loading…
Hello:
I am Carolyn of Missouri. I have long been a patient of Mayo Clinic since about 1942 and am still a patient visiting about every 3 months.
Sometime after I was born, we moved to Glendale…that is where we lived when I took sick at the age of about 20 months. The Dr. there treated me for about 3 weeks for a cold and then I guess I took a turn for the worst and one night he sent us on up to Rochester and they performed surgery on me at 3 a.m. in the morning. Dr. Figi was the Dr. I had for many years while growing up. Before I was 17 years old, I had had 48 surgeries on my throat for pappillomas of the larnyx and trachea.
I had surgery at the Kahler Hospital (top 3 floors of the Kahler Hotel) until I was 12 at which time the Kahler hospital was closed and I then went to St. Mary’s.
At that time we were in Rochester for 6 weeks (my Mom and I). We had moved back to Missouri not too long after I’d had my first surgery so my Mom and I traveled back and forth to Mayo’s each time via the bus from Marshall, MO to Rochester. My dad was a truck driver and in the course of the years, I had 2 brothers who stayed with my grandparents when Mom and I were gone. We usually always stayed at the McRel Hotel (boarding house) which was south of where the Methodist hospital is now. I believe it was usually around $2.50 per day to stay there. How times and prices have changed.
We watched many, many changes over the years in the growth of Rochester, of the Mayo Clinic and the hospitals. When I first began I was at the old brown Mayo Clinic building. Then we watched as the new gray marble Mayo Building was built and then added onto by the Gonda Building.
When I was 16 and soon to be a senior in high school, they were able to take out my tracheotomy and close the opening in my throat. I had some skin grafting done and then was able to breathe on my own without the tracheotomy for the first time in many years. What a wonderful senior year I had even though I had so much damage to my voice box.
From the time I was 17 until I was in my 50′s, I didn’t have to come to Rochester much. Before I was married in 1961, we had one last checkup on my throat and the Drs. said I didn’t need to come back unless I had a problem. In 1966 with the pregnancy of my 2nd son, I developed thyroid problems and was in Rochester for 3 weeks having my thyroid removed and being told I had thyroid cancer, but they did radiation and I was told it probably would never bother me even if I lived to be 80 (now I’m quickly on the path to 80!)
My husband, Russ and I married…and we have 3 healthy, normal children, 2 boys and a girl…We also have 4 grandsons…and 1 granddaughter.
I have had a cake decorating/catering business for about 47 years and have been successful in making many people happy. I still continue in that business today.
In my 50′s I began having breathing problems again and decided to come back to Mayo’s to let them see what my problem was.
I was in my 50′s, a new grandmother, had a successful business, and after about 3 months of struggling to breathe, I told the Lord I wasn’t ready to die…From the moment I said the prayer, it was like the Lord lifted that burden from my shoulders and said “what are you worried about, it will all be o.k.” I called my Drs. and arranged to be in Rochester as soon as they could take me to do the surgery.
If we have counted correctly I now have had 100 surgeries. I have watched several doctors retire.
One of my best friends is Margaret…who worked over at the Methodist in the Cancer area as a secretary. She is also a cake decorator and thus our friendship. We [spent] 3 weeks together in January in…Hawaii. Another very dear friend is Sister Ralph Jahner at Assisi Heights and where I have stayed several times as her guest while in Rochester.
I have started a trend each time I come to Mayo’s in that I bring decorated cakes or cookies to Dr. Edell and Dr. Kasperbauer’s staff as well as the door staff at the Mayo Clinic front door who are always so helpful. I think they all look forward to me coming and call me the ”Cake Lady”.
I think the Lord chose for me to make people happy with my talents as a cake decorator.
My Dr. Edell is from the Kansas City area and I was honored to have him call me last summer and ask if I would do the 60th anniversary cake for his parents. I graciously did the cake and was honored to do it.
Mayo’s is like a second home to me.
Wow what a remarkable person this lady is and always is up beat and a smile for everyone. I even had her do my parents 50 anniversery cake and had it driven over 300 miles. I’m proud to call her my friend. Her cakes aren’t the only thing sweeet she is too. Love u carolyn. Antonio fermin atonio fermin bridal designs
Such an inspirational story! Just what I need to hear today! Thanks for sharing!
My sister had a stem cell transplant at Mayo in Rochester a year and a half ago. I was her donor. What I liked most about the Mayo Clinic, is they make you feel like you are a part of a family, be it patient or donor. My time there I was so surprised how knowledgeable, caring, and organized they were. My sister is doing well and goes back every three months for check-ups. Be it 42 years or one and a half years, I love the Mayo Clinic. God Bless all of you.
My friend since 1982, Carolyn Lawrence is my hero. She did not mention that her voice is only a whisper but that has never deterred her from being the outgoing, caring, fun-loving and so much more type of person she is. (She co-chaired two International Cake Exploration Societe’s [ICES] Shows and Conventions). I am honored to be her friend. Her cake decorating talents exceed mine — I love to see her creative creations. She is indeed a blessing to her many friends. Margaret Lex, Stewartville, Minnesota
I have known Carolyn since I was a child. She made evry single cake for my birthdays until I was about 20. And at that time she made my wedding cake. I never knew Carolyn had any type of cancer. I just always knew she whispered, and that’s the only way I ever knew her. Carolyn Lawrence is a household name to many in my hometown. She is so talented, and I often refer to her as “the cake Goddess”, to which I’m sure she would just blush and smile that beautiful smile of hers.
