Larry Ward from Stevensville, MI, long-term manufacturing engineerer, husband and falther of grown children, found a new passion - mountain climbing. Not Midwestern sized mountains but the ones in the big leagues, like Mt. Ranier. Larry and his sons trained, prepared and accomplished their goal - and Larry was hooked.  

Next Larry had to achieve new heights and in 2013, he prepared to climb the 20.320 feet of Mt. Denali. In the meantime, while Larry was training, six of this close friends were affected by cancer. So the climb to Mt. Denali become a mission for Larry - to honor his friends and raise funds to fight cancer. Larry is still climbing and will keep climbing in each of the 50 states. At the summitt, Larry will keep shouting the names of those affected by cancer - now over 100 names at Gannett Peak in Wyoming. After all the struggles and pain, you make it to the top of your mountain.

A Caring Community

Thanks to all who attended the Chamber Health Fair at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library. There are moments of satisfaction, when someone learns a new fact about ovarian cancer or takes literature to pass on to a concerned friend. We are making stride in spreading awareness and educating in our sphere of influence.

Saturday's fair also brought time to share with members of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce Health and Wellness Initiative who are dedicated to complementary health approaches to support the overall health of cancer patients. Licensed acupuncturist and nationally certified herbalist Lindy Camardella of Advanced Health Institute partners with cancer patients to ease treatments side effects. As a counselor for cancer patients, Paul Vander Sande, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor of Lighthouse Emotional Wellness Center assists in the emotional journey from diagnosis through treatment and redefining life as a cancer survivor. We are grateful to the caring hands of the community who reach out to support the physical and emotional well being of every cancer warrior in their fight.

Listen for the Whisper - Survivors Teaching Students

We hear the stories much too often - repeated visits to health care professionals before Ovarian Cancer diagnosis. Diagnosis at later stages, when the key to survival is early detection.

Ovarian Cancer National Alliance has an instituted an education program for health professionals - Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women's Lives® - to bring ovarian cancer survivors into the classrooms and tell their stories of late stage diagnosis. Students - physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners as well as physicians assistants -  will hear the personal experiences of women and their path to diagnosis and survival. Understanding the disease beyond the statistics; by looking at the faces of the women who struggled to have their symptoms understood, will lead to earlier diagnosis,  more compassionate practitioners and better patient care.

This program brings to light the need for increased sensitivity towards symptom awareness in the medical profession. Watch the video and get more information at ovariancancer.org.

Blessed Beyond Measure

Tucked in between the Many Faces of Jerry Orbach and Ronnie Van Zant’s Hot 100, was the fresh, open face of a young woman and the quote "My name is Sonia Todd, and I died of cancer at the age of 38".

Sonia, from northwestern Idaho, decided to write her own obituary as an expression of her humility, gratitude and a truthful take on her life.

The truth, or my version of it, is this: I just tried to do the best I could. Sometimes I succeeded, most of the time I failed, but I tried. For all of my crazy comments, jokes, and complaints, I really did love people. The only thing that separates me from anyone else is the type of sin each of us participated in. I didn't always do the right thing or say the right thing and when you come to the end of your life those are the things you really regret, the small simple things that hurt other people.

What strength it took for her, with the knowledge that she would be leaving her young boys and dear husband, to summarize her life into 625 words. There was power in her statements of humility; she was not perfect but she had a wonderful, happy life made worthwhile by people along the way. She defined herself as a mom, a wife and a Christian.  Perhaps in all the craziness of life, and the chaos that came when cancer entered into the Todd home, Sonia did not get a chance to speak her mind and tell her tale. Now she left her family, friends and the world with instructions,– take care of yourselves and take care of each other. Bless others with your presence in the same way that the people who surrounded her blessed Sonia’s life.

Yesterday, after services at the Baptist church, there was a potluck to honor Sonia’s life. Donations will be gathered for an education fund for her boys, James and Jason. Cancer has taken away another young mom, a precious wife. There are too many empty places at the table. Honor Sonia in this way: Know that those who surround us bless us beyond measure. Take the time to forgive, to love. And fight for more awareness, and better screening methods for all cancers. Sonia deserved to be a survivor.

Photo credit: Idaho Statesman