By MADDY VITALE
April Ellerbe, 52, of Williamstown, N.J., did everything right. She took care of herself, ate healthy, exercised and got routine mammograms, which were always normal.
And then, in November of 2017, something was very wrong.
“I went in for my normal mammogram and the doctor said, ‘You caught a wolf at your door. Thank God you were consistent with getting your mammograms,’” Ellerbe explained.
And just like that, the mother of one needed emergency surgery to remove two tumors in her breasts. She had a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction.
She had the surgery on Dec. 26, 2017.
“It was an eight hour surgery,” said Ellerbe, who has a 21-year-old daughter named Dominique. “I have learned in life to really appreciate what you have.”
Ellerbe, a senior academic advisor at Rowan University, was among 14 women attending a weekend retreat Saturday in Sea Isle City called Casting for Recovery.
The nationwide nonprofit offers retreats to women battling all stages of breast cancer to cancer survivors. The women learn to fly fish and they meet new friends. The mission of the Casting for Recovery retreat is to connect women with nature and others who have had breast cancer.
On Saturday, Ellerbe was at Dealy Field in Sea Isle with the others on the retreat for some fly fishing basics from seasoned instructors.
Gerri Rescigno and Jackie Bradley, friends, breast cancer survivors and Dennis Township residents, are the retreat co-leaders for the Sea Isle event. They watched with pleasure as the attendees seemed to be enjoying the instruction.
The instruction on the field will culminate Sunday into actual fly fishing at Pine Haven Campground in Dennis Township off Route 9.
Bradley looked around at the retreat attendees who appeared to be enjoying the class.
“Today they get a feel for what it is like to cast and tomorrow they get to put their poles in the water,” Bradley said.
Many volunteers are former alumna of the retreats as breast cancer survivors, such as Rescigno and Bradley.
Breast surgeon Dr. Stephanie Caterson was among the experts who attended the event, in addition to a wellness coach and fly fishing instructors.
“When they first offered the retreat, I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Dr. Caterson said. “But I have seen each year that it is all about the women who come from all walks of life and all different stages of cancer.”
She led the group in stretches prior to the fly fishing class, led by Susan Proulx.
Proulx said during a brief break that she enjoys teaching the class.
“I love it. The women are always enthusiastic, and they really feel a sense of achievement,” said Proulx, who has been fly fishing for 40 years. “It is beautiful to see.”
Like Ellerbe, cancer survivors spoke of a sense of kinship with the other women in the group.
Cindi Lewis, of Red Bank, N.J., said the weekend was about camaraderie. Lewis had breast cancer surgery this year.
She chatted with the other women and stopped to speak with Proulx as the group was leaving Dealy Field to eat lunch.
“It feels amazing to be out here with so many wonderful people getting instruction on fly fishing,” Lewis said. “It’s good exercise as well.”
Donna Rosado, also a breast cancer survivor, had surgery in 2016. In 2021 she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer and had a hysterectomy.
Rosado said she lives each day with a greater appreciation for the many good things in life.
Rosado walked back with others in the retreat to go to lunch.
“I consider myself a survivor,” she said. “I continue to move forward. I joined a support group and I take care of myself.”
Women came from all over New Jersey, including Salem, Gloucester, Monmouth and Ocean counties, Delaware and Maryland to attend this year’s retreat in Sea Isle.
Casting for Recovery would like more local women to apply for the retreat, officials said.
“This year we seem to have a contingent from along the coast,” Bradley said. “We would like more women to apply from the area.”
Rescigno said watching the women and their successes makes her so happy and stressed the importance of the retreats.
She also noted that Sea Isle officials have been particularly gracious with Casting for Recovery.
“They are so generous in giving us use of Dealy Field each year,” she said.
Christina Muller, a fly-fishing instructor, said of this year’s group: “Every year is a great group of amazing women. This group is really focused. They are excited and they are just a really brave bunch of women. They are not afraid to try something new.”
Ellerbe is no stranger to fishing, so the thought of fly fishing came naturally to her as she gracefully pulled back the pole and practiced casting.
She even went deep sea fishing once and caught a barracuda.
And though she loved learning a new way to fish, the weekend was about so much more, she said.
“This weekend gives me an opportunity for me to gather with people who I can relate to. I feel like I could be vulnerable,” Ellerbe said. “I am excited to learn something new too. I always wanted to learn how to fly fish. I heard it can be so peaceful.”
For more information or if you know someone who would like to apply for next year’s retreat, visit castingforrecovery.org. Donations may also be made through the website.
