423rd ABG community supports family fighting cancer

by Staff Sgt. Brian Stives
501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs

1/23/2014 - ROYAL AIR FORCE ALCONBURY, United Kingdom -- Getting a cancer diagnosis can thrust a person into uncertainty and a world full of unknowns and new experiences.

Some people react with shock, numbness, fear, sadness or anger -- these are all normal experiences. Some find comfort in talking to other people who have been diagnosed with cancer; a counselor or by spending time with friends and family.

For Chief Master Sgt. Michael Ogden, 423rd Air Base Group superintendent, and his wife, Bonnie, they didn't know who they could turn to since they had only been at Royal Air Force  Alconbury for two months when Bonnie was diagnosed with breast cancer Aug. 1, 2013.

"We really wanted to let everyone know what was happening in our family because we realized with Bonnie's diagnosis, we weren't going to be able to dedicate as much time as we wanted to the RAF Alconbury community," said Chief Ogden." We hoped that the community would understand our absences but instead the entire wing reached out and offered an abundance of support to our family."

"We were really overwhelmed by people contacting us and asking how they can help," said Bonnie.

One of the many things the RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth communities did was organize a "Food Train," which provided meals after each of Bonnie's chemotherapy sessions.

"We organized a plan for what they were going to need and we thought we could help by providing some dinners throughout her chemotherapy," said Meg Sweeney, one of the organizers and spouse of Col. Steven Sweeney, 423rd ABG commander.

The food train provided more than 40 meals to the Ogdens during Bonnie's six chemotherapy sessions.

"They are in our 423rd ABG family, and I just wanted to do what I could to help them," said Cari Whitehill, the other organizer of the food train and spouse of Lt. Col. Trevor Whitehill, 423rd ABG deputy commander. "I'm sure the emotions they had going on were overwhelming and this was the least we could do to help them."

"Being able to provide those meals was very easy to do and if it eases their mind a little bit, that is great - it's just something we do," said Sweeney.

Even though the 423rd ABG isn't very large in numbers, there were plenty of people looking to step up and help the Ogdens.

"I don't want to say we sought people out, we had people coming up to us and asking, 'How can we help?' said Sweeney. "Everybody did this to let Bonnie focus on what she needs to focus on -- which was not preparing a meal."

Whitehill agreed that it was easy to get volunteers to make food.

"People were very willing to help out," said Whitehill.

Although making food for someone may seem like a small gesture, it can make a world of difference when they are battling cancer.

"It was nice to be able to concentrate on Bonnie and not worry about how the children would be fed each night following Bonnie's treatments," said Chief Ogden.

"Knowing my family was being fed was an awesome feeling," said Bonnie. "Not having to prepare meals after chemotherapy and the days following when I was feeling my worst was a huge relief. It enabled Michael to balance taking care of me and his busy work schedule. We couldn't have made it through this challenge without everyone's help."

Providing meals was not the only kind of support the Ogdens received from throughout the 501st Combat Support Wing.

"Everywhere I would go, whether it was here at RAF Alconbury or RAF Molesworth, RAF Croughton or RAF Menwith Hill, everyone would ask me how Bonnie was doing," said Chief Ogden. "Locally, the clinic staff helped us maneuver the British Healthcare System. One evening at our home, Bonnie and I were having a debate about how to navigate the local health system when Lt. Col. [Vicky] Fair [423rd Medical Squadron commander] showed up at our door to see if we needed anything ... it was great timing! The following day, she put us in touch with the right office to properly negotiate the system."

"The support we received from the 501st CSW and 423rd ABG leadership was phenomenal," said Bonnie. "I knew I was being taken care of which allowed me to focus on getting well."

Support for the Ogdens came from wing and group leadership, base organizations and even individuals, such as AnnaLee Casto and Hadyn Pollard [daughter of Master Sgt. Rocky Casto and son of Mater Sgt. Nathan Pollard, 423rd ABG first sergeants] who presented Bonnie with flowers and chocolate they bought with money they earned by setting up a lemonade stand in their front yard.

Humbled and touched by the outpouring of support, Bonnie is dedicated to continue paying it forward, something she'll have more time for now that she received the news Jan. 9 that she is cancer free.

"This community is extremely tightknit," said Bonnie. "Thank you! I'll never be able to repay everyone for their generosity - I can only promise to pay it forward."

"This really demonstrates that the Air Force is a family ... one team, one fight! Thank you to all for providing support and a shoulder to lean on," said Chief Ogden.