Former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco said there's 'no escape' from the incurable cancer that has spread throughout her body.
Blanco, 75, was honored Wednesday by the Council for a Better Louisiana and gave what felt like a farewell speech while talking about her battle against ocular melanoma.
'The cancer has metastasized and spread throughout my body,' the Lafayette resident said at the event in Baton Rouge. 'There is no cure.'
Former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco (pictured December 2007) says there's 'no escape' from cancer
While Blanco is remaining upbeat during this difficult time, she has come to terms with what's ahead for her health.
The devout Catholic says she has made peace with the illness and sounded as if she is no longer focusing on a medical fight against it.
'There is no escape. The monster is not far down the road,' she added.
However she asked the audience to pray for her and shared that she'd be doing the same for them.
The state's first elected woman governor served from 2004 to 2008 and was diagnosed with the disease years later in 2011.
However it appeared to have gotten worse during a checkup in 2017.
Incurable ocular melanoma has spread throughout her body. It was first diagnosed in 2011 and the disease reappeared during a checkup in 2017 (pictured January 2007)
The one-term governor said her husband of 54 years, Raymond - known as 'Coach' to their friends - has been her biggest support.
'We've had a lot of fun together,' she said about their long marriage.
Blanco was presented with the Robert B. Hamm Award for Distinguished Service at L'Auberge Casino and Hotel.
Tyron Picard handed over the accolade and The Picard Group boss told the audience that Blanco was like family to him.
The legislative lobbying firm's founder and President explained it was because she was 'willing to give him both praise and a spanking when needed', TheNewStar.com reported.
The devout Catholic, 75, says she's made peace with the disease. She spoke Wednesday while being honored by Council for a Better Louisiana for her work improving education (pictured June 2009)
Blanco had worked with his late father Cecil Picard, who used to be an influential Louisiana superintendent of education.
She was being honored this week for her work in improving education in Louisiana and maintains that it's the best way to raise people out of the poverty.
Blanco said: 'Education is the mortal enemy of poverty.'
The state has often ranked low in health, income and quality of life surveys but she is confident current Governor John Bel Edwards, a fellow Democrat, will help turn that around by securing teacher pay raises in 2019.
Edwards called her 'incredibly strong and faithful' after hearing about her kind words.
'Donna and I are blessed to count her among our close and dear friends," Edwards said in a statement. 'Governor Blanco loves the state of Louisiana and has served its people well for decades.
'Donna and I are asking all Louisianans to join their prayers to ours for Governor Blanco, Coach, and the entire family, so that in this very difficult and trying time they will experience peace and comfort that surpasses all human understanding.'
Kathleen said her husband Raymond Blanco has been her biggest support in her career
Blanco's term as governor covered the devastating Hurricane Katrina (pictured with then-President George W. Bush in 2005)
Pickford and Edwards were not the only ones eager to praise Blanco.
During her appearance at the annual CABL event Blanco received two standing ovations from the audience.
Blanco's term as governor covered the devastating Hurricane Katrina that she said she wouldn't have chosen to be the state's top executive during.
She believed God had his own plan for her when she was in the position during the 2005 storm which was then followed by Hurricane Rita.
Blanco chose not to run for reelection after the disasters due to negative feedback regarding her response to the storms.
Although focused on her health, she has continued to show how much she cares for the state after first entering the House of Representatives in 1983.
She was elected to the Louisiana Public Service Commission in 1988 and then became the lieutenant governor in 1995.
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/07/former-louisiana-governor-blanco-addresses-incurable-cancer-in-farewell-speech-she-collects-award/
Main photo article Former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco said there’s ‘no escape’ from the incurable cancer that has spread throughout her body.
Blanco, 75, was honored Wednesday by the Council for a Better Louisiana and gave what felt like a farewell speech while talking about her battle...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/06/12/wire-7087980-1544100014-888_634x582.jpg
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