Sharon Haidusek discusses surviving Breat Cancer on Make it Happen with David Lorms

HOUSTON - Nov. 2, 2014 - PRLog -- To conclude his month-long series on Breast Cancer Awareness, David Lorms interviewed Sharon Haidusek, mother of two and breast cancer survivor on his weekly radio talk show, Make it Happen with David Lorms.

Sharon grew up in the Oak Forest neighborhood in Houston, the daughter of the owners of the legendary Dutchman Beer Tavern.  “It was a great place, run by a family to serve the families in the area.  Everyone knew everyone in Oak Forest! We had cook-offs and parties for the sheer joy of it all. And, no, I didn’t drink beer before I drank milk!  It was close, but the milk did come first” Haidusek, jokes.  Her parents passed down their love of people and service.  She has since passed it on to her two sons, one of whom is in college and works for City Kitchen and the other is in management at a car dealership.

Haidusek’s earliest “claim to fame” came between the ages of 3 and 5 when she was Patrick Swayze’s first dance partner!  (She took tap and ballet lessons from Patrick’s mother, Patsy.)  Patsy and her husband often visited The Dutchman after class. This brush with future greatness forecasted many more like occurrences to come!

After graduating from St. Anne’s High School, Haidusek attended the brand new Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston.  Upon graduation, she worked as the catering manager first at River Oaks Country Club and then The Four Seasons.  While in those positions, she planned events for and rubbed shoulders with such notables as George H. W. Bush, the Shah of Iran, famed surgeon Dr. Denton Cooley and the King of Jordan.  Lorms, of course, interjected, “I have never known a King – but I have known a few queens!”  Even though it was a radio interview, listeners knew Haidusek was good naturedly rolling her eyes at Lorms.

Wanting to learn even more about her industry, she went on to earn another degree, this time from Northwood University in Dallas.  “Stating the obvious here, you really believe in college, don’t you?” asks Lorms.  “It’s like I tell my boys,” she answers.  “WHO you know may get you in the door –but it’s WHAT you know that keeps you inside the door!”  During her 8 years at The Four Seasons, she met her husband, the banquet manager.

Haidusek left this hectic schedule to become a full time mom at 39. “I worked at the tavern until my parents sold it and always had a strong work ethic.  So, I soon returned to work as the personal assistant to Houston socialite Lorraine Bland.  Lorms comments, “This opportunity is a good example of the benefits of networking, education and experience. You met Mrs. Bland through your work and had the education and experience to do the job.”   Haidusek went to many social affairs with Bland and had fun as I worked.  During her 9 years with Mrs. Bland, Haidusek was on call 24/7. “The bad side of the job,” she tells Lorms, “was having no time to really call my own. I was always responsible for their home and family as well as my family and home.”

When she divorced, Haidusek became the sole bread winner and caretaker for her family.  Her sons were in the 6 and 9th grades.  “I taught my boys to be self-sufficient and independent.  When I became a house manager at Brookdale Senior Living, they learned the hospitality industry almost by osmosis. I was there so many hours in the week – they HAD to learn!”  For 3 years she planned menus and was in charge of 90 residents and 4 cooks.  She often filled in to cook breakfast at 5:00 am.  “I really learned how important health care is.  The job was a bit overwhelming. I got to know about the burdens our guests and their families were carrying.”

During a routine annual check-up, Haidusek was urged to get a mammogram.  She went to The Rose which allows its patients to pay on a sliding scale. A tumor was found, a biopsy was made, and the one-inch-long stage-one tumor was removed.  “I told the boys I was going to be fine and not to be scared” she says. “God told me I was going to be fine.”  She went through radiation at M D Anderson and started working when the radiation over. “I cried when I left after 6 weeks of radiation.  I thought of that staff as family. I believe it’s the only place in this world that will do everything they can do to make your life whole again. What a great facility we have!  You don’t have to be referred to M D Anderson!”

Haidusek was no stranger to the cancer experience.  Her father died of colon cancer, her mother had cancer of the uvula and her grandfather died of stomach cancer.  She was so grateful to be cancer-free and working again that she wanted to help single mothers who were going through her experience although she was facing hard times herself. She contacted Pink Door, a nonprofit that helps women begin a new life after cancer treatment. A representative replied to her with, “You don’t need to help anyone right now, let us help you first.”  Haidusek tells Lorms, “Pink Door generously made house and car payments for me.  It lifted such a burden from my sons and me.  Now I want to give back to them. It’s good to be associated with such a great group!”

Haidusek’s life is very busy once again.  She works at Posh Petal as a flower arranger and is also a part of the team at Jackson and Co, one of 10 best catering companies in the US.  Of both places she says, “You have to work for the best if you want to learn from the best!”  At Jackson and Co., they put together corporate parties for thousands of people.  In both positions she loves being in the “back of the house” after all those years of being in the front.  “I am so happy to work alongside people at both places who enjoy striving to produce a great product and stay on the top of the heap!” The articulate Haidusek is also an excellent public speaker, having addressed both the Board of St. Rose of Lima and the Third Year Medical Students at Baylor College of Medicine.

Haidusek gives much credit for her optimistic views to the pastor at her church at St. Rose of Lima.  When times get tough, she remembers, “I have 2 sons who need me.  I just can’t sit – I have to get up and go.  I have worked hard to instill this philosophy in my boys. They are both hard working and want to be around their mother and have some fun with her!”

Make It Happen With David Lorms is about entrepreneurs, business owners, and people with success in their lives, their challenges and failures turned into success, and advice for people to better their lives and careers.  The show runs live every Wednesday at noon on www.KBREEZESports.com.   Past episodes are available by pod cast at http://www.spreaker.com/user/7420120.