SVM-SS3_10152014

BRAVEE October 15, 2014

HEARTS HE EA A Ma arketing Supplement off Sauk V a Valley Media

STRENGTH COURAGE SUPPORT HOPE CARE

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Sauk Valley Media • October 15, 2014

Bravehearts

Survivors

To our readers

O

ctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Bravehearts is Sauk Valley Media’s salute to cancer survivors, as well as their families and friends, in and around the Sauk Valley.

These profiles of survivors talk of trials, tribulations and triumphs.

We hope the stories of survival offer inspiration to anyone who is dealing with cancer, whether they have been diagnosed with the disease, or have a family member or friend who is battling it.

Marla Seidell Niche publications editor

Publisher: Sam R Fisher Editors: Larry Lough Marla Seidell Page Design: Marla Seidell

Advertising Director: Jennifer Baratta Advertising Sales: Tammy Burkholder Luke Eisenberg Celeste Lightner-Greenwalt Taylor Payne Kelly Shroyer Justin Shuman

Abigail Douglass ...................................................... Page 3 Nicki Scheidegger .................................................... Page 4 Don Schick................................................................ Page 6 Rosemary Buckley ................................................... Page 8 Jackie Payne ........................................................... Page 10 Linda Berogan ........................................................ Page 12 Carshon “Carrie” Funderburgh........................... Page 14

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October 15, 2014 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 3

Bravehearts

A SURVIVOR’S STORY

‘We are all so blessed’ Meet miracle child Abigail Douglass

S

BY DAVE FOX Special to Bravehearts

he slipped into the room and sat shyly at the head of the table, where her parents and sister were waiting for her. She flashed a bright smile as she sat down.

Ten-year-old Abigail Douglass of Sterling, better known as Abby, is what most would call a miracle child. Her parents – Jessica and Josh Douglass – ran through a spectrum of emotions as they told her story.

It began in the summer of 2005, after the family, concerned about 2-year-old Abby’s health, was referred to a nutritionist.

“They thought she was malnourished, which she wasn’t,” her mom said. “The nutritionist said her head was really big and suggested we have that checked out.”

At one point, Abby was taken to the CGH Medical Center emergency department in Sterling “because we thought she had some infections going on,” Jessica said. “We were in the ER for 6 hours, and we insisted on a scan. It took them forever, and the scan showed she had a small mass in her head.”

That spurred immediate action. Abby was flown to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. “We ran home, grabbed some clothes and went down there as quick as we could,” Jessica said. “By the time we got there, there was a team of 20 neurosurgeons working together and they had already done a scan of their own. “ The scan revealed a tumor “the size of a small grapefruit,” Josh said.

“I remember thinking ‘Wow! Her whole head is the size of a small grapefruit!’ How could this be?”

At St. Jude’s, their worst fears became reality: Further tests showed more tumors, several different strands wrapped around the inside of Abby’s brain. She also had lost hearing in her left ear because of nerves that were being crushed by the tumor.

This time, surgery was not an option. Fear kicked in ... again.

“At that point we didn’t think she’d live, but we had to have hope. ... We had to keep hoping and praying,” Jessica said.

Abby underwent a week of heavy doses of chemotherapy, then returned home for 20 weeks of chemo in Peoria, which required three or four trips back and forth each week. Then it was back to St. Jude’s for more treatment.

After a while, “it was once a month to Memphis ... and 3 to 6 days a week to Peoria” for treatments, including two blood transfusions to help boost her immune system.

“It was terrible,” Jessica said.

“I remember her waking up and her hair being all over her pillow because of the chemo.”

Abby’s sister, Amalia, now 16 and a junior at Sterling High School, recalls the difficult time.

“I didn’t really understand what all was going on, but I knew it was pretty serious Dave Fox/Special to SVM because no one was acting Abby Douglass (left) with sister Amalia. right.”

She stayed with her grandma Abby had medulloblastoma, hours later, “they were confiand aunt when her parents a form of cancer that develdent they’d gotten it all out,” were gone. “It was hard,” she ops from the neurons of the Jessica said. “We were relieved said. “I knew my little sister cerebellum at the lower back it went so well.” was having serious problems, of the brain, which controls Abby spent 2 weeks recover- and they were gone so much. movement and balance. ing in Peoria, then the DouBut we got through it. She was She was diagnosed on Aug. glasses were referred to St. a real fighter.”

