Survivor Spotlight: JOANNE D'ALTON : Breast Cancer Survivor
Summer, 2007

Survivor Spotlight: FRANK YINKO : Colon Cancer Survivor
April, 2007

Survivor Spotlight: NANCY LAARMAN : Ovarian Cancer Survivor
January, 2007

Survivor Spotlight on MIKE LEMAHIEU : Colon Cancer Survivor (with liver metastisis)
December, 2006

Survivor Spotlight on MARY LICHTERMAN : Breast Cancer Survivor
September, 2006

Survivor Spotlight: JIM HAMMERLING : Multiple Myeloma Survivor
July, 2006
Note from Tim: As usually happens when I invite someone to be our “Survivor Spotlight,” Jim hesitated! “Why would you want to highlight me?” he asked. It took a little persuading from his wife Joyce and I before he finally agreed. There are many things I admire about Jim. He is a soft-spoken, gentle, family-oriented man with a simple approach to his life and his cancer experience. And Jim likes to have fun! He has been a part of our TLC Spring Break for the last several years and organizes the “Bean Bag Tournament” that is a part of that event. It was Jim’s idea earlier this year that we hold a “Texas Hold ’Em Style Poker Night” that we all enjoyed! He will more than likely be with us at our “Three Card Poker Night” on July 27th (see upcoming events) as well as at our next “Texas Hold ‘Em” game at our SOUP-er Fall Fest! As I think about Jim I can’t help but think of the card-player’s proverb that says, “The game is not about holding a good hand but playing a poor hand well!” Jim has not always been dealt the best hand… in poker or in life! But, not only has he played even the bad hands well but, like any good poker player, he never lets it show, either in poker or in life, that he has anything less than a winning hand! I am both proud and honored to have sat at the table with Jim and played a few games of poker throughout this game of life!

The First Sign: Fatigue!

It was 1998 and I was working 12-hour days, seven days a week at Tecumseh. Naturally, with that kind of a work schedule, I was getting fatigued. Eventually, I went to my general practitioner who cut my work hours back to 8-hour days. In the meantime I had noticed a little bump on the top of my head but I really didn’t make anything of it.

After cutting back on my work hours I was still getting very fatigued. So I went back to the doctor and this time I mentioned the bump on my head. At first he thought it was just a fatty tumor. It wasn’t bothering me so I just left it. I just kept on going until one day when my right side was feeling numb. Again, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to it but the next day the same thing happened. So I called my wife Joyce and told her that I was going to go in to see the doctor. He suspected that I had experienced a minor stroke so he sent me to the hospital.

The next thing I remember is waking up in my hospital bed with this big burly guy looking over me. He asked me, “How do you feel?” and I answered, “Other than being tired I feel fine!” Then he said to me, “I’m surprised you can even function!” and I asked, “Why is that?” He said, “You have a tumor about the size of a lemon on your brain!” And that was the first time I met Dr. Matthews and learned he was an oncologist!

Treatment, More Treatment, an Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant, and More!

He sent me to Froedert where they shaved half my head and did surgery to remove the tumor. They didn’t put a cap in until two months later so I was walking around with a half-shaven head that had this divot in it. That felt a little funny! Eventually they diagnosed me with Multiple Myeloma and I went through treatments once a month for about six months.

About a year later I was having trouble with my neck and they found a tumor had developed at the top of my spine. This they were able to treat with radiation. Another year later I was at Menard’s when suddenly my vision went double. After an MRI and CT Scan they found another tumor on my optic chiasm that was treated with radiation.

After that we decided that the best way to treat the multiple lesions on my bones would be an autologous bone marrow transplant which I went through in late 2003. Since then I have been doing real well! Every six months I go through CT Scans, MRIs, and X-rays and we are just keeping an eye on a few areas but the cancer has stayed pretty stable.

Better Me Than Someone Else!

When I first found out I had cancer it was a hardship on the family mainly! I remember one time I was sitting in the waiting room at Froedert Hospital and a minister came around and started talking to me. She asked me, “Are you mad at God for giving you cancer?” And I said, “No, I’m glad he gave it to me instead of another member of my family because I know I can handle it!” And that is the kind of attitude I’ve taken towards my cancer. Better me than someone else!

It’s just another hurdle for me. In 1995 I had open-heart surgery and I came through that okay so I figured I could just fight the cancer too. I also have serious arthritis in my neck that bothers me constantly. But that too is just another hurdle. I just go on with life like it’s normal… because, for me, I guess this is all normal! I have cancer, I have heart problems, I have lung problems, I have kidney problems, I have arthritis… it’s part of life for me. These are all chronic conditions that I live with! It really doesn’t bother me mentally at all!

I Do What I Can!

I am definitely not able to do the things I used to do. I used to work 12-hour days, seven days a week. I recently started driving limo again and just driving 8 or 9 hours just wears me out. In the morning as I’m getting dressed it just takes a lot longer, or going up a flight of stairs can be very hard for me. In fact at home the stairs to our bedroom are so steep I often have to crawl up the steps. Physically, yes, it has taken a toll. But I can’t blame it all on cancer. It’s also my heart, my lungs, my kidneys, my arthritis, and combination of all of them!

I’ll admit I sleep a lot but I do what I can during the day. I’ve always tried to work my way back. That’s why I am trying to work again. I know there are a lot of things that I can’t do… but I also know there are a lot of things I can do!

Cancer Is Not A Punishment!

