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

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
Note from Tim: Pat appeared as our “Survivor Spotlight about a year ago. A breast cancer diagnosis followed by a life-threatening bout with encephalitis… and you would think Pat had experienced enough of life’s challenges! But there were more challenges in store for her. Several months ago I would see her in our office and remind her that it was almost time to do a “Survivor Spotlight Update” and she responded with a laugh saying, “Well, I guess I have something to update people on!” Pat’s sense of humor and positive outlook on life despite all she has been through and continues to deal with is only one of her many admirable qualities. Read her update… and be prepared to be inspired!

Breast Cancer & Encephalitis:

I really haven’t had any problems with the breast cancer since I finished treatment in early 2001. A little over a year after I finished treatment I got really sick and thought I was going to die. I was diagnosed with encephalitis. Since then I have had to learn how to walk again, and talk again, and now I have to wear glasses.

A New Challenge:

Then in January of this year I had to have a hysterectomy. When I went in for my six-week check-up everything was fine but two days later I noticed a lump on my leg about the size of a golf ball. I called my family doctor who did an ultra-sound to make sure it wasn’t a blood clot. I happened to have an appointment with Dr. Matthews that same day and when he looked at it he didn’t like it either. So he scheduled a CT scan. Dr. Werner removed the lymph node for a biopsy. He suspected that it was cancerous and when we met with Dr. Matthews he told us it was Hodgkin’s Disease. So, here I am on chemo again!

After I went through my breast cancer I thought, “I don’t know what I would ever do if I heard I had cancer again!” But when I did hear it a second time I really wasn’t that upset about it. I think that’s because I got through the breast cancer and things have been going well with that. They made me well once before… so maybe they can do it again! When I was talking to Dr. Matthews and he held me by the shoulders and said, “It’s going to be okay, kiddo!” it was funny because on the one hand I knew how serious this was and on the other I knew I was in the right place. I know that Dr. Matthews isn’t God… but as far as I am concerned he’s pretty close, you know!

When I went through the breast cancer I lost my hair from the chemo and my neighbor came over with a basket of bubble bath and candles and stuff. Two weeks later I went over to her house and gave her the same thing because we went through breast cancer treatment together. Losing my hair was a difficult thing. I know it shouldn’t be…but it is. So far I haven’t lost all of my hair this time… it’s about half gone so maybe some of it will stay in. My real hair is a little grayer than last time so maybe if I do need to wear my wig again people won’t recognize me! (More laughter!)

The Value of Positive People:

I think one of the most important things is to surround yourself with positive people - family, friends, and doctors. People who are going to do things with you, get your mind off things, and make you feel better in whatever way they can. And even if you can’t get around as much or go everywhere you want… you can still surround yourself with positive people. I have a lot of friends that I send cards to, or e-mail with, or talk on the phone with.

When I was going through my early problems with the encephalitis and I wasn’t able to work my short-term disability had run out and there were several months before Social Security would kick in. That was really the only time we had real money problems. Colleen, one of my neighbors and the same person that I went through breast cancer with, came over with this small Christmas tree. All of our neighbors had chipped in and bought us gift cards from all over and made a pre-payment on our gas so we didn’t have to pay the gas bill all winter. That just made me cry!

Dealing with the Down Days:

I really don’t have too many down days. Sometimes when I take a walk and start thinking about things it might get to me. Or when I can’t do something that I used to do. The hardest thing for me yet is not being able to work. I always loved to work. But I can’t do it now. And it’s not just the people… it’s the work that I miss. Don’t get me wrong… I miss the people too! Sometimes it’s just me and the dogs at home! It gets kind of bad when your dogs know what you are thinking and saying! (She laughs some more) So, frustration over not being able to do the things I once did… that’s the hardest thing. Even scrubbing the floor. Sure, I can scrub the floor with a Wet Jet but I can’t get on my hands and knees like I used to do. So then I have to depend on someone else to do things. I probably do more than I should… or more than the doctors think I should… but I don’t do anything stupid. And it’s important to me to be able to do as much as I can.

Keeping It In Perspective:

A lot of people will say to me, “Wow, you’ve been through so much!” but I know that there is always someone going through worse things than me. Or there are young kids going through stuff that they shouldn’t have to go through! And that helps me realize that I really don’t have it that bad!

Belief in God is also so important and I don’t think I would have made it through any of this without that belief. I always had faith but it has been made stronger because I have made it through whatever I have had to deal with. That surely gave my faith a boost.

Hoping for Improvement:

In many ways nothing has really changed. I still walk with my walker. When I am in the house I can go without it because there are things that I can lean on if I need to. But my balance is still affected from the encephalitis. I see Dr. Zweifel for that and there may still be things they can do to make that better… but I think they want to wait until I get through some of this. I don’t expect that I will ever get to where I used to be but if they can even make things a little better… that would be nice!

Advice to Others:

Just keep your head up! Turn to your family and friends! Look to positive people! And do as much as you can! Keep On Truckin’!

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