14, and had surgery 3 days Jude’s Children’s Hospital Finally, though, the famlater. It was a risky procedure, in Memphis, Tennessee, for ily got word in August: Eight because of the many of nerves further evaluation and treatyears later, Abby’s medical surrounding the tumor, but 10 ment. status has been upgraded to

“survivor.”

The family is thankful, but cautious. Not all of Abby’s issues have disappeared.

In addition to her hearing loss, she has a neurocognitive disorder, “which means she has difficulty processing things in her brain the same way other people do,” and attention deficit hyper activity disorder, her mom said.

Physical, occupational, and speech therapies also have been a big part of her treatment regimen. “... She seems like a ‘normal’ kid, but she still has a lot of difficulty with things the rest of us take for granted,” Jessica said. “Our last appointment, we learned she has not progressed at all in the past 2 years, learning-wise. It’s probably due to the chemo and radiation, but those are two things that saved her life. It’s hard to deal with and scary.

“We’re still so very thankful that she has survived and has progressed like she has.”

Moving outside into the afternoon sunshine, Abby showed off some of her favorite skills, including racing her bike up and down the street, jumping rope, and doing acrobatics on the front lawn.

It took the Lincoln Elementary School fifth-grader only a second to proclaim “recess” her favorite subject before she took off on her bike. Minutes later, she grabbed her jump rope “to get out some energy,” she said with a giggle. “My record is 71 jumps so far without messing up.”

Watching her, her dad came near to tears.

“After all we’ve been through, we are so very blessed to be watching her do these things,” Josh said.

“And we never take any of it for granted anymore.”

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Bravehearts

Sauk Valley Media • October 15, 2014

A SURVIVOR’S STORY

‘If I don’t keep going, ... I’ve given in’ Nicki Scheidegger ran marathon after beating cancer She wrapped up radiation on a Friday and was training othing can stop Nicki for a triathlon (in which she Scheidegger of Dixon. would compete in the cancer Not before. And cersurvivors wave of participants) tainly not now.

by Monday. She finished the “I am in charge of my body,” Esprit de She women-only she said. “Cancer is not in sprint triathlon in Naperville on charge of my body. I am in June 9, 2013. charge of my body.”

“It was an awesome experiScheidegger, 40, a probation ence,” she said. “I had to do it officer in Lee County, had no for myself.” family history of cancer. She She and her group of girlhad no health problems, either. friends completed a few She was a runner and a fairly half marathons then trained healthy eater. (through the brutal winter) for But during a routine checkup a full marathon. She ran the in late November 2012, her Illinois Marathon on April 26; doctor found “‘a thickened she battled temperatures in the area’ – not a lump, nothing 80s, dehydration and fatigue, more, just ‘a thickened area,’” but crossed the finish line in 5 she recalled. After a mamhours and 55 minutes. mogram, an ultrasound and “I had to have some motivaa biopsy in early December, a tion,” she said. “I have so many radiologist confirmed it was friends who got me through it cancer, she said. who have survived cancer or “The next day (after the who have family members who biopsy), Dec. 13, they called me have survived cancer. I have back in to look at the site,” she a few friends who had passed recalled. “They had this book away from cancer, too. So I made Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com a list … of 26 names of people that, on the cover, said someNicki Scheidegger of Dixon wrote the names of 26 friends who also have battled cancer on her to run in honor of or in memory thing to the effect of ‘How to marathon bib.

Deal with Breast Cancer.’ … I of and attached them to my bib knew right then.” with a breast cancer pin.”

Scheidegger was angry. husband, her mother, and her Centers of America in Zion. just could not go in there every Following radiation, Schei“I was pissed,” she said. “I was sisters-in-law, both nurses, Her oncologist put her at ease, day and know that they were degger had to go in for tests like, ‘No. No!’ … I was upset. discussed treatment with a she recalled. She scheduled her putting a dose of poison in my every 3 months. As of Sept. 2, I remember hitting my hands radiation oncologist, a medical surgery – a lumpectomy – for body. It’s really a blessing I she has to go back only every 6 against the desk. … oncologist, a surgeon, and a less than a week later, she said. didn’t have to do it.” months.

“I’ve done everything right. plastic surgeon.

