Summer-revised:Layout 1.qxd - Regional West Medical Center
Summer-revised:Layout 1.qxd - Regional West Medical Center
Summer-revised:Layout 1.qxd - Regional West Medical Center
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Guilt free pleasure<br />
Although this newsletter does not endorse specific products, we strive to provide informational material which pertains to our readers. If you have information about clothing, wigs,<br />
prosthetics, or other tips that worked for you and you would like to share, please call Teresa Clark at (308) 630-1687.<br />
Non-Profit Organization<br />
U.S. Postage<br />
PAID<br />
Scottsbluff, Nebraska<br />
69361<br />
Permit No. 30<br />
Live dangerously-- glob on that<br />
ketchup! According to a recent<br />
study in the Journal of The<br />
National Cancer Institute, just<br />
two tablespoons of this sweet<br />
and salty condiment is better<br />
than a whole fresh tomato for<br />
getting Lycopene, a powerful<br />
antioxidant shown to lower<br />
the risk of lung, cervical, colon<br />
and breast cancer. And no<br />
need to feel guilty: it's only<br />
15 calories per tablespoon.<br />
— Source: The Cancer Club eNewsletter<br />
www.cancerclub.com<br />
Mark your calendars<br />
FOR THE<br />
2008<br />
Camp Hope<br />
WEEKEND<br />
A camp for cancer survivors<br />
and their support persons--<br />
take part in a wonderful,<br />
invigorating experience<br />
August 22 to 24<br />
Trails <strong>West</strong><br />
YMCA Camp<br />
in Scottsbluff<br />
Call 308.630.1535<br />
for more information!<br />
3911 Avenue B, Suite G100<br />
Scottsbluff, NE 69361<br />
B B<br />
NETWORK<br />
Check us out!<br />
on the web<br />
www.rwhs.org<br />
Click on ‘Departments & Services’<br />
then click on ‘Cancer Treatment<br />
<strong>Center</strong>’<br />
this issue<br />
Time to stop and<br />
smell the roses<br />
Enjoying the simple,<br />
summery joys of life<br />
Survivor’s story<br />
From a spouse’s point of view<br />
A pocket keeper’s<br />
prayer<br />
Positive thoughts for<br />
those on the go<br />
The Pink Rose<br />
Celebrating the staff at<br />
the Dorwart Care <strong>Center</strong><br />
Board members: Katy Hawkins,<br />
Cathie McRoberts, Ellen Ramig, Marletta<br />
Warner and Rae Whitney<br />
Editor: Teresa Clark<br />
<strong>Regional</strong> <strong>West</strong> Marketing & Public Relations<br />
The Bosom Buddy Network newsletter is written by<br />
cancer survivors - this is your newsletter. We value your<br />
input and appreciate feedback and articles relating to<br />
your breast cancer experience. To submit ideas and articles,<br />
please call Teresa Clark, <strong>Regional</strong> <strong>West</strong> Marketing<br />
and Public Relations Department, (308)<br />
630-1687 or e-mail ttclark@charter.net.<br />
Bosom<br />
Buddy Network<br />
As I am sitting and writing this article on this<br />
afternoon in March, it is another “wintry” day.<br />
It seems we have had a lot of these dark, cold,<br />
snowy and breezy days this past winter. As I<br />
look outside, there is snow on the ground,<br />
there is no sun peeking through the clouds,<br />
and there is a breeze blowing. I keep thinking I<br />
am soooooo ready for sun,<br />
warmth and green!<br />
Our life’s journey takes us all<br />
through some “wintry” days.<br />
These are the challenges we<br />
face. My cancer experience (if<br />
I may call it that) was to me<br />
“wintry” days in my life. It felt<br />
very dark and cold. As we<br />
journey through our “wintry”<br />
days, we can learn to bring<br />
more sun, warmth and green!!!!<br />
How can we do this? I would<br />
like to suggest that we go out<br />
and look for it. Below is a list<br />
of “experiences” we might try:<br />
~ How about driving to the<br />
top of the Scotts Bluff<br />
Monument, parking the car,<br />
and just sitting and enjoying<br />
the view.<br />
~ Have you ever driven down<br />
Stage Hill at night—wow<br />
what a sight! The valley<br />
looks like a big city.<br />
~ Sunrises and sunsets. It is<br />
quite a feeling to experience<br />
a sunrise or sunset. If you<br />
are able, make a cup of hot<br />
tea and then just sit and<br />
watch!!!! How can you not<br />
believe in someone majestic<br />
when you witness that!<br />
<strong>Summer</strong> 2008<br />
