“Either I can have a big pity party and feel sorry for myself and it can control me or, with God’s help, I can control it.”
Ann Challes The Will to Carry On
Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography | By Joe Kerlin
T
en years ago, Ann Challes was lying in a hospital bed with an important life decision hanging in the balance. “When I looked down that first day, I said, ‘Life can go two ways now,’” reflects Challes. “Either I can have a big pity party and feel sorry for myself and it can control me or, with God’s help, I can control it.” It’s been nearly ten years since Challes lost the lower half of her right leg to a rare form of cancer called synvial sarcoma. Challes is defying the odds by participating in her 12th race at the Fargo Marathon 5K, but if you ask a doctor, Challes has been defying odds on a daily basis.
14 • 2014 Fargo Marathon Book
“They gave me a 32 percent chance of surviving ten years and here I am,” said Challes proudly. A fighter’s mentality has helped Challes fight her life’s greatest adversity. That toughness can be traced all the way back to when Challes started noticing pain in her right foot when she was going for her RN back in the spring of 2004. Challes graduated, but her foot wasn’t feeling any better. After several visits to her doctor, they decided to send her to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “They did a biopsy and told me I had cancer. I said, ‘I have a what!?’” Challes explained. Challes knew a decision had to be made quickly. “I said, ‘I don’t know what my foot will look like after I have radiation and surgery.’ I didn’t know
if I would ever walk again. I figured I can learn to walk with a prosthesis so let’s have the surgery.” Challes had her surgery August 2, 2004. Challes was off her feet for nearly three months. After receiving her prosthesis, it took two physical therapy sessions a day for one week to get Challes back to moving independently. “I think I changed because I learned that life is too short. Come outside your box, so to speak,” Challes said. “I started Weight Watchers and now have lost 60 pounds.” A healthier Challes is now a full-time nurse at Meta Health Plan. She plans to get her master’s in nursing this summer and said she will continue participating in races for as long as she can.