I don’t look at cancer as a punishment. Maybe God allowed me to get cancer or experience these other things because he knows I can handle it. Maybe he allowed me to go through all of this to spare somebody else. If these things would have happened to my wife, or any of my daughters, or my grandchildren, or my great grandchildren… that would be a much greater burden.

My Wife Is Wonderful!

I’ll tell you the honest truth, if it wasn’t for my wife Joyce… I would have probably given up years ago. She makes me happy! We’ve been married 44 years now and they have been wonderful! My wife has been wonderful… but it has been hard for me to see everything that she has to do for me.

We owned a bar but we sold it right after my heart condition. I also ran a shuttle business between Kiel and the Milwaukee Airport but I couldn’t do that anymore, so I gave that up. At that time Joyce worked in a factory so she could come home at night and take care of me. To see her having to go through all of this is the toughest part for me… tougher than the cancer or anything else! Mowing the lawn is something I can’t do anymore and that bothers me mostly because now my wife has to do it. And along with my wife I have a wonderful family including my three daughters, 13 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

When My Time Comes It Will Come!

I don’t think much about the end of life. When my time comes it will come! Whether it is from my heart, my cancer, my lungs, my kidneys, or something entirely different… when my time comes it will come. I wake up in the morning and look in the obituary column and if my name’s not in there I go to work! If my name IS in there… I guess I get the day off!

You Just Have To Laugh!

You have to stay positive. It just doesn’t do any good to worry, or complain, or feel sorry for yourself. I remember after the surgery to put the cap in. I was in the recovery room and, as everyone knows, the nurses start asking questions to see how alert you are. One nurse asked me, “Whose the current president?” and I said, “Hillary Clinton” and she said, “Okay… you’re doing just fine!” You just have to be able to laugh at this stuff!

On another occasion Dr. Matthews was doing a bone marrow biopsy on me at St. Nicholas Hospital. Anyone who has had this done knows that you are lying on your stomach and they basically screw this instrument into your hip. The nurse was there talking to me and asked, “How are you doing?” I said, “I’m doing fine!” She said, “You’re doctor’s not… he’s working up a sweat!” So I turned around to Dr. Matthews and said, “Well, it’s about time you earn your money!” In all seriousness, though, I can’t say enough about Dr. Matthews and the rest of the staff here!

I Think I Have It Pretty Easy!

Someone might think that my bone marrow cancer is bad… and they might think that I should think it’s bad… but when I come in here and I see what a lot of others have to go through I think I have it pretty easy. That helps my attitude. Sure I suffer… but I don’t suffer like a lot of other people suffer! If I really feel down I look to my family… I sit down and talk to my wife, I call my kids, or spend time with my grandchildren and great grandchildren… even my dog. And they usually do a great job of reminding me of all of the good things I have in life.

I think that the time we spend thinking of something bad in life would be much better spent thinking about something good! I’m not saying a good attitude will cure you of whatever you have… but it will sure make things easier! And why not make your life easier?

Note from Tim: Cancer survivors (like Jim) and their loved ones (like Joyce) are some of the most incredible people I have ever met! That is the greatest part of my job… I get to hang around with some really awesome people! Why not join us at an upcoming TLC event… like “Three-Card Poker” on Thursday, July 27th (see back section)?

Survivor Spotlight: LORI SCHULTZ : Breast Cancer Survivor
May, 2006

Survivor Spotlight Update: BOB SHAROT : Head & Neck Cancer Survivor
May, 2006

Survivor Spotlight on MATT RILEY : Medullablastoma Cancer Survivor
December, 2005

Survivor Spotlight on MARTY TEN PAS : Breast Cancer Survivor
September, 2005

Survivor Spotlight Update on RALPH LEMP : Prostate Cancer Survivor
September, 2005

Survivor Spotlight Update on SANDY AMWEG : Breast Cancer Survivor
June, 2005

Survivor Spotlight on STEVE PHILIPPS : Prostate Cancer Survivor
June, 2005

Survivor Spotlight on IONE HEINEN : Breast Cancer & Colo-Rectal Cancer Survivor
April, 2005

Survivor Spotlight Update: DON FICKETT : As Told By Caregiving Champion: LINDA FICKETT
March, 2005

Survivor Spotlight Update on AUDREY SWITA : Breast Cancer Survivor
January, 2005

Survivor Spotlight on BOB SHAROT : Head & Neck Cancer Survivor
January, 2005

Survivor Spotlights on DIANA BRAY & MARY SCHMEISER : Diana - Lung Cancer, Mary - Breast Cancer
October, 2004

Survivor Spotlight Update on GENE TE WINKLE : Melanoma Survivor
October, 2004

Survivor Spotlight Update on MARY ANN HAMMES : Breast Cancer Survivor
August, 2004

Survivor Spotlight on ART WESENER (Colon Cancer) : with Caregiving Champion JOANNE WESENER
August, 2004

Survivor Spotlight on JUDY FRIEDERICHS : Breast Cancer Survivor
June, 2004

Survivor Spotlight Update on PAT JENKINS : Breast Cancer & Hodgkin's Disease Survivor
June, 2004

Survivor Spotlight on: DR. PHIL WALKER : Prostate Cancer Survivor
March, 2004

Survivor Spotlight Update on: Rollie Huibregtse : Leukemia Survivor
March, 2004

Survivor Spotlight on: PEGGY KERR : Colon Cancer Survivor
January, 2004

Survivor Spotlight on EUGENE TEWINKLE : Melonoma Survivor
November, 2003

Survivor Spotlight Update on LINDA BURKART : Thymoma Cancer Survivor
November, 2003