OTTUMWA —
Editor’s Note: The Courier asked cancer survivors and/or family members to share their stories during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
A few people have written to tell of their experiences.
We thank all the people who participated. As many of you said, you want others to know about the experience and to always have hope.
Their stories will run often this month.
In spring of 1997, I was part of a study in Iowa City of women over 60 and their eating habits. We had to have a physical first to participate. A doctor examined me and then gave me an odd look and asked would I please excuse him, he wanted another doctor to look at my screen. I knew in my heart immediately they had found cancer. Yes, they confirmed it, and I came home and made an appointment with Dr. Pulaski. I did not want to go to Iowa City or Minnesota when we had great doctors here in Ottumwa.
On July 8, 1997, around mid-day, I received a phone call I answered, screamed and threw the phone across the room. My husband grabbed me, and I was crying so hard I could not speak and proceeded to run out the door and down to the creek.
We lived on a lovely acreage east of Ottumwa just one and a half miles from Agency. We called it our paradise on earth; we had horses, a sicilian donkey, “Mork & Mindy” (two ducks), Rebel (our neighbors’ rooster from across the road) and seven Shi Tzus. It was as my husband said: Janny Mae and her critters.
Finally, Ron got me to settle down, and I told him it was Dr. Pulaski. He said I had cancer and it was maligant. He was going on vacation but would operate on me as soon as he returned. You don’t know the feeling until it happens to you. Here I was, just 62, about to receive my first Social Security check, and I would be dead. I thought of leaving, hiding all kinds of horrible thoughts. I did not want my husband to suffer my loss.
On July 9, my husband’s birthday, we spent the day at Ottumwa Regional Hospital having all kinds of tests, etc. Then about July 19, they did my surgery.
They sent me home the same day with a tube in my side and my mind in a whirl. The hospital had called — a breast cancer recovery group “Bosom Buddies” and Mrs. Kesserling from the Eldon area came to talk to me and try to be my special recovery angel. An angel she was, and she helped me so much and helped me to understand I was not going to die and the group she belonged to would help me. I joined the group, and they were wonderful; we talked about anything anyone wanted to and laughed and cried together. There are a lot more of them now than when I joined, and they meet the second Saturday of the month at the church at Five Corners.
With the assurance and warmth of Dr. Amed and 38 radiation treatments under supervision of Dr. Rothfus, I am now a 15-year survivor. My husband later got cancer and had surgery in Des Moines and took his treatments under Dr. Rothfus. I can’t remember why there was no surgeon here that we got sent to Des Moines.
If you get cancer, please remember we have wonderful doctors and care here at home.
Now we are two people free of cancer, now only through the prayers and power of our Lord and Savior.
God Bless to all and remember it is hard but you can overcome; I DID.
Janice Kester
Ottumwa
Local News
Still going strong after 15 years
- Local News
-
-
Reviving downtown's upper stories
Building by building, the upper stories of downtown Ottumwa are coming back to life after some have sat empty for half a century.
-
Severe weather expected today
OTTUMWA -- Southeast Iowa will likely see the return of severe weather Sunday. Forecasters say there is a very high chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening and some could become severe.
- Expanding Ottumwa's trail system OTTUMWA — The Market Street Bridge is a major link in connecting Ottumwa's north side to its south side. The seventh annual Wapello County Trails Council mediathon kicked off Saturday morning with volunteers on the phones taking pledges from the comm
-
Searching for the perfect book
A steady stream of people snatched up books, magazines, DVDs and more at the annual Pages for Pennies book sale at Bridge View Center this weekend.
-
Staff eager for swimmers Beach Ottumwa improvements
OTTUMWA — When kids talk about the last weeks of school, one subject that often comes up is The Beach Ottumwa. It'll be ready soon, said employees. On Friday, the maintenance staff was installing the fountain heads that shoot water straight up at the
- Mixed reactions to tax reduction OTTUMWA — During past public forums in Ottumwa, Sen. Mark Chelgren, R-Ottumwa, told voters the state should follow its own laws and make taxes equal across the board. This week, legislators in Des Moines took a first step toward that goal, which is a
-
New sports store coming to mall
OTTUMWA — A new tenant is coming to Quincy Place Mall. Lexington Realty International announced Friday afternoon the mall's newest tenant, MC Sports. Construction has already begun, and the store is anticipated to open just in time for back-to-school
-
Ottumwa teen earns criminal justice scholarship
OTTUMWA — A high school senior who shares the work ethic and spunk of the late Lisa Caldwell has been awarded a scholarship in her honor. Ottumwan Hunter Varner, a senior at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont High School, earned the first Wapello County Sh
- Budget shift on county agenda OTTUMWA — There's nothing like having some money in the budget to cover a project that doesn't have enough money on its line item. The Wapello County Supervisors will need to move some money to an item that has spent all of its funding, according to
- Wellness challenge asks people to live healthy OTTUMWA — Are you ready for the Live Healthy Iowa 10-Week Wellness Challenge? Some of the city employees joined Live Healthy Iowa, and Jody Gates, the city's health director, was captain of one of the two teams of about a dozen people. "Our goals for
- More Local News Headlines
-
