A West Virginia woman with stage 4 cancer is filling a Taco Bell bucket list
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An 86-year-old West Virginia woman who had long dreamed of seeing a Taco Bell open in her hometown recently crossed a hole in her bucket list after wondering if she would live long enough to see it happen.
The ‘Taco Bell Queen’, said she had hoped for years that the city, a suburb of Charleston, would find her place. “I’ve been looking for a Taco Bell here in the town of Sissonville,” Monk said. When his son told him the restaurant was coming, Monk said he was thrilled.
“My son…has been working trying to find it,” she said. “He [came] to me the other day and said, ‘Mom, I finally got them to come. They are coming. They will be here for you.’
Pauline Ferrell Monk stands on the side of the road campaigning for her son, Dana Ferrell (R-WV), who is running for the 39th House of Representatives, on Election Day on November 6, 2018 in Sissonville, West Virginia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
But at the same time, Monk received some sad news. After coming down with the virus and visiting his doctor, he said medical tests revealed he had stage 4 cancer. Monk said doctors told him he had only a few months to live.
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“All of a sudden, we found out that I have stage 4 cancer,” she said.
As construction continued at Taco Bell, Monk noted that he found himself wondering if he would live to see the restaurant open. “As I walked up and down the street in front of the Taco Bell, they were working, and I was just trying to guess and figure out, is the Lord going to let me stay here long enough to see that Taco Bell open?” he asked. “It was supposed to be about me, and now I may have to leave this world before I see it open.”
Not long ago, the construction of Taco Bell was completed in his hometown. On opening day, Monk said he was brought in early to celebrate. Her son, who was helping the restaurant’s attorney, was expected to cut the ribbon, so he came with Pauline.
Time soon turned into something bigger than opening a restaurant. The Sissonville resident became a local legend and internet sensation.
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“They were all screaming,” Monk said of the people waiting outside. “They said, ‘You’re the queen of Taco Bell.’ So now I’m known everywhere I go as the queen of Taco Bell. “
Pauline explains that her go-to order at Taco Bell is Nachos BellGrande or a chicken quesadilla, and she enjoys cinnamon twists for dessert. His family depends on his new title, too. Although the Taco Bell story brought Monki unexpected and surprising attention, he said there is more to his life than his love of the fast food chain.
Pauline Monk stands next to her family members Pete Ferrell, Pauline Monk, Robin (Ferrell) Martin and Dana Ferrell. (Courtesy of Autumn Martin)
Monk said he grew up with 7 siblings in the local town and has always tried to give back. He said that for years he has been baking for people in his church and in the community. “Since I was a little girl, I’ve been going to church and being a Christian over the years,” Monk said. “Over here, and I was happy and excited to give people pies and apples.”
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Now, he said, that favor is being returned.
“Everybody in the church, everybody I knew had pie,” he noted. “Now they’re taking it back. I’m getting food everywhere.”
Monk said she is being cared for by her loving husband and family. “I have a loyal husband,” she said. “My husband has been very good at taking care of me.”
He said his faith has helped him stay calm as his cancer progresses. “I know the Lord and the Lord knows me,” emphasized the Monk. “I feel that when he is ready for me to come home, he will take me and I will be ready to go.” Monk said doctors advised him to undergo chemotherapy because of his age. He said later he found out that the cancer had spread to the lungs.
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“It’s just a matter of time,” he said. “But since I’m here, I want to spread the word of God and give thanks and help people in any way I can.”
As her story continues to make people smile, Monk said she’s grateful for the love she’s received from her family, community and strangers who’ve heard about the “Taco Bell queen.”
