Remembering Sheila Solomon

Posted October 24, 2009, 2:51 pm in Leadership


Elaine Lustig remembers the story as though she and Sheila Solomon just met yesterday. During one of Elaine’s summer visits to her home in North Carolina, a mutual friend introduced Elaine to Sheila Solomon. Sheila, who was an excellent and very competitive golfer, wanted to get into the Orlando Women's Golf Association (OWGA) and Elaine happened to be President of OWGA that year. And, so it began, this incredible story about two women and their passion to help find a cure.

When Elaine and Sheila met, Sheila was already being treated for breast cancer. What she shared with Elaine more than 17 years ago about her experience with cancer it still very relevant today. "Elaine, I knew there was something wrong. You know your own body!"

Sadly, in Sheila's case, she went several years without being diagnosed, until a new doctor finally told her the chilling news -- she had Inflammatory Breast Cancer.

It's always special to hear Elaine tell the story about how Women Playing For T.I.M.E. got started. After the two women met in North Carolina, they quickly became fast friends. They both shared a passion and love for golf. Both were competitive, intelligent, and loved to engage others in fun and activity.

One day while talking about Sheila's cancer and the plight of other women with breast cancer, they decided that what was really needed in Orlando was a breast cancer diagnostic center. Thus began their plan. Elaine was serving on the Orlando Health Board and paved the way for meetings to be held with various doctors and hospital administrators.

They were told they would need to raise $35,000 to complete the Breast Cancer Diagnostic Center. Hours of long discussion ensued, and together they came up with a plan to host a very exclusive, expensive golf tournament to raise the money needed for the diagnostic center. When doctors heard how much they were going to charge an all-women group to play in the tournament, many quipped, "it'll never happen."

Undeterred, Elaine and Sheila quickly mobilized their network of friends. The first Women Playing For T.I.M.E. Tournament was held at Lake Nona in 1993 and it raised more than $105,000! Needless to say, the diagnostic center was created.

What followed over the next several years was an amazing accomplishment that few could ever achieve. Each year thereafter, Women Playing For T.I.M.E. continued with its annual tournament, exclusively for women, at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club. Their goal was to build a state-of-the-art Breast Care Center to be located next to the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando.

In early 2000, Elaine remembers calling Sheila with very exciting news. They had broken ground on the new Breast Care Center -- she could see the footers and the concrete, she told Sheila.

"Elaine, tell them to hurry," Sheila responded.

It was at that moment that Elaine knew her dear friend Sheila was losing her battle with breast cancer. Sheila Solomon passed away on May 3, 2000. When Sheila explained her illness to her to her grandchildren she said, "When you look and see a lively dragonfly circling about you, it will be me watching over you and sending love."

When asked to describe Sheila, Elaine smiles with a feisty glow. "I will always remember Sheila's beautiful, sparkling blue eyes; her short, spiky hair; her competitive and indomitable spirit; her intelligence and her passion for research."

"Sheila became so knowledgeable about her cancer, she astounded many doctors. Her quest to understand cancer was as great as her determination to beat it," Elaine recalled.

The Sheila Solomon Women's Health Center opened in 2002. Today, thousands of women are treated there annually. When asked how she would remember Sheila, Elaine smiled, "Whenever I see a dragonfly, I know it's her."

If Sheila Solomon were alive today, Elaine feels that Sheila would remind women everywhere to trust themselves and listen to their bodies; get a second opinion; and to become an expert about your disease.  That is why Sheila was so passionate about research! She knew how important research is to helping women with cancer live longer, and provide new drugs to help better manage their cancer.

As this interview concluded, Elaine added this: "Women Playing For T.I.M.E. must continue with Sheila's passion to find a cure. We are making a difference and the work we perform helps save lives. I think Sheila would be very proud."

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