Mike Hebert was sitting in his patrol car outside Heatherbrook Apartments when he first saw “Miss Jackie” Harris.

“She came to my car and said ‘officer, I’m glad you’re here. It makes me happy,’” Hebert, a Port Arthur Police officer, said. “She was wearing a cancer survivor beanie, identical to the one my wife Carol wore. I asked if she had cancer. She said yes.”

That chance meeting eight months ago cemented a friendship between the terminally ill woman and police officers that is based on faith and love for fellow man.

Harris, 60, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990 and first one breast, and then the second breast were removed. She was once employed at Luby’s but as her health deteriorated she was no longer able to work.

She underwent treatments and kept in tune with her body and when Hurricane Rita hit in 2005 she realized the cancer was back.

“They sent me to MD Anderson for cancer,” Harris said. “They told me it was last stage and gave me six months (to live). I said no, no, no, they ain’t gonna give me six months.”

Harris’ cancer is now in her bones. She is currently taking a chemotherapy pill and injections to strengthen her bones. With the warm glow of the Hebert family’s Christmas tree to her right, Harris touched several areas of her neck where lumps have formed. An average sized woman, she placed her hands on her belly pushing her shirt down flat to show a distended, swollen stomach.

Harris is a strong willed woman who doesn’t like to ask for help nor does she dwell on her prognosis. Seated by the Christmas tree and with a big smile she answered her cell phone with the words “I’m still living.”

One day back in August,Hebert was approached by Lt. Jon Carona who told him of seeing an obviously ill woman walking down Ninth Avenue in 100 degree heat. Carona turned around to check on her. She told Carona she had just took her chemo treatment and needed a ride home.

“I said, oh, you met Miss Jackie,” Hebert said. “This was in 100 degree weather. Miss Jackie walks everywhere. Honestly, I think this is why she’s beating cancer.”

Hebert and Carona became friends with Harris and offered a lifeline for the woman. They buy her healthy groceries, bring her shopping, provide transportation to doctor’s visits and church and are a phone call away when she needs help.

“It’s about Jesus,” she said. “Jesus brought all of us together.”

Side effects of chemotherapy are not pleasant as both Harris and the Hebert’s attest to. Hebert knows of the disease as he has been his wife’s caregiver and also knows when something isn’t right. One day he got a call from Harris saying she couldn’t get out of bed and was running fever. He knew immediately that this was life threatening and soon an ambulance was on the way to bring Miss Jackie to the hospital for severe dehydration.

“There are side effects. I toss and turn at night,” Harris said to which Carol Hebert agreed, saying the treatments cause hot flashes.

Harris described the pain in her legs from the bone cancer to that of a toothache, “thump, thump, thump.”

The Port Arthur woman is looking to a modest holiday celebration at home.

“I have stuff to fix a gumbo and if I can’t make it to midnight Mass I’ll watch Mass on TV. I’ll get on my knees and pray,” she said. “Then on Christmas I’ll cook gumbo and watch TV.”

Harris might not be able to stay awake long enough to attend midnight Mass at either Sacred Heart Catholic Church or Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church but it’s likely one of the officers will bring her to an earlier Mass, they said.

Harris is on a fixed income with not much left after rent, utilities and prescriptions. A fundraiser is in the works for January to help with daily needs and money for taxi for transportation.

To donate, go online to Southeast Texas Circle of home. Once at the website, go to “benefits” and click on “Jackie Harris.” Southeast Texas Circle of Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

“I think the moral to this story is her faith,” Hebert said. “She doesn’t get into the car without giving me a Bible verse or praising God. That’s her life and how she said she continues to make it.”

Reporter: Mary Meaux, 721-2429

Twitter: @MaryMeauxPANews