With a bit of talent and plenty of dedication, Mary Ann Presman, 69, has turned her passion of reading, writing, and story crafting into a mid-life career. In 1995, after retiring as an advertising and public relations manager and copywriter, Mary Ann of Rockford, IL attended the famed Iowa Summer Writer’s Festival where she took a workshop that launched her on the road to becoming a published author.

“Early on I heard Jane Smiley speak at an author’s reading,” Mary Ann recalled. “She gave me hope in a Q&A by saying that she did think writing can be taught. She said you had to have some talent, but that by continuing to work at it, one could improve their skills. Obviously, I bought that.”

Mary Ann (center) at a writer’s workshop in Jamaica that was led by novelist Pam Houston (front row, left).

In the past 14 years, Mary Ann has attended more than 12 workshops and embracing her independent spirit, drives solo from Illinois to workshops in Provincetown, Portland, and St. Petersburg. “I slide in my CDs of road music – Willie Nelson, Steve Goodman, the Dixie Chicks- and I am off,” she said.

In 2010, Mary Ann will have a book published and available on Amazon. The new book titled “Curse? There Ain’t No Stinking Chicago Cub Curse,” is a collection of sports-related stories of Mary Ann’s, and fellow writer James Wolfe, who has published five novels. There are eleven stories–about golf, baseball, pool, blackjack, horse racing, bocce ball, basketball, tennis, and Scrabble dating. “It’s a fun book of stories with a few surprises,” Mary Ann said.   

We asked Mary Ann to tell us about her journey to becoming a published author.

Mary Ann at the family farm in Galena, IL

When and how did you get the writing bug? How old were you?

When I was a sophomore in high school (a ga-jillion years ago!) I wrote an essay about my Grandmother’s farm kitchen that won a rosary as best in our little English class. That was very important validation.

Can you tell us which famous writers you have met?

I’ve studied with some of the best: Pam Houston, Dennis Lehane, Margot Livesey, Antonya Nelson, Jim Shepard. The workshops typically have writers who will either be keynote speakers, or teach other workshops and read/speak in the evenings. So I heard Tom Perrotta read two nights before he was nominated for an Academy Award for the film adaptation of his novel, “Little Children.” I’ve also seen/heard read Jane Smiley, Peter Carey, John Irving, Elizabeth Strout, Bonnie Jo Campbell, Richard Price, Elizabeth Berg, Jodi Picoult, Jonathon Franzen, Michael Chabon, Alexandra Fuller, E. J. Doctorow, Augusten Burroughs, Anne Lamott, David Lodge, Laura Lippman, John Updike, Anna Quindlen, Joyce Carol Oates, Ann Patchett, Jacqueline Mitchard, Annie Proulx, and Margaret Atwood, among others. They were all memorable in their own way.

Did you have an ‘aha moment’ in your writing career thus far?

Well, mostly it’s when I read somebody like Elizabeth Strout or Elizabeth Berg and see the kind of writing I aspire to create. I enjoy reading others–Dennis Lehane, for instance–but I’m never going to write like he does.

Did you ever get really discouraged and think of giving it up?  If so, what did you do to recharge yourself?

I suppose I’ve been momentarily discouraged when I’ve received a rejection notice for a story that I thought would finally be published. But by signing up for a workshop every summer, I require myself to create a new story to be critiqued and I get pumped up by the workshop experience itself.

What is the best part about writing, and the things you find the most challenging?

The most challenging part for me is to keep at it because I’m not a very disciplined person and you are your own boss as a writer. I need to give myself deadlines. The best part of writing, of course, is when you know that someone has honestly enjoyed reading your story. I am addicted to reading and I aspire to giving someone else the pleasure that other writers have given to me…the comfort in knowing that you are not the only one who has such foibles, or the joy in sharing even a fictional character’s success in overcoming life’s unexpected obstacles.

Where do you find your story ideas?

Story ideas really do pop up just about anywhere. Some are adaptations, exaggerations of true-life happenings. Often, I observe a person, or more likely–two or three people together–and I imagine what might be going on between them. Presto! A story!

What does your family think of your writing career?

Since we’re all readers, they’re very supportive and very good at critiquing first or second drafts. My brother, Gary Houy, is a great editor–and with online communication he has served as an indispensable help with the book we’re about to publish. 

What’s next?

As I’ve been working on getting my 50,000 words down for the National Novel Writing Month exercise, I’ve written a couple of chapters that definitely have possibilities either as standalone stories or as part of a new collection. I’ve learned a lot over the last few years and I’m eager to continue honing my skills and improving my craft.

