CANCER SURVIVOR CONNECTING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

Byline: CAROL ROCK

valleynews.com

Although she officially retired from education, Carol Ramnarine hasn't stopped teaching. She's just changed the curriculum and moved her classroom to a bigger campus -- the Internet.

The longtime Placerita Canyon resident recently signed up on Facebook, a Web-based friends network that originally catered exclusively to college students. She's had her own MySpace page for more than a year.

But instead of posting goofy pictures or filling out endless surveys that seem to populate many Web pages, she's reaching out to people coping with chronic illnesses.

And she's making connections.

Ramnarine was diagnosed in 2004 with multiple myeloma, a disease of the blood cells that weakens bones and leads to fractures.

Ramnarine started weaving her personal web of support while she was a patient at City of Hope, maintaining a log of activities and treatments that were shared with the world via their CarePages network. She logged treatments, reactions and medical comments.

But she found more than therapy in the routine of her electronic diary -- she heard from people in England, Korea and Hawaii, people she had never met but who had questions about her health care or were dealing with the same situation.

Once her health was stabilized, she established her MySpace page, where dozens of her children's friends from Hart High's drama department logged on to chat with their "MammyRammy."

Having already earned the trust of the teens, she found they not only welcomed her into their social group, but also listened when she offered advice.

On MySpace, she's heard from a young woman whose mother had a stroke. Ramnarine helped the girl deal with the fact that her mom's behavior and abilities would be different than they had been in the past.

She was also able to connect a young man with resources to help him cope with his father's alcoholism and has talked -- via e-mail -- to many teens and adults, sharing her experiences and theirs to weave a bond across the Internet.

She's had such success that she decided to expand her efforts to Facebook.

"I saw Facebook as another avenue where I could communicate resources," she said. "I know of several people our age who think this is ridiculous behavior and look at it with a negative tone. Not me. My mind says this is a great way to stay connected and be a role model for the young."

Her profile on Facebook spells it out: "I am a cancer survivor and have been mentoring other people through the experience of learning to live with this chronic illness. Previously, I was a public school educator and program developer. I like to look for the silver lining in life. I cherish people, my family and friends. Strangers are generally new people I like to come to know."

Ramnarine is a baby boomer who's happy to be at this stage in her life.

"I'm 55. I'm on the cusp of getting those discount tickets to the movies," she said, chuckling. "I think it's better that people see us age. I'm grateful to be 55. I'd much rather live life than be hung up over how old I am. Not all of us think like this, but I think it's healthier."

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Photo:

One of the things Carol Ramnarine missed during her therapy for cancer was playing with her pet dogs.