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 At some of the meetings, it is light hearted and
friendly chit-chat throughout a good meal. At other meetings it gets
a little more intense. It all depends on what one or more of the
group may be going through at that given moment.
According to Kathleen Brumbaugh it is a special sisterhood, and one
that she relied on heavily when she was first diagnosed with breast
cancer in 2007. Kathleen explained that she was brought to the group
by a good friend, Betty Burger, also a breast cancer survivor, and
of course, a member of the support group. Kathleen was able to talk
through her feelings with women who understood the situation she was
facing. But there was more to it than that.
Kathleen recalled that she attended meetings for a while, then when
she was recovering from her surgery and undergoing treatment, she
didn’t really feel like getting out to attend even a monthly
meeting. She at one point contacted members of the group and told
them she would be bowing out for a while, but she also invited them
to come and visit her. She suggested that any time they felt like
it, they were invited to stop by after their monthly meeting.
Kathleen said to her surprise, they all showed up on the next third
Tuesday, and not only did they come to visit, they brought supper.
She said for quite a while after that it became the norm for the
group to gather a potluck and show up at Kathleen’s home for their
monthly meeting. It is something that she won’t ever forget, and
that helped her see her way through to the other side when battling
a cancer diagnosis that was very serious from the start.
At the October meeting of the support group it was a light and easy
night. Kathleen had been in the hospital for ulcerated sores on her
leg, but she was out and able to lead the meeting. She told the
group about her latest issue but assured them she was doing well.
The rest of the evening, it was just fun conversation.
Pam Turner talked about her attendance at the Pink Pumpkin Auction.
She had purchased the Isabell Bloom statue donated by Salt Creek
Attic and said her husband had helped her secure a nice spot for the
piece.
Turner had nothing but good things to say about the auction and
reported that she intended to be there again next year.
Anita Miller had attended the Survivor Rally on October 6th at the
ALMH Wellness pond and mentioned that as well.
Kathleen said there had been no recent meeting of the Relay for Life
organizers, so at the moment there wasn’t anything to report on that
topic. The group has a relay team called Gigglers and each year they
work to raise money for the American Cancer Society. They
participate in the Relay event each year in June, setting up a
campsite and walking laps as survivors.
Kathleen said from time to time, the group has guest speakers come
in when there is something to report about breast cancer research or
new health care initiatives.
Also from time to time, they bring in a new member, someone who is
at the door getting ready to start the journey and just needs to
spend time with women who have taken the journey and saw it through.
She recalled recently a woman who had come, having just been
diagnosed. The new cancer victim had learned that some of the
testing her doctors wanted to do were not covered by her insurance,
and she really just didn’t know where to turn.
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The group shared their knowledge with the new person
and tried to be supportive, reminding her that insurance companies
and even doctors should not dictate how she takes care of herself.
They had given her encouragement to seek out the resources that are
available.
Kathleen said the person came to that one meeting, and has not been
back, but the group would welcome her to return and invite anyone
else who is in battle and needs or wants a little extra support to
come join the group.
While there are several in the group, there are
several who have left the group over the years. Kathleen recalls
that in her time with the support group, eight members have gained
the ultimate victory over pain, suffering, and yes, mutilation, when
they left this world and entered the gates of heaven to be whole and
perfect and with their Lord.
And from time to time, the group recalls those ladies with love.
They remember times they all had together and strength they gained
through one another. Pam Turner keeps a picture of one survivor on
her phone. A lady she felt close to in the group and keeps that
close bond through her memories.
Kathleen recalls one who is now passed that loved the annual balloon
festival. The year she died, the group attended the balloon festival
together and said their own personal good-byes to their friend.
While the group does not claim to have any faith based affiliation,
they are still a group of women with strong faith. This is
demonstrated when they sit at the table together and their dinner is
served. Heads bow and a prayer of thanksgiving is said aloud in the
center of a busy restaurant.
And they talk about the things that impact their daily lives. For
example, no one is embarrassed when after dinner the meds come out.
Around the table several of the ladies reach into bags or pockets
and pull out the little containers of medications that help keep
them going day after day.
When one pulls out a tiny zip top bag, several get excited. Where
did she get those little bags? How convenient is that? No big
bottles or hard plastic boxes, they fit in a much smaller space,
have a spot to write on them the time of day the meds should be
taken. Much easier all the way around. Well, those little bags are
available at the local drug stores, and the ladies think they may be
going to invest in a box of tiny bags sometime soon.
All in all, to look at these women you wouldn’t know they have been
through a terrible experience. They don’t mourn their ill fate, but
instead they rejoice in the moment, live in the day, and enjoy their
time together.
The group is open to all, all you have to do is come, sit down and
be a part.
The group meets monthly at a different eatery in Lincoln. In October
they debated where to meet in November. They had heard that Imo’s on
Woodlawn might be open in time for their November meeting. There’s
nothing better than checking out a new restaurant, so Imo’s it would
be…if it was open. Well, good news ladies, the new restaurant
appears to have opened this week.
If you are a breast cancer warrior, or as is the case with a couple
of the current members, the supporter of a warrior, you are more
than welcome to join the group on Tuesday, November 20th at 6 p.m.
at Imo’s. If you want to know more about the group, you are welcome
to contact Kathleen Brumbaugh at 217-732-9325.
[Nila Smith] |