Scheidegger never received Scheidegger did receive radiaShe also is on maintenance I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I “I left with a bad feeling,” she chemotherapy. tion, however. medication – tamoxifen, a exercise. I eat fairly well. I was said. “Something didn’t settle She had early-stage, lymph Almost every day for 6 weeks, widely prescribed cancerjust mad, because what did I do right with me. I didn’t care for node-negative, estrogen recepfrom early March to April 19, treatment drug that interferes wrong?” the way they were telling me tor-positive breast cancer. Plus, 2013, she received radiation with the ability of estrogen to Her husband, Brian, a Dixon what they were going to do. her Oncotype score – the result – an 18-second procedure; stimulate the growth of breast schoolteacher, was shocked. … They were going to do a of a genetic test that predicts the “I counted,” she said – at the cancer cells. She must take it at Their three children – Breanna, lumpectomy, then radiation. … recurrence of the cancer – was 17; Northern Illinois Cancer Treat- least 5 years, if not 10, based on now 15; Brooke, 13; and Trey, They told me the plan.” anything less than 18 is considment Center in Dixon. She had new research, she said.

10 – had mixed reactions; BreScheidegger sought a second ered low risk, she said. She was a total of 33 rounds.

Scheidegger was on her way anna was serious and “held opinion. not considered a good candidate “It was emotionally drainout the door for an 8-mile run things together,” while Brooke Over a 3-day span in early for such a rigorous of a treatment. ing,” she recalled. “It (cancer) when she did this interview. and Trey were more emotional January 2013, she and her fam“Honestly, I don’t know that consumed my life. And I just She’s training for the Nov. 9 and upset, she said. ily discussed treatment with a I would have done it (chemowanted it to be done.”

Naperville Marathon.

Just days after Christmas, team of doctors and a genetic therapy) anyway,” she recalled.

Scheidegger resumed her “If I don’t keep going, then I’ll Scheidegger, along with her counselor at Cancer Treatment “It’s poison in your body. … I active life. feel like I’ve given in.”

BY KAYLA HEIMERMAN Special to Bravehearts

N

October 15, 2014 • Sauk Valley Media

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Bravehearts

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Sauk Valley Media • October 15, 2014

Bravehearts

A SURVIVOR’S STORY

‘Live life to its fullest’ Don Schick beat the odds and survived oral cancer

BY LUCINDA HALL Special to Bravehearts

D

on Schick, 53, is reminded of his battle with cancer every day, in the way he speaks, eats and looks. Still, he considers himself a survivor.

His wife, Christy, was the first to notice that he just wasn’t himself, back in April 2007.

“He had been missing a lot of work and sleeping all the time,” she said. “I thought something else was going on.

When I questioned him, he said he had a sore under his tongue, so we went to emergency room.”

By the time they left the ER, an oncologist had confirmed their worst fear – Schick had oral cancer. They never saw it coming.

Time stood still and moved fast at the same time for the couple. Within 6 weeks, he was at Rush Medical Center in Chicago for 12 hours of surgery that would result in the removal of part of his tongue, cheek, jaw and throat. Under the care of skilled surgeons, Schick’s tongue was reconstructed using tissue from one of his arms.

Money was tight, so Christy and their son, Daniel, slept on the hospital room floor for 10 straight nights.

After the surgery came 12 months of radiation treatments.

“We were just happy to have him home,” she said.

That’s when the infections started. To this day, they continue to destroy the healthy tissue in Schick’s mouth and jaw, causing more damage to his face and throat and a need for more surgeries.

One surgery resulted in the removal of damaged throat

Don Schick of Rock Falls has had great support from his family while dealing with oral cancer. and neck tissue that was replaced with healthy muscle taken from his chest.

He must take high doses of antibiotics to battle the infections.

Still, he remains hopeful.

Although his appearance and speech have been permanently changed and he must rely on a gastrostomy tube through his abdomen for nourishment for the rest of his life, he is in remission.

At the time of the surgery he

was given only a 20 percent chance of surviving for 5 years.

It’s 7 years later, though, and he is encouraged that his ongoing checkups remain clear of the cancer that has so altered his life.

Despite the changes, Schick remains positive. He takes time to enjoy his wife, four sons and 16 grandchildren. He remains active by playing board games with his grandchildren and attending their T-ball and junior tackle football games

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

and wrestling meets.

Through it all, he’s learned an important life lesson.

“Live life to its fullest. You never know what’s going to happen. I will never give up.

