Teacher, student, cancer survivor and fighter – Tenita Barnett

Tenita Barnett MSN works on her class work for her Doctorate in Nursing Science. Sherry’s Shots This Friday, April 16, the Relay for Life Event will be held at the Buffalo High Football Field. The event is held annually and its purpose is to raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer. One of the highlights is the first lap when survivors walk the track; another is when candles are lit commemorating those who have lost the battle with cancer.

This story is a tribute to my cousin, actually my cousin’s wife. I know of no person who inspires me to “keep on keeping on” more than she.

Tenita Barnett lives at the end of a county road just off FM831, in the Flo Community. She was born on 11- 25-49 to parents Dave and Louise Laningham of Oakwood. Tenita started school at Lone Star and graduated from Oakwood High in 1968. One year before she graduated she married Wayne Barnett who was serving in the U.S. Army at that time. Wayne was discharged from the Army and Tenita graduated from high school the same year.

The couple went about building their lives together and had five children; Anna, Jasper, William, Reene and Kristopher. Wayne did various jobs but primarily worked on the pipe lines. Upon returning home after a long period and having saved some money while he was away, Wayne took off work and built his family a home, using logs and lumber cut with his own hands. The Barnetts live in that home today.

In 1990, when Tenita was 40 years old, her friend, Yvonne Woodard, challenged her to take the college entrance exam which would allow her to attend Trinity Valley Community College in Palestine. Although she had been out of school for years and was not at all confident, she scored a whopping 99%.

Deciding to pursue a career in nursing, Tenita completed as much as possible at Palestine and then transferred to Stephen F. Austin, in Nacogdoches, to earn her Bachelor’s degree in nursing. (That’s a four-hour round trip.) In 2004 she completed her Master’s in Nursing online from the University of Phoenix.

Tenita was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma (kidney cancer) in September 2005. She had one kidney removed and immediately went into chemotherapy.

Not being one to give up easily, Tenita began teaching at a school of nursing, shortly after being diagnosed, and soon began working on her doctorate degree.

For a while there was hope that the cancer was in remission and Tenita continued teaching at Prairie View A&M and continuing to take classes for her doctorate. In late 2009 it became apparent that the cancer was back and had metastasized to her bones. She began a 28 week radiation treatment on her head and neck in January 2010.

Last week Tenita spent several days in the hospital and as soon as she got home she fired up her laptop and began working on her classes. She says she has eight courses and a dissertation to complete in order to get her coveted degree.

Where has her family been through all of this? Right there! Beside her all the way! Wayne has retired and spends much of his time helping at home and taking Tenita to her treatments and doctor visits. The children and grandchildren are not far away. One son, William, is blessed with locks of hair that would rival that of Absalom, the son of David in the Bible. William shaved his head and gave his beautiful strands to his mother to have a wig made; William’s young son also shaved his head.

Tenita’s kids are helping her get set up to teach online. She is currently on medical leave but only for one more month. She plans to teach her classes from the comfort of home.

Tenita comments (and please notice her first words are not about her illness): “I want to stress the importance of education. No matter how old you are, you can do it if you try. I can’t thank all the people enough for their prayers and I am convinced that through God it will be accomplished.”