Relay for Life holds special meaning for local mother and daughter duo

The Marshall County Relay for Life will be next Friday, June 3rd, at the Marshall County Fairgrounds in Warren. During a Relay event, people lost to cancer are remembered; people who have fought or are fighting cancer are honored; survivors celebrate. 

This is the 4th year Grygla has had a Relay team. Chix from the Stix have made great efforts over the last few years in the fight against cancer. Last year, they were the top fundraising team in all of Marshall County, raising over $11,000! Money raised benefits the American Cancer Society.

This year, Chix from the Stix members have raised over $6,000 thus far and have a goal of $12,000. They will be representing Grygla and participating in the Relay for Life next Friday, June 3rd. The event begins at 4:30pm with a survivor registration. From 5-6:30pm, there will be a community supper. The opening ceremony begins at 7pm. There will be a silent auction going on from 6pm-midnight. At approximately 9pm, will be the luminary lighting ceremony. The Chix from the Stix invite you to visit their team campsite that evening.

Relay for Life holds a special meaning for many people, including local mother and daughter, Susie Olson and Stephanie Schenkey. Both women have been affected personally by cancer and share their story with you below. 

 

 

Stephanie Schenkey, formerly of Grygla, daughter of Rick and Susie Olson

I am Stephanie Schenkey. I can be described in many ways: wife, mother, daughter, sister, cousin, friend and now cancer survivor. I am married to Jake; we have two girls, Jordyn and Rylie, and live in Middle River. This is how my cancer journey begins. 

I delivered my second child on October 17th, 2014. When my baby was 2.5 months old, I found a suspicious lump. I immediately went to the doctor and was put on an antibiotic for a week and was told to come back if it didn’t go away; they thought it was just a swollen gland. One week later, the lump wasn’t gone, so I went back to the doctor. I was told that I needed to have surgery to remove the lump and had to have blood work drawn. 

The blood work came back and showed that I had an elevated human chorionic gonadotropin level or HCG; this typically means you’re pregnant. The doctor’s thoughts were ‘congratulations you’re pregnant’!  Two days later, my doctor and I believed I had a miscarriage. Surgery was then scheduled to remove the lump on January 27th, 2015. I had the lumpectomy surgery but had unexpected complications where I ended up bleeding very badly. They had to take me back into surgery to stop the bleeding. The lump was sent away to Pathology in Fargo. On February 2nd, 2015, I was called into Dr. Bass’ office for what I thought was just a follow up after my surgery; instead he told me that I had Choriocarcinoma cancer. I remember it like it was yesterday…those words: you have cancer. I heard cancer and nothing else of what he was saying. At that point my world changed completely. I had thoughts of how am I going to have chemo, take care of my girls, with one being a newborn? How am I going to keep life as normal as possible? Then, at that moment, I decided that this diagnosis wasn’t going to consume me and I would do the best I could to beat this. I remember from the moment I found out, that was my attitude. I didn’t want it to take everything from me.

I was diagnosed with Choriocarcinoma on February 2nd, 2015; I was 28 years old. Dr. Bass informed me that it’s one of the fastest growing cancers but also one of the most treatable, especially if caught early. He explained that the lump site was so vascular from the cancer and that was why I bled so much after surgery. Also, that I never actually was pregnant, the cancer just presented itself as if I was.  

Choriocarcinoma is an extremely rare form of cancer that is related to pregnancy that grows from the cells of the placenta. It is a highly malignant tumor that arises from trophoblastic cells within the uterus. It tends to be very invasive, metastasizes early and widely through venous and lymphatic systems. My cancer presented after a full term pregnancy, which this type only occurs in 15% of Choriocarcinomas. A baby may or may not develop with this type of cancer. It is a very uncommon cancer that occurs only 1 in every 40,000 pregnancies. One of the main signs to watch for is an elevated HCG level that continues to go up after the pregnancy has ended. Choriocarcinoma can reoccur anywhere from a few months to few years; that is why it is so important to do follow up appointments.  

