Alumni
Amy
At home eating my lunch one day, I got the call that I was diagnosed with DCIS. This was in October of 2006 at the age of 37. I remember just being able to jot down what they were telling me on a post-it note… I hung up, walked into our office to see my husband and crumpled it up and threw it down – I was ticked off! I think I said something like “this is just bullsh*$!”. Okay – now into battle mode we go… after a stereotactic needle biopsy, and 2 excision procedures that did not result in clear margins or a good mammogram report, I had a bilateral mastectomy surgery and reconstruction surgery (saline implants). Time to “cut them off and rebuild me” I said to my surgeon. I wanted to get rid of as much as I could that I associated with the “infected” tissues. Approximately 4 weeks after the mastectomy I was lucky enough to run into someone headed for a meeting about “possibly starting up a dragon boat team for Breast cancer survivors”. I was immediately excited and interested in finding out more about it and was invited to come along! SO GLAD I DID! I ended up getting to be involved with the formation of the Indy SurviveOars from the beginning and served on the founding Board of Directors – how cool! I immersed myself in emails and meetings about this sport and just plain loved the idea of being a part of a support group that combined athletics with it! Being a competitive person, I always say I am in it to win – but winning is more than just the dragon boat race – it is winning against cancer, winning new friends, winning confidence, and strength (physical and emotional) and so much more… (a trophy or medal once in awhile is a great bonus!). The Indy SurviveOars are a great bunch of ladies and I am honored to be associated with this team. They are amazing!
Ann
I was diagnosed in 2001 with invasive ductal breast cancer, stage 2. I had surgery first, starting with lumpectomy and ending with mastectomy. I had six months of chemo, 6 weeks of radiation, and finished it all with tram flap reconstruction in the spring of ’02. I was very blessed to have tons of support from family and friends. I never felt compelled to join a support group. I heard about Indy SurviveOars through my step son’s girlfriend. Kaitlyn was working with her Aunt Kathy with the behind the scenes organization to launch the Indy SurviveOars. She invited me to the kick off meeting in August of 2007. I was so excited to be a part of this amazing dragon boat sport! I began training with the team in the spring of ’08 and have been hooked ever since! I truly love this sport, as well as my amazing teammates. This is a group of crazy, fun, and caring women…we have a blast! I’ve developed many friendships with other survivors, as well as supporters, and board members, which I hold dearly. I’ve told many that this is the coolest thing I’ve ever done! We are a young, but strong BC dragon boat team, and I’m excited to stay for the long haul, and see where this team takes us!
Charlotte
I was diagnosed with Stage I Lobular cancer in November of 2007 at the age of 48 and subsequently underwent lumpectomy and 33 radiation treatments. I have since failed Tamoxifen and Femara as adjunctive treatments and will soon be starting on another aromatase inhibiter. Five years prior to my diagnosis my sister, Susan, died of Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP). She and I shared an admiration for dragonflies long before they were trendy. She died in the spring and after her passing dragonflies started following me around. Other people began to notice and would make comments about a beautiful dragonfly sitting at my feet or about how weird it was to have so many dragonflies around when there was no water in sight. I always felt it was Susan sending me a sign that she was still with me. After my diagnosis with cancer my doctors wanted me to find a support group. As a working wife and mother of four children, ages 6-14 when diagnosed, I felt I couldn’t spare the time to have dinner and talk like traditional support groups do. One night it occurred to me that it would be great to find a group that combined exercise with survivor support. I had never heard of dragonboats much less of Indy SurviveOars but I did an internet search and it popped right up. Now I’m exercising, which cancer hates, and I’m getting the support I need to forge ahead through the breast cancer journey. Being a part of this amazing group of women has given me strength both physically and emotionally. And, when we’re on the water and a dragonfly lingers near our dragonboat I feel my sister’s presence and hope that she is with us, too.
Cheryl
I am proud to say that I am one of the longest-survived padders on the team! I was diagnosed at the age of 38, and had a right lumpectomy with axillary node dissection followed by chemo and radiation. I was also diagnosed with thyroid cancer 9 years later; so I am happy to say that I have kicked cancer’s butt twice! The ladies on the dragon boat team are some of the toughest yet sweetest gals I know and it’s fun to be a part of such a dynamic group.
Deb
I was diagnosed with breast cancer Aug 28, 2006. I had 2 lumpectomies, chemo and radiation with treatment ending in June 2007. I saw the team was forming in an article in the Indianapolis Star. It looked like something that was really cool and different. It’s turned out to be so much more than that. I’ve met the most incredible group of people through involvement in this team. The physical challenge of dragon boating makes me feel strong and alive and the emotional connection with these women has been life changing.
Karen
I was diagnosed in May 2008 with Stage I Invasive Ductile Breast Cancer with triple positive receptors at the age of 49. I had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction, finished chemotherapy and finished a full year of Herceptin. I am currently on a five year course of Femera. In December 2008 I had my ovaries removed along with more of the reconstruction. As I was awakening from the anesthesia I told my husband “I think someone was talking to me about a big pink boat.” He was very excited and turned his computer toward me to show me I was not dreaming. The nurse caring for me had indeed been talking about the Indy SurviveOars and was also a breast cancer survivor. He said this is something you really need to think about and I have sent them an email to tell them you might be interested. At that moment I was thinking he was crazy! I began to get the emails that the team sent out and was really taken by how they cared for each other. When I met the team for the first time they were so incredibly open, welcoming, and encouraging. I was feeling very vulnerable at that point in my recovery, still in treatment with some surgery yet to come and was fearful of a “support group” that would dwell on the negatives. One of the team members said to me “if you are looking for a support group that is “oh poor me”, this is not the group for you. We share the daily struggles, what works and what doesn’t; the last test results then we leave it all on the dock and get into the boat, work hard and have a good time.” That is exactly what we do! Dragon Boating has been great for me physically and emotionally. God has blessed me with the opportunity to know the women of Indy SurviveOars.
Marilyn
I was diagnosed with Her 2 Positive breast cancer in June of 2007 at the age of 61. I am the first women in my large family of women to have breast cancer. I had a right lumpectomy on June 28, 2007 and completed my Mamosite radiation the middle of September of the same year. At least once or twice a month I still get a burning sensation in the area of the Mamosite due to an infection at the time of treatment. I feel very fortunate that I did not need Chemo.
I joined the team as it was being formed even before we had a boat! It’s been a wonderful adventure.
Nancy
I saw an article in the Geist magazine about the formation of the Dragon Boat. I went to the organizational meeting held at Bella Vita. We had just moved to Indianapolis, and I was surprised to know one other person in attendance.
No one likes to hear they have cancer, but there is always a silver lining! Being part of INSO is the best!! It is such a special sisterhood. I honestly don’t think I have ever had the privilege of being associated with a greater group of women. If you do have a “cancer” question they are there to share their experiences and knowledge, but there is no “poor me”. The focus is on what can we do to win the next race. People who never thought they were athletes are now, those who had concerns with range of motion or lymphodema are improving and to me the most important thing is I have found the most wonderful group of women to share a laugh with! We all know laughter is the best medicine!