A line of people stretched out the door of the E.B. Jermyn Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 2 on Railroad Avenue in Scranton, Sunday afternoon. Community members here for a pasta benefit to support Scranton police officer Nancy Baumann in her battle with cancer.
Baumann was diagnosed in 2024 with Myelodysplastic Syndrome or MDS, a type of blood cancer. “It was like unbelievable, like, is this really happening? You know? It’s something that you have nightmares about,” says Baumann.
But inside this venue, Baumann didn’t have to fight her nightmare alone. More than 200 came out to take part in the dinner, basket raffles, and most importantly give Baumann their love and support.
Baumann says, “It’s unreal. Like I never thought that there was so many people that loved me like this, you know? People say that when you’re a police officer and you treat people right they’ll treat you right too.”
When looking around the room, Baumann’s colleague Jill Foley says that proves to be true. “Nancy has supported so many people doing her job as a police officer for however many years. That’s why we wanted to do this to be able to help her, to get her through this.”
Baumann’s sister Gail Yanick moved from Texas to support her sister during her battle with cancer. She says all of the money will go directly toward Baumann’s medical bills, medications, and other expenses that may arise throughout her treatment. “Back and forth to her doctors. She had a transplant. A bone-marrow transplant, and she goes back and forth to make sure that everything is okay,” says Yanick.
After 2 years, Baumann is finally in remission. While she knows there is still some fighting to do, she says she’s got a big family of supporters to lean on.
“I’m overwhelmed with, you know, the love that’s pouring out here. It’s just unbelievable,” says Bauman.