Deneisa Calvert had lots to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

High on the list – she’s alive.

Close behind on the list are a close-knit group of family and friends who played a mayor role in helping her to survive lung cancer.

Among them, husband of 43 years, Lloyd Calvert; daughter Melanie Powell and home health care nurse Tephanie Neill.

Also, a couple of nieces, Sabrena, who is a nurse, and Terra.

And, of course her church, First Baptist of Eufaula.

“They were always checking on me,” Deneisa, who lives in the Millette Community west of Eufaula, said.

She is also thankful for a robot, but more about that later.

Some of the friends and family and neighbor and church members cooked for her, others took care of her health issues.

“I really don’t want to try and name everyone who helped. I’m afraid I will leave someone out,” said Deneisa, 59.

She has no lack of people concerned about her.

She is the fourth in five generations of family from Eufaula. Her daughter Melanie is the fifth.

Deneisa is famous for her culinary creations, especially desserts. She does a mean meatloaf, too.

“I do specialty stuff. Just say I’m in food service,” she said.

She often helps out at the I Smell Bacon restaurant, which is owned by her daughter Melanie. A niece, Tara McGuire, also works there as a waitress.

Deneisa volunteers at her church and runs the kitchen – cooking for 150-200 people at a time.

Denesia also cooks meals and helps organize fund-raisers for other families that are affected by cancer.

She volunteers for such organizations as Elderly Without Family.

Currently, she is helping sell raffle tickets to help the family of 11-year-old Wyatt Alexander, who is battling cancer.

The drawing for a TaoTao 1250 ATV will be held Dec. 1 at the OSU Extension Center at the fairgrounds east of Eufaula.

It isn’t too late to buy chances ($5 per ticket, $20 for five). Just call Lynn Scrutchfield at 918-617-1366 for details.

Deneisa’s own battle with cancer began in July, 2016.

She thought she had a stomach virus and, after becoming dehydrated, went to an urgent care in Muskogee to get IV fluids.

While there the doctor did an x-ray and saw a suspicious mass, which turned out to be a nine-millimeter tumor in her lung.

“I had smoked for years. I quit two years before the diagnosis, but then I also smoked vapors. I also quit doing the vapors,” she said.

After the discovery of the tumor, Deneisa contacted Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa.

“I was at the Center for four or five days of treatment. The cancer had not spread,” Deneisa said.

Her cancer treatment began with a video cervical mediastinoscopy.

Then there was surgery by a robot.

To be specific, a DaVinci Xi robot guided by thoracic surgeon Dr. Peter Baik.

The upper left lobe of Deneisa’s lung was removed.

Remarkably, she was able to walk that evening.

Then began four rounds of chemo, which she said she tolerate fairly well, even though she lost her hair.

Her final chemo was on Dec. 27, 2016, the day after her birthday.

Today, her cancer is in remission – another reason to be thankful.

Nurse Tephanie Neill, who tended to her dressings during recovery from the operation, described Deneisa “a very strong-willed, independent lady.”

Neill, who grew up with Deneisa’s daughter, said lung cancer of any kind is not good news.

“But luckily hers was caught early and she was able to receive treatment. She is a survivor because of it,” Neill said.

Neill has tremendous respect for Deneisa.

“The big thing about her is that even though she was fighting for her life, she was helping other people. She was always helping cook and doing volunteer work. She’s a very giving person.”