battle with Breast Cancer

Audrey Messer had no idea how personal her family’s donation to the AdventHealth Freytag Cancer Center would become.

When her husband, Alan, a long-time board member of the AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation, came home one day with an idea to donate towards a bell for cancer patients to ring to celebrate completing treatment, it felt like a meaningful way to support others.

The couple knew others who had rung bells after their cancer battles, but little did they know that she would soon be the first to use it.

Shortly after donating towards the bell, Messer, 72, of Palm Coast was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“It all happened so fast – it was a whirlwind,” Messer said. But from the moment of diagnosis, Messer found herself surrounded by support.

“It was phenomenal how everything fell into place,” she said. “Every doctor was there for me.”

Messer’s journey included 21 sessions of radiation at AdventHealth Palm Coast. With each treatment, her care team stood by her side, guiding her with compassion and expertise.

“It is a privilege to care for our patients close to home, like Audrey, where they can feel the most supported,” said Dr. Irfan Ahmed, radiation oncology at AdventHealth Palm Coast. “That sense of familiarity and comfort makes all the difference for their outcomes. We are here to care for our patients and our community, however they need us.”

On Oct. 3, Messer completed her final treatment, and was able to ring the bell, which will be installed at the soon-to-open Freytag Cancer Center at AdventHealth Palm Coast. Fittingly, she became the first patient to ring the bell – a bell that will also be rung by countless other cancer survivors in the future.

“Working with Audrey throughout her cancer journey has been a true honor,” said Lincoln Maynard, radiation therapist at AdventHealth Palm Coast. “Audrey has so much strength and courage, which reminds us of why we do what we do. She has such wonderful support of her family and it was very special to watch her ring the bell to signify the completion of her cancer journey.”

“Audrey didn’t have breast cancer; we had breast cancer,” Messer’s husband, Alan said. “When someone gets cancer, the whole family gets cancer. So, now, both of us are cured.”

In October 2023, AdventHealth began construction on the Freytag Cancer Center, a two-story, 30,000-square-foot facility. Anticipated to open in early 2025, this facility represents a $30 million investment in the community’s health care infrastructure and will house comprehensive cancer treatment services, including radiation oncology and medical oncology, as well as primary care.