Fit and feisty after 80
Overcoming health challenges through physical activity

Told by Edna Harris to Seasoned Voices Producer Claudette Artwick              

If you happen to run into 84-year-old Edna Harris at the Maury River Senior Center in Buena Vista, you may see her hefting a five-gallon bucket of water, or dishing out meals in the kitchen.  “I don’t like to sit and do nothing,” says Harris.  “I’ve worked hard all my life, and I don’t know that there’s any other way I’d be happy.”  So, for the past seven years, Harris has worked at the MRSC as the meals coordinator assistant.  During her three-hour shift, she packages hot meals for delivery to the homebound throughout the area, and to participants at the MRSC.  

Work has been a friend to Harris, helping her through the tough times in her life.  More than 30 years ago, her husband died of a massive heart attack while driving with her in the car.  Crushed and broken bones kept Harris in the hospital for seven weeks, and off work for more than four months.  But, as soon as she could, she went back to her job in the engineering office at Burlington in Glasgow.  “I thought that going back to work was my salvation,” she says.  “Going back to an empty house, not having anyone to talk to—the best thing I could do was get out of the house.” 

Another challenge came ten years ago, when, at age 74, Harris discovered she had breast cancer.  Her aggressive treatment included surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.  Why did she choose such a difficult regime?  Harris says, “After all that I had been through, I thought that I was in basically good health.  And I thought, I want to be with my son as long as I can.  And my grandchildren were growing up.  I just felt like I had so much to live for, that I was going to risk doing whatever I could to see that I stay here as long as I could.”

And today, ten years later, Harris is cancer free.  “I think attitude has a lot to do with it,” she says.  “Sometimes it’s hard to accept what nature throws at you, but if you’re really determined, you can master it.”

She shares her positive attitude with others by attending monthly support meetings at Stonewall Jackson Hospital.  Her advice to women diagnosed with breast cancer: “Don’t look at it as a death sentence.  Just think of all the people who have survived, and think that you can do that too.”