C1 Saturday, July 13, 2019 West Central Tribune
EXTRA
Donna Schueler, honorary survivor for the upcoming Kandiyohi County Relay for Life event Friday, was diagnosed with cancer about four years ago and then declared cancer-free in December 2015. As the honorary survivor, she celebrates her journey and represents others whose lives have been touched by cancer. She is shown here July 3 in Willmar. Photos by Erica Dischino / Tribune
The ‘big C’ helped her defeat the ‘little C’ Schueler to lead survivor walk Friday during Kandiyohi County Relay for Life By Carolyn Lange clange@wctrib.com Willmar hen Donna Schueler found out four years ago she had breast cancer, she purposefully diminished the fearful diagnosis of what is oftentimes called “the big C.” “I told my husband, ‘I’m going to fight this. I’m going to be as strong as I can and we’re going to fight this.’ I said, ‘We have our big C. Big C for Christ and little C for cancer.’” Schueler said she knew she had a difficult journey to make but knew she would not be walking alone. “It’s not just knowing that my Lord was with me, but knowing that so many people are praying for you,” she said. “It makes the daily struggles a lot easier knowing there are people out there that care about you.” A friend made black and pink T-shirts that said “Fight like a girl” on the front and “Schueler Strong” on the back, which became her motto. After about four months of chemotherapy followed by bilateral surgery — and with the support of “prayer warriors” — Scheuler was declared cancer-free in December of 2015. On Friday, she celebrates the positive results of her journey — and represents others whose lives have been touched by cancer
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Donna Schueler, honorary survivor for the upcoming Relay for Life event, shows her bracelet with “Hope” written on it Donna Schueler speaks about her journey with breast that represents her journey with breast cancer. cancer and how this December will mark four years of being cancer-free. She has advice for women. “Go in for a the luminarias placed in mammogram,” she said. Relay for Life The 26th annual Kandiyohi County event 4-10:30 p.m. July 19 Bill Taunton Stadium 1401 22nd St. S.W., Willmar
— by serving as the honorary cancer survivor at the Kandiyohi County Relay for Life event. This is the 26th annual fundraising event for the American Cancer Society in Kandiyohi County. Scheuler, 66, said she was “humbled” to be selected to lead the survivor walk during the annual Relay for Life, which for the first time is being held in conjunction with the Stingers baseball game at the Bill Taunton Stadium in Willmar. The registration and silent auction begins at 4 p.m. on the grounds, with
the parking lot outside the stadium. The opening ceremony begins at 6 p.m. inside the ballpark. Scheuler will throw out the first pitch for the game, lead the survivor walk and will tell her story of having cancer.
Harsh message of pain
Scheuler hadn’t had a mammogram for nine years, but when she started to feel pain in her right breast in March 2015, she pooh-poohed it. “I thought, this is nothing, it’ll go away,” she said. “But it didn’t go away.” Schueler didn’t tell anyone and delayed going to the doctor because she didn’t want her husband, Ron, to delay his muchneeded knee surgery scheduled the following month. After Ron had his surgery,
Schueler finally told her husband about the pain she had been having. She went to the doctor on May 22 and was told there was a potential problem. A mammogram and ultrasound on May 26 revealed a lump and a biopsy was conducted immediately. Two days later, Schueler was two hours into her shift at Bethesda — where she’s been working in a health care-related field for 16 years — when she got a call from the doctor’s office. She was told the biopsy was positive: She had cancer. “I hung up and I was just numb,” she said. She finished her shift taking care of residents at the assisted living facility, went home and finally broke down in the arms of her husband.
The ‘Red Devil’
Schueler had a rather rare form of stage two invasive ductal carcinoma, called triple negative carcinoma, that is the result of her body not making estrogen or progesterone markers. She underwent chemotherapy from midJuly through mid-October that year, including a type of chemo she dubbed the “Red Devil” because the side effects made her ill. “It was not fun. I was sick a lot,” she said. “But I had good days and made the best of it.” Within two weeks, “gobs of hair” started falling out. Late one night she and her husband, who is a barber, went to his downtown Willmar
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EXTRA
C2 Saturday, July 13, 2019
West Central Tribune | Willmar, Minn.
READER NEWS
Submitted photos
Left: Hannah Graves’ poster for the Lions contest, reflecting the theme “Kindness Matters,” was a Merit Winner, placing 24th out of 600,000 posters submitted. Right: Jean Raatz, from left, Rolf Peterson, Terry Smith, Hannah Graves, Donn Winkler and Ruby Graves are shown.