After my diagnosis, I was sent for CT scans, lab, and an appointment at Roger Maris with an oncologist. My oncologist explained as much as he could about my diagnosis, but also said he was consulting other oncologists regarding treatment because this was such a rare cancer. He wasn’t sure of the best form of treatment; this made me very anxious. The oncologist scheduled me to have an MRI the next day to make sure it hadn’t spread to my brain. Waiting for my results was a difficult time. Luckily, all the scans came back that the cancer was contained to one site. Thankfully, all of my scans and appointments moved along very quickly. Usually before women even know they have Choriocarcinoma it has spread. The most common sites for the cancer to spread to are the liver, lungs and brain. The way my Choriocarcinoma presented itself was very rare. I was able to catch it earlier than most before it spread to other places; this was a blessing.

I started my cancer treatments in February 2015. I was given a high dose of Methotrexate. The amount of chemotherapy, as well as number of courses of chemotherapy, depends on your HCG blood levels. I had lab drawn every few days when I started my chemo. My HCG stayed below 250 because it was caught so early. Some people have amounts of HCG as high as 200,000 plus. A normal, non-pregnant level is anything between 0-5. Chemotherapy is continued until there is no signs of HCG hormone in your blood. When the number is where it should be this means there are no more tumor cells left in your body. 

I was told that I could have some side effects from the chemotherapy, including hair loss, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. I experienced fatigue, slight nausea, and hair thinning from the chemo. I had chemo once a week. I remember after I would have my chemo I would come home, and for 2-3 hours, I would run around the house and clean, wash clothes, play with the kids, and straighten up. I knew after my 3 hours were up, my energy level would decrease quickly. It took a few days to start feeling better from the chemo, but by that time, I was due for my next round.  

My lab work was monitored very closely. I didn’t want my lab work to come back abnormal because then my chemo would have to be put on hold. I was also concerned that my newborn’s health would be compromised due to my cancer. After my diagnosis, my infant was checked by her doctor. She was thriving and he felt confident she would be fine. Today, she is a healthy, happy one and a half year old that keeps us on our toes. 

Being a nurse, made me more aware of the medical terminology about my diagnosis and treatment, which made me fearful of what was to come. I think that heavy, anxious feeling in my chest lasted for months. One thing that helped me was writing in a journal. During the course of my treatments it was helpful to look back to track my past appointments and lab findings. Keeping a journal also allowed me to write down my feelings as I went through my cancer journey. I also read a daily devotional and we prayed together a lot.  

I was sent to the U of M to a Gynecological Oncologist on March 20th, 2015. He told me because my HCG level was back down to 1, I was able to stop my Chemotherapy treatments. I was told I would have monthly lab and doctor appointments for one year. April 2016 marked my last monthly appointment. I will now be going every 3 months. It is going to be very different for me not to be going every month because that had become my new normal. Each time labs were sent away, the waiting was never fun. Hearing results the next day from the phone nurse allowed us to cheer together each time my HCG level was less than 0.1. I felt like I could breathe again after hearing that good news.   

I’ve learned from other cancer survivors that it does get better over time and that I will worry a little less with each passing day. I can say that since a year has now passed, it has gotten easier. It will always be a part of my past, but I realize how important it is to be proactive about my health in the future. I will continue follow-up appointments for at least three years following my cancer diagnosis. Many people have asked me since my diagnosis if I am able to have more children. While I could go on to have more children, it would be high risk and there is no guarantee that my cancer won’t come back. At this point in my life, I just want to be here for my family and remain as healthy as possible.  

When you hear the word cancer your world changes. It reminds you how precious our time on earth is. I have lost family members to this awful disease and I know how scary it was to watch someone go through it. At the time of my diagnosis, I had a 4 year old daughter and a newborn. My 4 year old struggled with my diagnosis. She had to watch her mommy drive away many times a week for chemo, lab, scans and doctor’s appointments. I will never forget her saying, “Mommy, I don’t want you to have cancer anymore.” My baby will never remember what we went through, but I resent the fact that while having cancer, I missed out on precious moments and cuddles I will never get back. She grew into 3 month clothing, then 6 month clothing, and I barely remember any of it. One of the most important things to me was to try and keep our life as normal as possible, however because my immune system was compromised, we didn’t attend a lot of family gatherings or events due to possible exposure to illnesses. We also changed things in our household to fit my healthcare needs and we were super careful about germs.  