When I took the leap I had faith I would find a net;<br />
instead I learned I could fly.”<br />
— John Calvi<br />
Taking some time toenjoy the view<br />
Make Your<br />
Own List<br />
I would like to challenge<br />
you to add to this list.<br />
Take this newsletter and<br />
write suggestions<br />
in the margins.<br />
Also, jot down notes<br />
in the margins about<br />
the sum, warmth<br />
and green that you<br />
have gone out and looked<br />
for each week!!<br />
Let the margins<br />
of this newsletter become<br />
the journal of your<br />
journey from “wintry”<br />
days to “sunny” days!<br />
—Ellen Ramig<br />
There are some mornings<br />
when I walk to work<br />
and see the sunrise that I just<br />
have to just stop and breathe. It is so awesome!<br />
~ As children, we use to sit on the front step<br />
of our porch in the evening. Sometimes we<br />
would visit and sometimes we would sit<br />
with out saying a word for<br />
long periods of time. It was<br />
so relaxing, comforting and<br />
quiet. Why don’t we do that<br />
anymore?<br />
~The Wildcat hills are a very<br />
unique setting. Take a drive<br />
out there, go to the visitor’s<br />
center, sit and enjoy the view.<br />
If you feel up to it, take a<br />
little walk.<br />
~Lake Minatare has many<br />
beautiful areas—of course<br />
you will need a park permit.<br />
How about a walk on the<br />
beach, just sitting and<br />
watching the water and all<br />
the activity, or even taking<br />
out a fishing pole and trying<br />
your luck.<br />
~Chimney Rock also has a<br />
beautiful view—go to the<br />
visitor center. It is a great<br />
drive and visit. and then go<br />
out to experience the world<br />
in which we live. There are<br />
so many things we normally<br />
do not notice.<br />
Take yourtime &enjoy!<br />
— Ellen Ramig<br />
Mitchell, Nebraska
I have never had cancer but am a two<br />
time co-survivor of partners: my first<br />
experience started in November 1994.<br />
My wife, Sue, was diagnosed with<br />
inoperable brain cancer. We had two<br />
sons, 15 and 16. The news literally<br />
rocked our world. Sue went through<br />
chemo and radiation, losing hair and<br />
being very sick. It was extremely hard<br />
on the boys. What do you tell your<br />
sons who are watching their mother<br />
go through something like this when<br />
you do not even have the answers?<br />
You let them ask questions and<br />
answer them as honestly as you<br />
can. Their mother passed away<br />
July of the next year.<br />
Time for a rebuilding period.<br />
Graduation, college—how<br />
was I ever going to do it by<br />
myself?<br />
Our home caught fire and was destroyed<br />
on March 15, 1995, which<br />
just happened to be Sue’s birthday.<br />
Another time to pull up our boot<br />
straps and start to rebuild again.<br />
This time I didn’t do so well. I got depressed<br />
and wouldn’t admit it.<br />
I started drinking to feel better; didn’t<br />
work. It almost destroyed the two<br />
most precious things I had left in my<br />
life—my boys. If not for them I would<br />
a survivor’s story<br />
from a spouse’s perspective<br />
not be here writing this story. They are<br />
the ones who brought their dad<br />
out of the depths of hell and back to<br />
the life I have now.<br />
I love you boys.<br />
I married my new wife, the<br />
second love of my life, Kristi,<br />
in October 1997. In 2004, during<br />
a check-up the doctor said that<br />
she felt a lump and we needed<br />
to have it looked into. So a mammogram<br />
was done in Sidney. We finally<br />
got the test results saying that it was<br />
positive; Kristi had breast cancer. It<br />
was like living through it all over<br />
again. We had some pretty intense<br />
talks over the next few days. It was a<br />
hard thing to call everybody and tell<br />
them that we were going down that<br />
dusty road again.<br />
We all pulled together, kept being a<br />
positive force and tried to think positive<br />
thoughts. It was hard to do but<br />
we made it happen. Luckily she didn’t<br />
get very sick from the treatments. Kristi<br />
wanted to continue to live her life. I’m<br />
not saying it was easy, it<br />
wasn’t, but we made it happen and<br />
we did it together. My wife is now<br />
four years cancer free and still has<br />
doctor appointments every<br />