Nope. Never,” he said. “You just have to believe in yourself and that you’re going to make it.”

“Even though he is cancerfree today, he has issues with his appearance,” his wife said.

“It’s sometimes hard to see people staring at him.”

Schick, however, has made peace with himself.

“Regardless of how I look, I’m still the same person on the inside,” he said. “It has brought my wife and family closer together.”

The Schicks want to share the importance of regular dental check-ups. It is the earliest and easiest way to diagnosis oral cancer.

“If there is one person out there we can help, that’s all we hope for,” Don said.

October 15, 2014 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 7

Bravehearts

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Bravehearts

Sauk Valley Media • October 15, 2014

A SURVIVOR’S STORY

‘I fought like a girl’ Rosemary Buckley tells women to listen to their bodies

BY CASSANDRA ZIMMERMAN Special to Bravehearts

T

he fight against ovarian cancer is beyond difficult, but Rosemary Buckley not only fought, but she also has used her story to impact the lives of others.

She credits her survival to two people, her cousin and her physician, Dr. Shirley Stone at KSB Hospital in Dixon.

Her cousin’s own fight with cancer made her realize that some of the everyday symptoms she was experiencing were something that should be checked.

“My cousin had just been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. She told me that she had had to pee all of the time, that was the only symptom she really experienced,” Buckley said.

Buckley didn’t think she had cancer, though. She thought she had a urinary tract infection. After tests showed that she did not have an infection, she fought to find out what was wrong with her.

“Even when the UTI test showed nothing and blood tests were negative, I knew something was wrong with my body. If Dr. Stone had not listened to me, I would not be alive today. A lot of my chemo buddies were not as fortunate as I.” One problem with ovarian cancer is that few symptoms present themselves until the cancer has progressed to the later stages. Looking back, she realizes she had other symptoms, but she explained them away as side effects of lifelong back issues, and of life itself.

Dr. Rebecca Bylar at Illinois Cancer Center in Peoria ran blood tests, which also came back negative. But, an ultrasound found that her ovaries

never told my grandkids I was sick. I wanted to avoid them becoming afraid of medicine because of the way my body reacted to chemo.”

A year and a half later, she is cancer-free, but has to go for a checkup every 3 months for 5 years.

“Ovarian cancer has a tendency to come back, and I am still experiencing side effects from the cancer and chemo.”

She wants other women to understand the importance of listening to their own bodies.

“If you think something is wrong with your body, LISTEN. Women need to know that it doesn’t show up in yearly pap smears and tests may come back negative, like mine. I never really knew about ovarian cancer until I had it. Jim and I never realized how many people around us had cancer, even in the small town of Lee Center.”

Her battle has left a lasting impression on her, her husband, their children and Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com grandchildren. She now has a Rosemary Buckley of Lee Center had a scary bout with ovarian cancer. different outlook on life.

“You are never able to prewere significantly larger than I said I couldn’t do the chemo She also received amazing sup- pare yourself for cancer,” they should be, pointing to anymore, he would say we will port from Home of Hope Cancer Buckley said. “I never got cancer. get you back up and go again.

Wellness Center in Dixon, and scared and the thought that I Buckley was diagnosed with He is definitely my rock,” she from Sue Hageman, a cancer wouldn’t make it never ever granulosa tumors of the ovary, said. resource nurse in KSB’s Cancer crossed my mind. a rare form of ovarian canJim whose first wife died of Care Department.

“The little things don’t matcer, accounting for 1 in every cancer, made the trip to Peoria “Sue helped me get fitted for ter anymore. Before my diag250,000 cases. After surgery, a diversion before the chemo a wig and made sure we had nosis, I never once thought chemotherapy was the greatest treatments, he said. He always gas cards. She always made that I had cancer. After, we trial that she faced. There were “took a different way to Peosure we were getting what we wanted to know what do we times that sickness got the bet- ria to make it a different ride needed,” Buckley said. do now. I told my family and ter of her, and she needed to every time. I always got her Cancer takes it own toll on friends that they had never take a break. Her husband, Jim, something different for lunch. each individual. seen me walk away from a was there for her every day.

