If there’s one thing people say about Karen Clements, it’s that her smile can light up a room. Words like grace, joy, and composure resound upon the mention of her name; but there’s one descriptor that sticks out: resilient. “Karen is such a bright spot in my clinic. Despite the fact that her breast cancer story was complicated with many …
PAM COOPER: FINDING REFUGE AMID THE FIGHT
There’s a bench in Pam Cooper’s backyard with a view as far as the eye can see. It’s a quiet place where she often goes to close her eyes and feel the wind brush against her cheeks. Other times, after a long day, she and her husband sit there to watch the sun get smaller as daylight fades. As an …
EVERETT SANDERSON: FIGHTING FOR A LIFE WELL LIVED
Most mornings when the weather’s nice, you’ll find Everett and Darla Sanderson on their back porch with a cup of coffee enjoying a lake view and each other’s company. They don’t take these mornings for granted. The opportunity to soak in the natural beauty that blankets East Texas almost wasn’t theirs a few short years ago. In 2016, Everett was …
MAUREEN TOMLINSON: CONQUERING FEAR AND CANCER AMID COVID-19
If COVID-19 has taught Maureen Tomlinson of Austin anything, it’s that fear is not a friend. Fear takes you to deep, dark corners of your mind. It dares to keep you up at night and aggressively interrupts your thoughts on a perfectly fine day. Fear conjures the worst-case scenario. Maureen will tell you the only thing to do with fear …
DANNY BOX: EVEN CANCER CAN’T CONQUER A SERVANT’S HEART
Encouraging others through life’s most difficult and devastating moments isn’t just a part of Danny Box’s role as a pastor – it’s in his DNA. So when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, members of his congregation swarmed to be by the Box family’s side, wrap them in love, and lift them up in prayer. It’s a special kind of …
CHANTAL RICE: FIGHTING CANCER ON HER TERMS
As managing editor for Austin Woman magazine, Chantal Rice finds it difficult to slow down. On any given day, she can be found in her North Austin office providing editorial oversight for a magazine dedicated to dishing out thought-provoking stories that inspire and support women. “During the 10 years or so I’ve been with the company, we’ve done so many stories about …
TAMARA SCOTT: WHEN GIVING UP ISN’T AN OPTION
Imagine you’re a 36-year-old single mother to a toddler, working full-time as a healthcare administrator by day, college student by night. You’re healthy and lead a busy lifestyle. There’s a new mammogram machine at the clinic where you work. You’re not due for your first mammogram for another four years at the age of 40 but it’s free for employees, …
FROM CANCER COMES STRENGTH: MELINDA FIEBIG “HEARTS” INSPIRING OTHERS
Some of life’s big moments stick out in our minds. For better or worse, the memories are so vivid that recalling these experiences is akin to reliving them. For Melinda Fiebig, Valentine’s Day is one of those days. On Feb. 14, 2017, Melinda underwent a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan that revealed she had stage III ovarian cancer. Her diagnosis was followed …
FIGHTING RARE CANCER LEADS TO NEW OUTLOOK ON LIFE
Perspective has the power to change people. It can bring new meaning to the seemingly mundane and cultivate a newfound sense of wonder about the world around us. For Bob Baker, a cancer diagnosis was the beginning of a long journey that ultimately led to a shift in priorities and a message to others: perspective and perseverance can make all …
RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE: WHY ONE CANCER PATIENT REFUSES TO GIVE UP
Ronald Strickland slept on his son’s bedroom floor a few weeks ago. He built a pallet piled with blankets and pillows at the special request of his son, who is five years old and has never known his father without cancer. They fell asleep together, but Ronald woke up in the morning alone. He laughed as he recalled how he …