Woman & Warrior: The Survival Story of Kim Overlie

By Mandy Jeppesen Features Writer

The word survivor finds itself as a definitive characteristic in so many potential categories in life but in Kim Overlie’s world it took root within herself and has more recently transitioned into the word thriver. Back in 2017, Kim had just finished her seven-year mission of receiving her PhD and was ready to start her new professional journey along with the support of her beautiful family.

“I was looking forward to some normalcy with my family and my new job,” she said. “My husband and I were exercising together, eating healthy, and had just completed our fourth half marathon. We had also just learned we were going to become grandparents for the first time…But, as with many things in this life, God delivers unanticipated blessings at the most unexpected times.

“On August 31, 2017 at 5 p.m.,” she continued, “I moved out of the office I had called home for the past year. The very next morning while I sat on my deck with my coffee enjoying the sun and the quiet, I received the call. It was officially cancer.”.

Would you be willing to share what the diagnosis process looked like for you?

“I completed my annual mammogram and later the same day received a call to schedule further testing. Two days later, I learned I had a 1.9 cm tumor that was a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer called Triple Negative (TNBC). With no receptors, TNBC treatment options are more limited and tends to recur more often- lessening the survival rate in comparison to other cancer subtypes.”

Hearing the word cancer is devastating how did you handle your diagnosis?

“Once I read the report from my mammogram, I knew it was cancer based on the medical terminology used and started preparing myself for that diagnosis.

“After being diagnosed, chemotherapy was mentioned. At the time, I wasn’t interested in completing chemo but that changed. I remember the words as clear as if it were just this morning. ‘Kim,’ the nurse said, ‘I don’t think you understand. If you want to live, you WILL do chemotherapy.’ For the next few days, I thought about those words. I realized I was not afraid to die. My faith was and is strong. I prayed a lot. And finally it came to me — it wasn’t that I was afraid to die, I was afraid to not be able to live!

“The most difficult times for me emotionally came once I started treatment and I felt like I wasn’t contributing to my family. My husband reminded me that my job, my only job, was to beat cancer. It took me a while to come to terms with that.”

Every cancer patient’s experience is different what did the road to health look like for you?

“I began chemo that September and completed four, biweekly rounds of two chemotherapy drugs, followed by a shot that boosted my white blood cell count. My hair fell out 10 days after my first chemotherapy; once it started, we had a head shaving party. After the first two months, I completed another 12 weeks of infusions of another chemotherapy drug. We had ‘chemo parties’ at every infusion — we sat on laps, took silly selfies, and laughed until we cried. I never went to chemo alone.

“My husband and I also made several trips back and forth to the Mayo Clinic to meet with surgeons and finalize my plans for surgery and reconstruction. We opted for bilateral mastectomies with imme- diate reconstruction. After surgery, pathology determined that only 50% of my tumor had been killed by the chemo, which increased the possibility of remaining cancer cells in my body. For this reason, I opted to complete an additional six months of oral chemotherapy. Thankfully, a PET scan and MRI completed in June 2019 suggested no evidence of disease.

“Even before I received the official diagnosis, I sought out other survivors to build my support system. One survivor told me to ‘assemble your cancer posse.’ I will be forever grateful for her wisdom and have passed these same words onto others beginning their own cancer journey. My community’s support was also amazing. One friend started an online meal sign-up and another asked if he could organize a benefit. We created a private Facebook group to keep everyone informed and reduce any discomfort surrounding breast cancer — making it okay to talk about openly.”

Kim has not only beaten the odds and survived her journey with breast cancer but finds herself thriving as a licensed psychologist at HP Psychological Associates in Duluth. She helps mostly trauma, abuse, neglect, and depression/anxiety patients but also specializes in treating and supporting cancer patients and their loved ones.

“Cancer has honestly enriched my life,” Kim said. “When faced with my own mortality, I found that a lot of things really didn’t matter anymore. Cancer has taught me to be fully present in my life and seek joy. I’ve learned to forgive more freely. It’s taught me that even though I thought I had good self-care, it needed to get better, and I needed to intentionally build balance into my life. I have learned to sleep more and worry less, to not hold on to anger and to not let stressors build up. And I laugh. A lot.”