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Juda Turkey Trot to benefit Whitney family By Erica Gokey EDITOR
SUBMITTED PHOTO Brodhead Independent-Register
She is under constant monitoring Donations from the 2018 Juda Turkey Trot are being given to the and is hoping to be a candidate for Whitney Family of Juda, Wis. clinical studies. When asked what a bad day looks for her, she answered, “I try not to have bad days. My father-in-law asked once, ‘Is today a good day or bad day’ and I replied ‘I’ll never tell, cause I can’t give away my secrets.’ Meaning I’ll hide it and will continue to hide it. But if it gets too bad, I’m usually sleeping all day. Saving my energy for when Leah gets home from school or wherever she might be. Moms don’t get sick days, right?! But luckily we have family and amazingly supportive friends that are there when I need them and Leah loves her “play dates” and time with 2018 Children’s Christmas Benefit her grandparents and great grandparents. I try to make her days special Saturday, December 1 even if I feel like crap.” “I’ve never felt like this is my Orfordville American Legion Post 209 death sentence. Cancer may be inside me, wanting to harm me, but I refuse to let it define me. I’m still the same old Tonya,” she said. Even though her side of the family still resides in Illinois, she receives 6:00 p.m. Rock County Pork Producers Dinner – Suggested Donation a lot of support from them along 6:30 p.m. Auction for student support at Parkview Elementary with Rustin’s family and very close 7:00 p.m. Visits with Santa / Kids Giant Stocking drawing friends. 7:45 p.m. Hourly prize raffles - $1 entry (must be present) Tonya stated, “I’m an open book. If my story can help someone else 8:00 p.m. Live Music/Dancing – Stateline Playboys going through breast cancer or help 11:45p.m. Major Raffles - $5 entry (need not be present) some detect it early, it is worth sharing. My story isn’t ending just because I have cancer, it’s just beginIt’s what Christmas is ning. Each day is the first day of the supposed to feel like! rest of our life. It’s up to us how we want to live it.” The Juda Turkey Trot event is on For more information Thursday, Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. at the call 608-897-6726 Juda School. If you are unable to attend the Email: event, but want to show your supchildrenschristmasbenefit@yahoo.com port with a donation, contact Tricia or follow us on Facebook! Larson at 608-293-0993. Checks can be made payable to Teresa Larson and sent to W3097 Meadow Lane, Children’s Christmas Benefit Charities Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Juda, WI 53550. Bring the family organization. Your contributions may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed and show your support for a family by law. Consult a tax attorney for deductibility requirements. No goods or in need. services were provided in exchange for your generous financial and/or
Celebrating 20 Years of spreading the Christmas Spirit
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Schedule of Events:
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did not have any more cancer cases. Tonya has four siblings, her father is one of nine children, her mother is one of 13 children, and she has 35 cousins on each side of the family. Tonya’s type of cancer is not genetic. Tonya tested negative for BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes. Everyone has BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes, mutations can occur on these genes that increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. These genes are known as “tumor suppressors”. When working correctly, they maintain cell growth at an appropriate rate. In March 2018, Tonya developed a cough and thought nothing of it. She went to the doctor, who thought at the time that Tonya had pneumonia. She was prescribed antibiotics, but they were unsuccessful. More tests were done as Tonya’s coughing and breathing began to worsen. She underwent a bronchoscopy to look inside her lungs and obtain biopsies. The biopsies showed, in April 2018, that the cancer had returned. Tonya had the same outlook on the second diagnosis as she did the first-“Let’s get this taken care of.” Tonya’s second diagnosis is Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer. The cancer has spread from her left breast and 16 lymph nodes in 2015 to her lung and L1 vertebrae in April 2018. Since April, it has continued to spread into more of her bones including her back, shoulders, pelvis, and hips. Tonya is pleased to say that, as of Nov. 14, the cancer has not spread to her brain or vital organs. “We continue to hope and pray that it stops there. My oncologist said ‘We just keep wrestling it down to the mat and need to keep it there.’ Meaning, the cancer won’t be cured but we can keep it at bay.” Tonya said. There is no cure for Tonya’s diagnosis. Her current treatments include oral chemotherapy, medications to regulate her hormones, and medications to enhance those side effects.
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The Juda Turkey Trot began in 2010 by Tricia Larson. Initially starting off as a food drive, the annual event has grown to provide the community of Juda an opportunity to give back to others. Larson stated in an email to the Brodhead Independent-Register, “It gave individuals an opportunity to truly embrace the giving nature of the holiday, as well as, provide an opportunity to get a work out in before enjoying a Thanksgiving feast.” Larson stated that the focus of the event changed in 2013 when a Juda alum was injured by a tree branch during a storm. A decision was made to collect donations for the family. A family or organization in need is recognized to receive 100 percent of donations made toward the event. Larson organizes the trot with the help of her family and the community. Her sister, Juda School Superintendent Traci Davis, plays a big role in the event as well. The Juda Fore Fathers contribute to the event by providing a donation for operating costs and Juda Fire Department provides traffic control points during the run/walk. “It truly is a community effort as we also do a raffle and people donate various items or services to the raffle,” Larson stated. This year donations are being accepted for the Whitney family of Juda. Tonya Whitney, originally from Granville, Ill., has had her fair share of life hurdles within the last three years. She moved to Wisconsin in 2003 after graduating college and worked in Madison. Some time after her move, she relocated to Green County where she married longtime friend Rustin Whitney, from Juda. They now have a five-year-old daughter, Leah. She is also a member of the Juda School Board. In December 2015, Tonya was diagnosed with Stage 3a Breast Cancer. Aside from being tired a lot, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary for Tonya. She had a routine physical done at the end of August 2015, did a self-exam shortly after, then found a knot in her breast after Thanksgiving 2015. Tonya said after decorating for Christmas in November 2015, “I thought I was just really out of shape and pulled a muscle. I was massaging my aches and felt the knot in my left breast.” Feeling as if she was coming down with an illness, she dismissed the knot as a swollen lymph node. After talking with a friend at work, she was encouraged to get checked out. “She pestered me until I made an appointment with my doctor,” Tonya teased. In 2015, after receiving her first diagnosis, Tonya said, “Dr. Maxwell couldn’t believe how calm I was when he told me that I most likely had cancer. No tears. No sugar-coating.” Tonya’s thought to the news was, “Let’s get this done and let’s get it taken care of.” On Dec. 17, 2015, her appointment turned from a mammogram and ultrasound into a surgical consult. She had a mastectomy on Dec. 21, 2015. There is no immediate history of breast cancer in Tonya’s family. Her mother was diagnosed with CML Leukemia. The illness does not affect or contribute to Tonya’s diagnosis. Tonya met with a genetic counselor, who was surprised that her family