AMAZING WOMEN
131 Unsung Heroines of Mass. honored for contributions
Nancy Ross couldn’t be stopped by a rape in the military, domestic violence or a drug addiction. And she’s certain she won’t be stopped by her latest opponent either: breast cancer.
Yesterday was a watershed moment for Ross as she was among 131 inspiring women from across the Bay State honored at yesterday’s 15th annual Unsung Heroines of Massachusetts celebration at the State House.
The 54-year-old Falmouth woman followed in her father’s footsteps by joining the U.S. Navy. While stationed in Spain in 1988, she was raped by a male colleague in the barracks. She reported the assault but her rapist was never charged.
After the assault, Nancy left the service and her life spiraled downward. She suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, became addicted to cocaine and attempted suicide.
“I was lost for about 20 years,” Nancy told me.
About a decade ago, Nancy turned her life around after getting treatment at a Veterans Administration hospital. She’s now helping other veterans as program manager for the Veterans Horsemanship Program in Falmouth, which helps veterans suffering from PTSD.
Horses helped save Nancy. While living in Texas, she took a part-time job as a mucker at a farm to escape an abusive relationship. “My heart would calm,” she recalled.
Being with horses helped her so much, she said, she had to share the experience with others.
In February, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It’s her latest battle.
At yesterday’s ceremony, each of the honored women wore a pinned yellow rose and beamed with pride as a commissioner on the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women read their names and touted the amazing volunteer work they do.
“Unsung Heroine is the opportunity for us to recognize women who have made a significant contribution to their community but who have done so without significant recognition,” said Jill Ashton, executive director of MCSW.
Another woman honored yesterday was Laura Chagnon, also 54. Laura was celebrating her 26th birthday sightseeing in Boston when two heroin addicts snatched her off the street, threw her in their car and drove off.
They robbed, sexually assaulted her and beat her with a bat. They were never caught.
“Laura should have died that night,” said her primary caregiver, Thomas Damoulakis.
She was in a coma for five weeks as a “Jane Doe” at New England Medical Center. Doctors told Laura’s parents, Wayne and Carole, that their daughter had a traumatic brain injury, was a quadriplegic and legally blind and recommended a long-term care facility.
Laura spent four years in rehab facilities but returned home to her parents, whom she called “angels.” She began writing poetry and has written over 6,000 poems by dictating her words to her caretakers. She’s published two books and is working on a third.
Four years ago, she began telling her story to prisoners.
“Laura shares her story to those who may have done the same crime that was committed to her,” Damoulakis said. “Ninety-percent of inmates suffer from addictions but after hearing her story, they realize we can overcome our struggles as well.”
“I have no regrets at all for my condition because if one thing would have changed, I wouldn’t be here,” Laura told me after being honored. “I wouldn’t be helping the people I’m helping.”