I am so thankful for all the wonderful help I received along the way. The doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers were amazing and helped me feel safe. I have a husband that was there for me every step of the way. My mother was my caregiver and helped me in more ways than I can ever thank her for. I had many family members offer help and some people I didn’t even know sent me such wonderful things. I also got texts and Facebook messages of encouragement and support often. I was very fortunate that my boss and co-worker at the time were so supportive and caring. They never made me feel guilty when I was trying to juggle appointments with my work schedule. 

My advice to anyone who is wondering how to help a cancer patient is to just be there. Be there with an ear to listen, love, compassion, and offer your help to them. Sometimes in this life we need to lean on others for help. I am very independent and a very hands on mom, and even though I am all of that, I realized I needed help from others to get through that difficult time.

We will never know when my cancer came. I had complications through prior pregnancies but also had two normal pregnancies. The outcome of all of this is that people need to be proactive and know your body when something isn’t right. If I would have waited the cancer could have spread to other parts of my body. This is a cancer that many people are unaware of. It is so rare and nobody thinks that after having a baby or miscarriage you would have to worry about cancer. I read an article about Jen Arnold from the show Little People; she was diagnosed with this form of cancer after a miscarriage. I felt connected to her a little bit. I never in a million years thought I would have to worry about it, just like her. 

After my diagnosis, I went online and was able to connect through email with a doctor in Boston who was a great help to me. I also read many blogs after and during my diagnosis. Women in these blogs feel very alone because it is so rare. I hope my story will make others aware of this rare cancer and be aware that it could happen to you. Interestingly, during this journey we found out males can have elevated HCG levels which diagnosis them with a form of testicular cancer. 

I have learned a lot through all of this. My hope is that my story will educate others. Life is a beautiful, wonderful, crazy and scary ride, but when I look at my children and family, I realize why I was put on this earth. I will continue to fight and be as brave as I can because when you are faced with cancer what other choice do we have? NONE…WE FIGHT!!!!

In closing, I would like to share a poem that I have hanging in my home by Bonnie Mohr.  It is called ‘Living Life’.  

“Life is not a race, but indeed a journey. Be honest. Work hard. Be choosy. Say “thank you”, “I love you” and “great job” to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you have been given, it is not accidental. Search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that of which you aspire to be. Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them. Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul. Take time for yourself, plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you have been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment.”

 

 

Susie Olson, Grygla, mother to Stephanie Schenkey

 

I am Susie Olson from Grygla and I have been a caregiver to several cancer patients. My first experience with being a caregiver began March 1, 1999, when my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic and liver cancer. I, along with my two sisters and mom, became dad’s caregivers. We all worked full time so we worked out a schedule and took turns caring for his daily needs and going for doctor appointments and treatments. We started a notebook & wherever dad went the notebook went. This was helpful because we could easily track and be reminded of what was said at appointments. I remember sitting quietly holding dads hand when he slept, filling meds, cooking healthy meals, and drinking Ensure with him just so he wouldn’t feel alone when trying to keep his strength up. Life as a caregiver became very hectic and even though I continued on with work, cared for my own family, and attended various events, it was difficult not to be with dad whenever I could be. Cancer changed the way I interacted with my dad, I let go of the minor things, because my time with dad was limited. On dads last trip to the doctor he was sitting in the backseat and I could see him in the rear-view mirror. He said, “I wish I could go to the doctor, just get a pill, go home, and go to the hay field.” All I could reply was, “Me too, Dad.” 

