8 2014 RELAY FOR LIFE MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com July 28, 2014
Nicole says, “I never knew how
loved I was until I got cancer .
. . I would have never made it
this far without my family and
friends.”
Nancy Reese’s battle with breast
cancer occurred in 1976 when
she 38. She says, “At that
time, my husband Wally and I,
and our five sons (who ranged
in age from six months to 15
years) were living in Springfield,
Illinois.”
Regarding her rare type of
cancer, she says “recovery
was long and difficult—three
weeks of radiation followed by
18 months of chemotherapy.”
With her husband working, they
needed extra help during this
time, so her mother stepped in.
She notes, “I am an only child
and my mother was a widow.
She decided to take early
retirement to help Wally and me
through this healing time and
stayed with us until
I felt strong enough to take over
household responsibilities.” Her
mother also took her to many of
her appointments.
Like Nicole, Nancy had the
support of friends as she “relied
on friendly neighbors to be
babysitters while I continued
therapy.”
Having been cancer free for
over 35 years, she says, “I feel
very fortunate to have remained
cancer free these many years and,
along with Barb Howe, I founded
the Logan County Breast Cancer
Group which is still active
today.”
As both of their stories show, the
support of family and friends is
a vital part of the cancer journey.
Both grateful survivors see
participation in and support of the
Relay for Life as a way for many
more to join the ranks of friends
and families who help cancer
victims emerge victoriously.
The relay will take place at
Lincoln College beginning on
Friday evening at 6 p.m. on
July 25 through 6 a.m. Saturday
morning.
For more information call Tonita
Reifsteck at 217-855-6145 or
look up
.
Nicole says,
“I never knew
how loved I
was until I got
cancer . . . I
would have
never made it
this far with-
out my family
and friends.”