The Illinois Cancer Center was According to Rosemary, good fight. We will be going “He never once complained. relaxing and the doctor always “Your mind goes into auto to ‘The Price Is Right’ show He did all the cooking and kept me informed. If she or I drive. For me, it was harder and I will be wearing my cleaning. Friends and relatives had a question, someone was on my family than me. When ‘Fight Like a Girl’ shirt and on offered to drive me to chemo, ready to answer it. They were you have cancer, you don’t the back it will say, ‘I fought but Jim always took me. When always upbeat.” have a choice, you just do it. I like a girl.’”

October 15, 2014 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 9

Bravehearts

MAMMOGRAPHY

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Pictured here left to right is Vicky Frederick, Shawn Soenksen, and Sharon Deter standing in front of the Pink Heals Cancer Awareness tour bus which stopped by the hospital a few weeks ago. Each of these ladies has valiantly battled cancer.We want to honor Sharon who was a wonderful employee of the hospital, a great mom and wife, and a friend of so many.We will never forget you Sharon!

We stand together with all women in our community to do our very best to detect cancer cells in early stages to help beat breast cancer.

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Bravehearts

Sauk Valley Media • October 15, 2014

A SURVIVOR’S STORY

‘Don’t give up’ Jackie Payne’s search for answers saved her life cal information with her and she gave me ... the guidance ast month, for the that I needed to find answers.” first time, I sang in Then came another lucky the car again,” Jackencounter. With her mediie Payne said with a smile. cal reports in hand and lots That’s a victory for a woman of questions, she made an whose vocal cords were affectappointment with Dr. Paul ed by thyroid cancer surgery Steinke, then a practicing phymore than 2 years ago. sician, now CEO and president The good news is that Payne, of CGH Medical Center who owns Bushel Basket CanWhen Payne asked him to dles Company in Northland review her pathology reports, Mall in Sterling, now is cancerhe immediately ordered blood free. Unfortunately, the same work and was able to identify surgery that might have saved the problem and a course of her life caused other medical action to help her manage her challenges that affect her every body chemistry. He connected day. her to Dr. Joseph Shaker, an Payne pulled out a pill box endocrinologist and metabowith 16 life-sustaining pills lism specialist at Froedtert she must take, from 6:30 a.m.

Memorial Hospital in Milwauthrough midnight every day. kee.

“And these are just the ones Finally, hope. After trial-andI take when I’m having a good error self-diagnosis and treatday,” she said. ments, Payne now had the valiPayne has a message to share dation of two physicians who with people diagnosed with were able to help her develop a Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com cancer. She believes that it is treatment regimen that would the most important advice she Jackie Payne at her store, Bushel Basket Company in Sterling. ultimately save her life. can give others: Because she lacks a thyroid that a physician and surgeon anxiety.” allowed to be around small “Don’t be afraid to ask quesand parathyroid, Payne’s body in Clinton, Iowa, diagnosed an So, less than 10 days after the children for a month because tions. And, if your doctor cannot absorb calcium, vitamin of the risk to them caused by doesn’t answer your questions, enlarged thyroid and suggested first surgery, she had the rest D and magnesium, a condition removing the right side. The of her thyroid removed. Unbe- high radiation levels in her find another doctor,” she said. called hypoparathyroidism.

“C” word was never mentioned. knownst to her, the doctor also body.

“I regret not investigating and She must take supplements “One week after being had mistakenly removed her She requested her records asking more questions after throughout each day, and released from the hospital, I parathyroid – a critical error and, after trying to interpret my first surgery. Take the time wears a medical bracelet idenreturned to the doctor for a that would forever change her what had happened, she to arm yourself with informatifying her condition. life. reached out to Livestrong, a tion, so you can make informed checkup. Because I was still in She needs several blood tests a neck brace from the surgery, By removing her parathyroid, nonprofit organization that choices.” a week, and sees Steinke and my son Dale drove me to the he had taken a gland vital to her provides support for people Her story began in 2011.

