Florida Catholic | Ranger Battles Cancer

Park ranger battles cancer, but not alone

Co-workers donate their sick time and faith community members pitch in.

LAURA DODSON | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 10.26.07

SEBASTIAN | Therese Harber left her position as a veterinary assistant in Fort Lauderdale to join her family in the Brevard County area in 1989. During a break from job hunting, she stopped by Sebastian Inlet State Park, bordering Brevard and Indian River counties, and found a sea turtle skeleton. A ranger explained it was against the law for her to take it.

The conversation led to her immediate employment. With extensive training and experience she was consistently promoted and achieved ranger status in 1993.

Harber, who has been battling breast cancer for about a year, now lives in Sebastian. She and her mother are members of St. Sebastian Parish in the Palm Beach Diocese. Her sister, Mary Loschiavo, and family attend St. Joseph Parish in Palm Bay. Loschiavo helped arrange cleanup of the park by representatives from local Catholic schools as their project for Make A Difference Day Oct. 27. See related story here.

The state park is a haven for fishermen and as a result there are an inordinate number of birds wounded by fishing hooks and lines.

Harber has been instrumental in establishing holding pens — temporary shelter for those birds too injured to return to the environment. She has developed relationships with both Brevard County Animal Control for transportation and Florida Wildlife Hospital for care. Periodically, “regulars” — fishermen who frequent the park — will replace her supply of finger mullet kept in the donated freezer to feed her many patients.

Harber discovered a lump in her breast just a few weeks before her already scheduled routine exam Dec. 6, 2006.

Since then, she has had surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, with treatment ending Sept. 27. During that time she has been too sick to work, gotten easily tired, was required to stay out of the sun, to stay away from people and was not permitted to do cleaning. Her co-workers not only offered their excess sick time, but helped with her work and monitored her condition, encouraging her to “go sit down” and offering to “get her a drink” or whatever else could help.

“We’re so tight,” Harber explained. “Our work situation must have the kind of person willing to go the extra mile. It is so good just to know that they’re ready to do whatever you need. And I’m there for them, whatever they might need. Our work lets us appreciate the small wonders of God’s creation. God gave me the strength to come back and do this. I’m fine. It’s always going to be fine.”

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Park ranger battles cancer, but not alone

Co-workers donate their sick time and faith community members pitch in.

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