three months and the big<br />
check up once a year.<br />
It is still always in the back<br />
of your mind—will it come<br />
back—but you have to step up<br />
and remain positive.<br />
I think if there is one thing I would like<br />
everybody to take from my experience,<br />
it would be this – Your partner is<br />
your partner, so do everything that<br />
you can to let them know you support<br />
them, are behind them and will give<br />
110 percent for how ever long it takes.<br />
— Craig Bruner<br />
Sidney, Nebraska<br />
Heard from a breast cancer survivor:<br />
“When my doctor recently told me that I had breast cancer<br />
and would need a bilateral mastectomy, my husband hugged me<br />
and said, “Now when we hug, our hearts will be closer!”<br />
the pink rose Dorwart Cancer Care <strong>Center</strong> staff<br />
dorwartSTAFF<br />
Dorwart Cancer Care <strong>Center</strong> staff:<br />
Gloria Wilson, Leslie Biggs, RN, OCN, Jayme Hawk B.S. RT (R)(T),<br />
Jennifer Stanley, B.S. RT (R)(T)<br />
Pocket Charms that offer:<br />
“A Heart, to remind you<br />
that you are loved,<br />
A Peace Sign, for hope,<br />
An Acorn, for your<br />
continued strength,<br />
An Angel, to watch over<br />
you, The World, because<br />
you make it a better place.”<br />
Editors note: We received the following nomination and are<br />
happy to honor the Dorwart Cancer Care <strong>Center</strong> staff.<br />
“The Dorwart Cancer Care <strong>Center</strong> in Sidney<br />
opened its doors in April 2001. The center sees approximately<br />
80 to 100 new patients a year and<br />
has provided a much needed service to this area of<br />
the Nebraska panhandle. The center is staffed by<br />
four full-time employees with support services being<br />
provided by the Cancer Treatment <strong>Center</strong><br />
in Scottsbluff. The care provided at the center is<br />
second to none. We are able to offer state-of-theart<br />
care with a personal touch that larger centers<br />
often can not offer. The staff participates regularly<br />
in events like Night of Hope, Cattleman’s Ball and<br />
area health fairs. The Dorwart <strong>Center</strong> staff provides<br />
exceptional one-on-one care, truly fulfilling the<br />
center’s motto of treating “the whole person personally.”<br />
Lasting friendships are often made between<br />
patients and staff as is evident with the amount of goodies that are<br />
readily left at the center upon a patient’s return visit. It is the constant<br />
professionalism, attention to detail and love for what they do<br />
that makes the staff at the Dorwart Cancer Care <strong>Center</strong> special.<br />
Thanks to all of you for your commitment to our patients and<br />
community.”<br />
People rely on many factors<br />
to feel secure, protected and encouraged<br />
that all is well.<br />
A ring, a rabbit’s foot, a lucky<br />
penny or my favorite, a cross, either<br />
in my pocket or on a necklace…<br />
is a private feeling and<br />
belief. Having peace of mind is<br />
so vital in living with and conquering<br />
cancer!<br />
The above little organza bag with<br />
its pewter charms is a<br />
great start in accomplishing<br />
this. I have added several of<br />
my personal trinkets to my bag<br />
and just knowing that it is on<br />
my person makes me feel better.<br />
What a grand idea to put items<br />
on the Internet that are helpful<br />
to people healing from all types<br />
— Jeff Kriewald, B.S., R.T. (R) (T)<br />
Director, <strong>Regional</strong> <strong>West</strong> Cancer Services<br />
Scottsbluff, Nebraska<br />
More than words ...<br />
Pocket charms<br />
of hurts…unique gifts to make<br />
anyone feel special. The site also<br />
offers some wonderful tips on<br />
how to handle certain situations<br />
that may be awkward for some<br />
people in dealing with a cancer<br />
patient, as well as good suggestions<br />
on how to make life more<br />
pleasant for them.<br />
This little bag is a “thumbs-up”<br />
and reasonably priced. Please<br />
check out this most original site!<br />
To order your own<br />
pocket charms, go to<br />
www.healingbaskets.com.<br />
(Note: Click on “search” in the right hand column<br />
and type in “pocket charms” then select<br />
“to keep in your pocket.”<br />
— Katy Hawkins<br />
Gering, Nebraska