Shaker every 3 months for folappointment,” Payne said. “We body’s ability to regulate and with cancer. Payne felt like she lowup ultra sounds and blood For more than a year, Payne balance life-sustaining minerhad been thrown a lifeline. went from doctor to doctor for had no reason to expect bad work. news, so there was no reason als and vitamins. Unaware, “I was immediately assigned answers about chronic pain Still, she feels blessed. “My for my husband to miss work.” and uninformed by her doctor a cancer counselor volunteer on the right side of her face. hubby. He’s my hero and takes But there was alarming news. of the complications, Payne who was an oncology nurse During that time, she was prereally good care of me. I want “The doctor said ‘It’s not fine. began experiencing unusual from Duke University Medical scribed eight rounds of antibito be around. We want the It’s cancer and we’re going in side effects almost immediately Center. Livestrong doesn’t treat chance to retire and spend time otics. tomorrow to take the rest’,” she and was not making any progpeople, but they provide the One doctor went so far as to together.” tools for people to be armed comment in her records. “This said. “It was like, boom, boom, ress more than a month after Her last bit of advice? “Don’t her surgery. with information and they is a hypochondriac female who boom. It moved so quickly. I give up. Live life. It’s so easy to She also had been given a provide resources,” she said. could benefit from psychologi- remember crying as they were get negative, but negativity isn’t putting me under for the secmega dosage of radiation – “Wow, it was amazing, and it cal counseling.” productive,” Payne said. ond surgery. I had so much so much so that she was not was all free. I shared my mediIt wasn’t until February 2012 “Live.”

BY LUCINDA HALL Special to Bravehearts

“L

October 15, 2014 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 11

Bravehearts

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Bravehearts

Sauk Valley Media • October 15, 2014

A SURVIVOR’S STORY

‘I didn’t know what to expect’ Linda Berogan enjoying retirement after her battle with ovarian cancer diagnosis – Stage 4 ovarian cancer – by accident, she inda Berogan wanted said. to retire with her “A woman came in to run health. some tests, and she said, She wanted to take day ‘How long have you had ovartrips with her boyfriend. She ian cancer?’” she recalled. wanted to spend Fridays at “That was the first I knew of garage sales with her daughanything.” ter and granddaughter. And “We were all so dumbfoundshe wanted to spoil her great- ed,” Ranken said. “It hapgranddaughter, Prezli. pened so fast.

Berogan retired from the “She was always so healthy, Dixon Telegraph last Sepand, except to have her galltember – but with little to no bladder out in 1979, she semblance of her health. hadn’t really been to a doc“I would not have been tor. able to work anymore,” she “It was overwhelming.” recalled. “I would have had The news the next day was to quit if I had not planned to worse. retire.” “(Dr. William Long, an Her symptoms were terrible, OB/GYN) said it was so far but not uncommon. advanced that he was afraid “I felt like I had the flu,” she there wasn’t anything they said. “I didn’t eat anything. I could do for me,” Berogan was so sick to my stomach. I recalled. had diarrhea.”

“He said, ‘I don’t think we Berogan went to the doctor, have what we need to treat and the doctor told her she you,’” Ranken added. had a bug, she said.

Berogan was transferred to Her symptoms worsened. the University of Wisconsin She still was nauseous. She Hospital in Madison, and she lost 15, maybe 20, pounds. had her first chemotherapy She was fatigued. treatment there. She spent Berogan went to the emerabout a week in the hospital, gency room at KSB Hospital she said. in Dixon three times in about The chemo was just as a month and a half after her rough on her body as the canretirement. cer.

“We found her almost “All she wanted to do was unconscious. Twice,” her sleep – for hours and hours daughter, Tracy Ranken, at a time,” Ranken said. “It recalled. “We were in the was so unlike her. We’re ambulance and she said to always together. We’re active. me, ‘End it. Just let me go.’”

We’re out and about doing A doctor, at her last trip to things. She didn’t do hardly the ER in late October, finally anything. … She didn’t want did a CT scan and found a anyone around. She was so large growth on the right out of it.” side, she said.

The chemo obliterated her Photo submitted Berogan was admitted and self-confidence, too.

Linda Berogan and her great-granddaughter, Prezli. Berogan sent to a room, she said. She Berogan and her daughretired from the Dixon Telegraph last September. then learned of her stunning ter attended “Look Good …

BY KAYLA HEIMERMAN Special to Bravehearts

L

Feel Better,” a free program through CGH Medical Center in Sterling and the American Cancer Society that gives women encouragement by teaching them beauty techniques to cope with treatment-related skin changes and hair loss.

“That was so amazing for her,” Ranken said. “They got her a wig. They showed her how to do her makeup. She felt like a million bucks.”

Berogan had a second and third chemo treatment, one in late November, right before Thanksgiving, and one in late December, right after Christmas, at CGH. “I was scared,” she recalled.

“But I didn’t know what to expect. I had never been around anyone that had cancer. I just went with the flow.

