The Sentinel-Record - HER - Hot Springs
FROM HER
In honor of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, this issue revolves around cancer, cancer awareness, and the individuals who have been touched by the disease.
It’s not a comfortable subject for anyone. No one wants cancer. No one wants their friends or family members to suffer through cancer. But the grim reality is that most of us do, and if we don’t, we probably will at some point in our life.
Our hope is that, by helping to tell the stories of other local women who have beat cancer, this issue will bring comfort to those who may be facing their own struggle with the disease.
This month’s cover story features three cancer survivors, the youngest being only 7 years old. Olivia, who is on the front cover, was diagnosed with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, or JMML, when she was only 18 months old. She underwent three chemotherapy treatments and a bone-marrow transplant. Looking at her now, though, you’d never know she experienced that traumatic experience. Her bubbly, playful, sweet personality shines through her smile as she celebrates five years of being cancer-free.
Kristen Dunn and Rita Koller are breast cancer survivors and each told us their own stories of survival. Relay for Life of Garland County is set for June 2 at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
We met another cancer survivor this month, Frances Iverson, who battled a near-fatal form of cancer just a few years ago at the age of 29. She turned her experience into something positive with the Creations of Hope program. Creations of Hope begin as bare mannequin heads and are transformed into symbols of hope, with the purpose to uplift and inspire lives touched by cancer. Read more about her story in this month’s HER Style feature.
We learned this month the importance of exercise and physical activity during and after cancer. Check out the HER Fitness and HER Health features to learn about programs that promote balance and strength for cancer patients and survivors.
Do you have a suggestion for an upcoming issue of HER Magazine? Send me an email at lwells@hotsr.com.