Flagstaff Stylist Inspires

2321 N. Fourth St. Flagstaff, AZ 86004 (928) 526-5691 crestins.com

Flagstaff’s

Digital Employee Benefits Consultants

HR Services & Solutions Customized • Online Benefits Platform • Voluntary Benefit Marketplace • New Hire On-Boarding System • On-Line Enrollment Technology • Open Enrollment Solutions

WHY CHOOSE US

Attracting and retaining the best and brightest employees while effectively managing benefit costs is a must in today’s economy. Helping you meet these objectives is our specialty. We combine our exceptional knowledge and industry leading technology to serve you.

One of Arizona’s leading independent agencies

Fee Based Self-Funded (ASO) Partially Self-Funded / Level Funded Industry Pools / Trusts / Captive Insurance Plans

Fully Insured (ACA) Plans Health Savings Account (HSA) Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA)

Ed Gussio Partner Office (928) 526-5691 Mobile (928) 853-1706 Fax (928) 527-8011 egussio@crestins.com

Taking the Next Brave Step

Warrior spirit keeps young Flagstaff mother outpacing cancer

By Betsey Bruner, FBN

For more than two years, Alexandra Wolf, a popular Flagstaff hairdresser, had been wondering why her left leg hurt so much.

On June 19, 2019, at age 33, she found out: She was diagnosed with a cancer called leiomyosarcoma.

“Sarcomas are extremely rare cancers, making up less than 1% of cancer in adults,” Wolf explained. “They are hard to catch and diagnose. Being diagnosed with my type of cancer was extremely scary because we see and hear so much about cancer so often in our daily lives, but no one I knew had heard of my type of cancer. I had only ever heard of the regular carcinoma cancers people usually get. It was a huge fear of the unknown.”

She learned that sarcomas can grow anywhere in the body, and leiomyosarcoma starts in an involuntary muscle.

As a wife, a mother and a daughter, the young woman had many important reasons to be motivated to wage a furious fight with her cancer.

Wolf was raised in Tucson and moved to Flagstaff when she was 21.

“Shortly after I moved up here, I met Jacob Wolf,” she recalled. “We pretty quickly got married and started a family.”

The Wolfs, who have been married for 12 years, have a son, Dexter, 12, and a daughter, Acelyn, 9.

“My parents decided to move up here after I had my son,” she said. “I still have lots of family in Tucson, including my younger brother and my niece.”

Prior to her diagnosis, her family, including their dogs and her parents, had been enjoying a healthy and happy lifestyle, which included regular hikes on mountain trails and climbing rocks and trees.

Her current passion, running, was not part of her exercise regimen.

“I actually never wanted to run before my operation,” Wolf said. “I was always very active and [spent time] outdoors, but never running. I did yoga and took other classes (like aerial silks) to keep active.”

The summer of her diagnosis, the family focus shifted to a rapid scramble to find medical solutions.

After first consulting with Dr. James Warneke, a sarcoma specialist at the University of Arizona, Wolf came back to Flagstaff and sought help from Dr. Peter Mathern at Arizona Oncology.

“They had both treated this type of cancer almost the same number of times,” she said. “I

Top: A year ago in August, Wolf ran her first 5K on a

custom-built blade. Photos courtesy of Sonya Malkhassian

Bottom: Alexandra Wolf’s prosthetic leg allows her to enjoy hiking with her husband, Jacob, daughter Acelyn, 9, and son Dexter, 12. Photo courtesy R2 Studios

Continued on page 37

With the complexities of memory care in our hands, yours are free to simply care.

Remember when your relationship with your loved one had nothing to do with memory loss? When you weren’t a caregiver, but a son, daughter, spouse, or friend? And the two of you were free to simply enjoy your time together?

That precious time can be yours again.

Each day to the fullest. Our mission is to support every individual, regardless of age or ailment, in living a life of purpose and joy. For those with memory loss, that could mean a relaxing spa bath or massage with aromatherapy. Participating in a hobby. Or perhaps a daily walk with friends. We also make sure the medications our Cottage residents take are right and necessary, by advocating with families and physicians to provide a truly personalized program of care. Memory care at The Cottage. Highgate o ers a unique holistic approach in a beautiful community designed for those with dementia or other forms of cognitive impairment. Our highly trained care partners are certified in Teepa Snow’s internationally renowned Positive Approach™ which focuses on what’s left, not on what’s lost. By understanding the needs, desires, and routines of each resident, we help make their days healthier and happier.