I didn’t give up.

“I said sure, at some points, wanted to, though. If it wasn’t for Prezli [then just a few months old, now 1], I probably would not have been as eager to want to get better.”

Berogan had surgery to remove the tumor in Madison on Jan. 29; in fact, she had a complete hysterectomy and had her spleen removed. She had more chemo in February, March and April.

Berogan, 66, remains on high alert, as her oncologist in Sterling warned her that her cancer is not cured, but in remission. She has to go in for tests every 3 months.

“If I get up and I have a headache or the sniffles, I think, ‘Oh God, it’s back,’” she said. “And because they took so much out (in surgery), I still have pain in that area, so I think it’s gone somewhere else.”

October 15, 2014 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 13

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Sauk Valley Media • October 15, 2014

Bravehearts

A SURVIVOR’S STORY

‘I was in complete shock’ Losses create new beginnings for Carshon Funderburgh

BY CASSANDRA ZIMMERMAN Special to Bravehearts

C

arshon “Carrie” Funderburgh’s battle with cancer and the year that followed have impacted her life in so many significant ways.

While at a routine doctor’s visit to get a knee injection, Carrie was referred to Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, where a biopsy revealed a 12-pound sarcoma on her left outer thigh. Dr. Steven Gitelis of Rush also performed a full body scan, as this particular cancer tends to spread to the stomach, liver, and brain.

Even more shocking to Carrie was that she also was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.

After talking with Dr. Rajeev Jain of Midwest Orthopedic in Sycamore, “I knew that the growth on my leg might be cancer. But, I had no idea I had breast cancer. I was in complete shock.”

After undergoing a lumpectomy and sarcoma surgery on July 23, 2013, she began chemotherapy for her breast cancer at Kishwaukee Cancer Treatment Center with Dr. Mohammed Memon and Dr. Amit Bhate.

Her boyfriend of 6 years, Ron Ottjepka, was there with her through her struggles.

Ron would get sick every time she went through chemo, Carrie said. She remembers him jokingly telling her during one of his illnesses, “Now tell me I don’t love you.”

Now cancer-free for a year and 3 months, Carrie says her strength came from her faith.

“I am a true blue Christian, and I gave everything to God. I cried a lot. Cries are cleansing.

I didn’t think that someone

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Carshon “Carrie” Funderburgh looks up a favorite recipe. Cooking and baking has been a great respite for her. could cry this much. I knew I was going to lose my hair, that was the most depressing part.

“When I got depressed I turned to cookbooks. I would go to the Leydig Center in Dixon and over the course of my cancer, I bought probably over 100. I would buy them, read them, and cut them out. I now have three tins full of recipes.”

Her experience with her doctors, Dr. Jain, Dr. Gitelis, Dr. Memon and Dr. Bhate, made the treatment easier.

“You have to like your doctor, trust your doctor,” she said.

Even more, Carrie respects the nurses at Kishwaukee, who “were so loving.”

Carrie’s advice to others going through cancer treatment is simple. “Tell people so that they know what is happening.

Those people will pray for you and others will pray for you. I was on so many prayer chains and received support from very good friends.

“Thank God for my sisters, Ann [Peters] and Linda [Smit], and my niece, Tammy Guerro.

My three very dear friends, Marie Hickman, Teri Wolber and Billie Osborne, were my

prayer partners. My church, Greater Life Church, also was my support system.”

And regardless of how you feel, “put your makeup on. Be beautiful. As women, we are always beautiful but as I put my makeup on, I realized that we should always put our makeup on.”

Her battle with cancer is over, but Carrie has since had to find the strength to deal with life’s other challenges. Her son, Jereme Pettorini, died Feb. 2, and her beloved Ron died 61 days later. She also lost a nephew.

Those losses, though, have

created a new beginning. After several years of estrangement, she and her sisters have reconnected. Carrie is moving from Amboy to Freeport to be closer to Ann and her family.

She also has ensured that Ron’s memory will endure.

As a Color Guard commander for Dixon American Legion Post 12, Ron held the American flag in high regard. After his death April 3 at the age of 76, Carrie donated a flag that flies over Huffman’s Car Wash on North Galena Avenue in Dixon.

There’s also a sign telling all that it’s dedicated to Ron.

October 15, 2014 • Sauk Valley Media

PAGE 15

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