Stories of hope
Breast cancer survivors share their inspirational stories.
When four local women met for the first time last summer, they each came from different backgrounds, and each one with her own story. But they all shared one common trait, surviving breast cancer. Each year, the Oklahoma American Cancer Society selects breast cancer survivors to share their stories and create awareness about the disease. This year’s “Portraits of Hope” survivors are Amy Stewart, Karen Stetler, Sheila Wright and Christina King-Rodriguez. “I was 35 years old and seven weeks pregnant when I was first diagnosed,” Christina KingRodriguez said. “I really didn’t know what to think or feel in that moment, and I was worried about the child I was carrying. But on that same day, we also heard our daughter’s heartbeat for the first time and somehow knew everything would be OK.” For Sheila Wright, it was a sense of shock and disbelief. “I was diagnosed in January 2010,” she said. “I was numb at first, I could not believe it. It felt like a nightmare, and I just wanted to wake up. I was a newlywed, and everything was supposed to be coming up roses.” Amy Stewart says she was shocked, but also devastated and overwhelmed at hearing the news. “I was only 44 years old,” she said. “I thought there was no way I would have breast cancer, but it was already at stage 3.” When Karen Stetler learned of her diagnosis, one of the first things she did was contact the Oklahoma American Cancer Society. “I work for OKACS, so I leaned on my work family to walk me through the programs and help me find the support I knew I was going to need. I talked to other employees — they shared their stories — so I knew a little bit of what to expect.” These four women are like thousands of others each year who find out they have breast cancer. In fact, just last year the American Cancer Society helped guide more than 40,000 cancer patients nationwide through every step of their journey. That includes helping with insurance issues, referring patients to the society and other local services, assisting caregivers Runners take off from the starting line during a past Making Strides for Breast Cancer race. and addressing obstacles to care. Several free programs are available, including Road to Recovery, a volunteer driver program
providing cancer patients with free rides to and from medical appointments. The Hotel Partners Program helps individuals undergoing treatment on an outpatient basis with free or low-cost accommodations. And the society has an entire wig room where patients in active treatment can find wigs, turbans, hats and other head coverings, provided free of charge.
In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all four women will participate in the society's annual “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the Wheeler District, 1701 S Western Ave. Registration begins at 8 a.m.
These four women, this year’s Portraits of Hope, say a positive attitude made a difference in their everyday lives.
“My faith in Jesus played a large role,” Wright said. “My husband and son kept my spirits up and prayed for me. My family called, and my church family was there for me. Friends from my son’s school prayed for me and cleaned my house. It truly took a village, and I am thankful.”
King-Rodriguez said she contacted the society and immediately found the support she needed.
“Attitude and hope was the real key to my journey,” she said. “My advice to others is try not to get discouraged. You will have good days and bad days, but take them as they come. Trust your doctors, but also your instinct. And never compare your journey to someone else’s, because they are all different.”
Stetler continues to work for the society, and says she feels blessed to be part of an organization that is working to find a cure.
“I was determined I wasn’t going to let it (cancer) get the best of me,” she said, “and hopefully I would be cancer free. Being a survivor shows you are a lot stronger than you ever thought you could be.”
And Stewart says she decided to “choose joy.”
“This attitude allowed me to stay positive through four surgeries, chemo and radiation and continue to work full time,” she said. “My faith gave me strength to carry on when the situation felt hopeless. I realized with a positive attitude and loved ones on my side I could do anything.
To learn more about the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event, go to www. makingstrideswalk.org/ okcok or contact Alicia Jackson at 841-5832 or via email at Alicia.Jackson@cancer.org.
Beutler is communications director for Oklahoma American Cancer Society.