Local student’s artwork shines internationally By Linda Mathiasen Willmar Lions member WILLMAR — Local Willmar Noon Lions member Terry Smith has been searching for peace for the past 15 years, a winning Peace Poster that is. Since joining the club in 2005, Smith has made it his mission to find a local student in the Willmar area who could draw and follow the direction of the Lions Clubs International Foundation-sponsored Peace Poster Contest. Each fall, he searches area schools, talking to local art teachers, church groups, Scouting groups, and anyone that is artistic in the ages of 9-13 years old. “Some years I have had good luck, other years teachers are busy with their own curriculum,” says Smith. The Willmar Noon Lions Club
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barbershop and “pulled the shades,” she said. Although it was emotionally difficult for both of them, he shaved her head. She tried wigs but didn’t like them and opted instead for hats. The chemo did what it was supposed to. “I felt crappy on the outside, but inside cancer was leaving,” she said. “The lump was leaving because of the treatments.” On Nov. 13, another mammogram and ultrasound revealed nothing. “The radiologist was so excited. He said ‘I can’t find anything. I can’t see anything,’” Schueler said. “The lump had shrunk and it was all gone.” The next step was surgery. Schueler was given options including having a lumpectomy to remove only a portion of the breast, having the right breast removed or having both removed. Because of the risk of recurrence, she opted to have both breasts removed on Dec. 4, 2015. She also opted not to have reconstructive surgery, which is a decision she said she has not regretted for one minute. The next day she got an early Christmas present when the doctor came into Schueler’s room, which was full of family members. “She said, ‘Donna. I just want to give you the news. You are cancer-
donates funds in appreciation to any group that agrees to participate and the Lions Clubs International Foundation has videos to inspire students. Lion Jason Grabinger approached Prinsburg Central Minnesota Christian School art teacher Emily Setrum and shared the contest rules and expectations. The theme this year is “Kindness Matters.” The poster by CMCS student Hannah Graves, 13, had the artistic components and was selected by the Willmar Noon Lions to be entered at Mid-Winter Lions District Convention. The poster traveled to Lions Day at the United Nations on March 9, at the U.N. headquarters in New York City. According to Smith, “We have had some luck, getting second and third place at a district level, but have never
free,’” she said. “I was crying and we were all hugging each other and I just remember saying, ‘This is the best Christmas present ever.’”
Making the walk
When Schueler was diagnosed with cancer, she envisioned a mountain she had to climb. She was able to reach the top. She knows others have not, including her 34-year-old daughterin-law Mel Schueler, who
reached an international level. We tried to keep up to date with the status, but no one in our district has ever had a poster go up the ranks this far, so we all knew it was a big deal!” He explained, “Rarely, will a district or multiple districts have a poster advance to internationals with over 600,000 posters submitted. Most of the winners are usually from China, Japan or India.” Hannah’s poster placed 24th out of over 600,000 posters submitted. As a Merit Winner, she is awarded $800 and $100 for the CMCS school art department. Her original poster is kept by Lions Clubs International Foundation and was on display July 5 – 9 at the 102nd annual Lions Clubs International Convention in Milan, Italy.
Send your story to the Tribune’s Reader News The West Central Tribune is seeking content for Reader News. Reader News, scheduled to run every Saturday, will consist of stories and/or photos contributed by Tribune readers about the people and organizations of west central Minnesota. The main criteria will be that the event must have occurred recently and that it has not been published previously. Submissions may sent to: readers@ wctrib.com. Each item should include the writer’s name, mailing address and contact phone number, in case of questions. Photos need to be high resolution, captioned and cannot come from Facebook. The full names of everyone in photos required for publication.
Donna Schueler looks through her breast cancer story, which she will share Friday at the Kandiyohi County Relay for Life event, held this year in conjunction with a Willmar Stingers baseball game.
died of stomach cancer two years ago. Donna Schueler will be leading the survivor walk to honor all who have taken the journey and the caretakers who have walked beside them. “It’s exciting and it’s such an honor,” she said. Schueler does have advice for women. “Go in for a mammogram,” she said. “Get your mammos and if you sense anything, go into your doctors. It’s better than waiting and finding out later.”
Erica Dischino / Tribune
2019 Kandiyohi County Relay For Life Schedule of events Friday, July 19, at Bill Taunton Stadium, 1401 22nd St. S.W., Willmar
Check-in and on-site registration 4 p.m.
Silent Auction
4-8 p.m. Must pay for and pick up items after auction closes that night
Luminaria sales 4-8 p.m.
Campsites/Activities
4-8 p.m. Located in the picnic area to the right as you enter through the gates. Activities taking place at the team campsites: Bouncy house, fresh doughnuts for sale, kids’ games, necklaces and lollipops for sale, fish pond, book sale, root beer floats and Special K bars for sale, and cotton candy for sale.
Opening ceremony
6 p.m. followed by Survivors’ Lap
Willmar Stingers Baseball 7:05 p.m.
Luminaria ceremony 10 p.m.
Closing ceremony 10:25 p.m.
Everyone is invited to join us for a night of remembrance, reflection and celebration of all cancer survivors. There will be food and fun activities for the whole family as we raise funds for the lifesaving work of the American Cancer Society.
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2019 Relay teams
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Support your favorite team by coming on out to the BeeHive Relay For Life teams/ captains
Grandma’s Butterflies Captain: Melissa Anderson
Rock & Ride For The Cure Captain: Mary Peterson
As provided by organizers as of July 2.
Hearts of Hope Captain: Janet Haugen
Team Fix It Captain: Heather Thompson
Cash Wise Cancer Crusaders & Camron’s Crew Captain: Niki Dresser
HSB Trailer Staff Captain: Laura Wrobleski
Team Steve Captain: Steve Gardner
Jennie-O Turkey Store Captain: Dianne Parker
The Lake Region Bankers Captain: Nancy Strand
Magnetic Mamas Captain: Maryke Reed
The MACCRAY Mountain Movers Captain: Michelle Dalle
Cats and Dogs Captain: Kitty Wille Concorde Bank Captain: Loydene Bernhagen Families Holding on to Hope Captain: Jennifer Van Eps
Munszy’s Mighty Eagles Captain: Tanya Rosenau Norway Lake Bobbers Captain: Joanne Thompson
Willmar Stingers Captain: Mark Jerzak Zak’s Team Captain: Kim Madsen
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