My dad was a generous, kind and loving person. He was always so strong and always took such good care of us. It was difficult for him to accept that we were now his caregivers and just let us take care of him, but he did it with such dignity. It has been good to forget the bad times from his journey with cancer and rejoice in the good. Dad passed away July 5, 1999.

In early March 2000, my sister was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. I was in disbelief, how could this be... we had just lost our dad. I remember hearing the words from my sister and keeping it together until our phone conversation was done. I then laid down on the floor and cried...my sister...my friend...Oh dear God.  

Again we began the journey; my sister, Connie, Bonnie’s husband, our mom and myself took turns with care and appointments. Bonnie’s regiment required lung surgery, harsh chemo, daily trips to Fargo for radiation, scans, blood work and more scans. She also required another surgery because the cancer had spread to her brain. During a very difficult time in Bonnie’s cancer journey, she looked at me numbly and asked, “How can I go through more?” I took her hand and told her we would carry her if we had to. As a caregiver, you do the best you can to help and make the patient feel as comfortable as possible. My sister was a very courageous person. I will always remember how she loved life and how hard she fought to win her battle with cancer. I also remember my mom crying saying, “My baby, my baby, my baby...” because no matter how old your children are, they are your babies. On October 21st, 2001, my sister passed away. I am so thankful that I got to be part of her care. I carry her strength with me every day. I believe cancer involves your whole family and your friends. It chews you up, spits you out, and you have to live with a new normal.

I never really understood my mother’s pain of having a child with cancer until Feb 2, 2015, when our Stephanie was diagnosed with Choriocarcinoma, a very rare cancer. I was repeating my mother’s words, “My baby, my baby, my baby...” 

I felt the world had dropped out from beneath me. I was so afraid of what was to come, my prior experiences with cancer placed many worries in my head. I knew, no matter what, I had to be there for Stephanie and her family. Stephanie was a 28 year old mother of a 4 year old and an infant. This time my caregiving role spread not only to Stephanie the patient, but to her children. I knew that for Stephanie to be able to go through this very difficult time, she would need to know her children were safe, healthy and well taken care of. So, even though I wanted to be at every appointment, it was important to alleviate Stephanie’s stress by taking care of her children in their home; this allowed her and her husband to go to the appointments. I would be there when they got home and I would give Stephanie the best possible care I could. 

Each day I spent in their home I put on my game face - 6am, 4:30am, 5am. Whatever time and when they needed me, I entered their home with a positive attitude, hugs and smiles and I sent Steph and Jake off with my love and blessings. As a mom, my heart broke for Steph, but as a caregiver you need to be strong. People don’t realize the changes families go through dealing with cancer and the treatments. Households change, care plans change, constant appointments while watching the decline in health of your loved one. There were times when my 4 year old granddaughter would wonder and wait for her mommy to return home. I played many games of distraction making up new distractions as we went along. I said many times to Stephanie, “I wish it was me instead of you with cancer.” But we had to face reality. We prayed a lot and our faith carried us. I was there for Steph to lean on and through this experience. I cherish all of the heart to heart talks Stephanie and I had. We have always been close, but this has made our bond even stronger. 

I am in awe of my daughter; she faced her cancer diagnosis with such bravery! I was very lucky to have help with taking care of Steph, my wonderful son-in-law (who actually didn’t mind having me around), my two granddaughters, who brought so much joy to their mom, my husband and our family for love and support, friends, neighbors, co-workers and my work place was very supportive. They allowed me to take the time I needed with my daughter. I also have a wonderful sister, who cared for me when I felt lost and tired; she listened to my worries, my fears and spent time waiting with me.

During the caregiving time with Steph, my sister-in-law and mother in-law were both diagnosed with cancer. Even though I couldn’t be with them, I did the best I could to support them with phone calls, visits and love.  

Caregiving is keeping a bag packed by the door, showing a smile, giving a back rub, sharing a quiet chat and so much more. Cancer changes the way you recall the past and how you look at the future. We are so thankful that Stephanie is doing so well. We move forward with hope that she never faces this challenge again and celebrate each milestone.