God bless you Carolyn, for you surely one of His miracles and a great gift to all who know you!!!
i am the 2nd son she spoke of, there has never been a more strong willed or inspiring woman that i have ever had the pleasure to be around. my friends would always think how cool it would be to never be able to hear your mother scream at you(she whispers when she talks).ive always told them there wasnt ever a time that i didnt hear her yell across the house at me to turn mt music down. I am 45 now and raising my own kids. i’m sure they wish i could whisper sometimes.
I LOVE YOU MOM
I just wanted to say that I am thankful that this wonderful lady and I crossed paths at an ICES convention many years ago. She has been a true friend and wonderful inspiration to me as a decorator and as a truly sweet and caring friend. She has always been a person of true determination, honesty and caring. Carolyn thanks for allowing me to read this and for being a true friend.
I am Carolyn’s daughter. My mother is truly an inspiration to everyone. An amazing lady in every way. She has always been a wonderful mother to the 3 of us, a wonderful wife to my dad (50 years in July), and a wonderful grandmother to her 5 grandkids, 2 of them mine.
She is loved by everyone in her business and otherwise.
She has never complained about her life and the trials that she has been through. Such a beautiful, strong woman.
Love you! xo
Thanks for sharing this wonderful, uplifting story. You have been blessed in many ways.
Hello everyone
I have had the good fortune to have been neighbors with Carolyn in our early years . She has one thing that has set her apart from the rest of the world. That is she is just exactly like I have known her for these many years. A person that takes life head on and has this brightness she spreads any where she goes.We still email and i always hear what she is doing and who she has heard from.
Bless her and her family
Jimmie
MAHALO CAROLYN FOR SHARING YOUR BEAUTIFUL STORY WITH EVERYONE. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU. I AM SO GLAD WE MET EACH OTHER IN HAWAII. I LOVE OUR POOLSIDE STORIES. YOU ARE THE MOST POSITIVE PERSON I KNOW. YOU ALWAYS HAVE A WARM SMILE AND I LOVE THE MANY LAUGHS WE SHARE. I CHERISH OUR FRIENDSHIP. I LOVE YOU ALOHA CINDY
I had seen you at many ICES conventions and wondered why your voice was so soft. Thanks for sharing! Do they know what caused your problems in the beginning? I too am thankful God chose me to make others happy with cakes, and also more thankful he chose you. I want to sing beside you when we get to heaven. I know your voice will be beautiful.You are truly inspiring!!
Carolyn, you are one of the strongest women I know, I look at you when my mother was going through so much with her throat cancer and I would tell her about you and all you have been through and won’t let nothing get you down, I think it helped her to cope with all she was going through as well. Thank you for being a friend and thank you for all the great cakes you have made for my family, your the best!! Enjoyed your story, what an inspiration you are to everyone!! Love ya.
Carolyn is truly an inspiration to all. She made my wedding cake 42 years ago and has continued to supply me with wonderful cakes throughout the years. She never complains about her illness and always has a smile for everyone. The world is a better place with her being in it.
We have had the honor of knowing Carolyn for about 9 years and always know that we will be greeted with a smile and a hug from her. As the International Cake Exploration Societe’ (ICES.org) photographers, we’ve met many nice people at the conventions and Carolyn was one of the first that we remember meeting. She is a very special lady, not only in surviving her health problems but in her wonderful attitude towards life and her love of others. God used a very special mold when he made Carolyn!
I have known Carolyn many years thru ICES, and could not think of a convention with out her. This lady lights up a room with just one wave and a smile! Always upbeat, and ready to bring her love and happiness to any person or situation. Carolyn, you are one of the most special ladies I have ever known, and I look forward to seeing you and getting a big hug in August!
Carolyn, Carolyn what can you say about this woman that hasn’t already been said!!!! She has been in our family for many many years and I know we will be great friends for years to come!!! I know in my heart/mind that my right leg is because of the wonderful cakes we have eaten over the years!!! Oh and don’t forget the mints!!! Love you Carolyn.
you are a trooper Carolyn, I knew I liked you from the day I meet you. My husband always says how nice of you to help us make our plans to go to the convention, it does get expensive. You have had your share of pain and suffering I only wish you the very best. I do miss seeing you but I am working thru my little problems and may soon be back at some of the conventions, you take care, great article
I first saw Carolyn in March of 1969 when I was pregnant with our second and youngest daughter, April. I do not know if we actually met at that cake place. I was visiting in MO at that time and my sister pointed her out to me telling me that she was a very known cake decorator in the area.
In 1983, at an ICES (International Cake Exploration Societe’) convention in Kentucky, I met Carolyn. She was in a wheelchair and spoke in a whisper. I felt so sorry for her in that ill condition. Boy, was I wrong! She never, ever complains and never acts as though she has any problems at all! Her outlook is very positive. She is so helpful and caring to everyone and one to be trusted and committed. I have always told her that I think she is a buttercream expert and probably the best in the world. One year, I passed by some cakes that were just set up for an ICES convention. One cake stood out. I had to walk over to see who else decorates like Carolyn because the cake was not in an area where I thought the Missouri cakes would be. It was Carolyn’s tiered cake! Since Missouri was the host convention state that year, their cakes were not in the normal alphabetic order.
I am so thankful to Carolyn as she was persistent in getting me to go to the Mayo Clinic. What a blessing that was. She called her doctor and got me right in.
We have been friends for over 25 years and I am very happy about that. She is a devoted lady in every aspect especially in friendships.
God bless you Carolyn! My husband loves her and has a special name for her and no one else, “The Whisperer”. And, Carolyn doesn’t mind that at all. She loves it because she knows it’s special. And, so is she!