Mary Pat Byrne (If you have an idea for an inspiring story, please send the details to MPB@JustANumber.com)

My primary doctor ordered a CT scan of my sinuses and neck that revealed a 5 cm nodule or growth, sometimes called a goiter, on the left side of my thyroid. A lot of thyroid nodules/growths are found accidentally.

I’m part of a growing statistic. The American Thyroid Association says nearly 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease and about 60% of us are unaware of the condition. “Women are five to eight times more likely then men to have thyroid problems,” according to the association. A small percentage of those with thyroid problems have thyroid cancer. Fortunately, thyroid cancer can be treated and the mortality rate has stayed constant and minimal at .5%. 

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck, sitting on top of the windpipe and just above the breastbone. It produces hormones that control your heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism, and other vital body functions.

Hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) can cause constipation, depression, fatigue, heavier menstrual periods, joint or muscle pain, weight gain, cardiovascular problems, osteoporosis, and infertility. Bob DeMarco, editor of the Alzheimer’s Reading Room, says it can also present as dementia in older people and a false diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Hoarseness is a strong indicator of nodule growth, as the nodule presses against the larynx even if the thyroid is not diseased.

Other than pressing against my vocal chords and esophagus a little, I felt no effects and my blood workup indicated my thyroid was doing just fine.

My ear, nose, and throat doctor ordered a sonogram on my neck and a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. The biopsy was negative for cancer but inconclusive, which is normal considering the biopsy examines a few dozen cells out of a massive number. The ENT recommended removing the entire thyroid, rather than take the chance of a growth developing on the other side requiring another surgery.

Can I Live Without My Thyroid?

Whether you have hypothyroidism and/or have a surgical removal of the thyroid, you almost definitely will be on daily thyroid hormone replacement medication.

Some patients want to avoid the surgery because of the 3”–4” scar it leaves on the neck. Dr. Pier Giulianotti, chief, Division of General Minimally Invasive Surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago, began performing robotic parathyroidectomy on the parathyroid glands in 2008. This minimally invasive method removes the thyroid with one small incision under the patient’s right arm and another in the chest, thus eliminating the neck scar and helping reduce pain and blood loss with a quicker recovery time.

Increased Incidence of Thyroid Disease

The reason for the thyroid disease increase, or increase in awareness about it, is not known. It could be biological change, radiation exposure, or genetic factors. Or better diagnostic procedures may be responsible for doctors discovering the disease more often. Thyroid disease is growing consistently among all population groups, regardless of ethnic or racial background.

One possible culprit is the increased use of CT scans that may give off more radiation that we have thought. Dental X-rays also may be involved, and researchers are suggesting that the thyroid be covered with a lead protector. Another cause is thought to stem from the wide use of radiation in the middle of the last century as a means of treating ear infections, tonsillitis, enlarged thymus glands, acne, birthmarks, and even ringworm. According to David Cooper, MD, a thyroid specialist at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, more than 1 million American children had radiation treatments in the early years of the baby boom for these minor afflictions. The treatments were discontinued in the early 1960s when they became linked to an increased risk for cancer of the thyroid, the gland that produces the hormone thyroxine. More recent studies show that individuals who had been treated for cancer with radiation are developing thyroid cancer.

Shane Steadman, DC, a chiropractic neurologist with a background in endocrinology, co-owns Mountain Health Chiropractic & Neurology Center in Denver, CO, and attributes the increase, at least in part, to chronic stress, celiac disease, and vitamin B-12 deficiencies. “I don’t think people are taking care of themselves,” said Dr. Steadman. “They’re overly stressed, especially with the economy; it wreaks havoc on your health more than anything else.”

Carol Roberts, MD, Tampa, FL, is a practicing ear, nose, and throat and emergency room doctor who has gone into integrated holistic medicine. Her new book, Good Medicine a Return to Common Sense, notes that thyroid disease is becoming, “pretty common because a lot of people are iodine deficient.”

Americans used to eat a sufficient amount of iodized salt, but now, “People are using less salt and we don’t eat seaweed or a lot of shellfish, two other sources of iodine,” Dr. Roberts said, noting we need the higher iodine for healthy breasts, and when there’s a minimal amount of iodine intake, it’s distributed between the breasts and thyroid. She is among those who advocate taking supplements, readily available at health food stores, for increased iodine and Vitamin B-12.

John Morgenthaler, editor and publisher of Longevity Medicine Review said, “The bottom line is that iodine deficiency is far more widespread than generally assumed by doctors, and this is behind much of the epidemic of hypothyroidism.”

My Two Cents

I dislike using the Internet as my main information source for diseases. There are a lot of scare stories and misinformation and it’s not always easy to determine which is which. My adult daughter went with me to the doctor’s office prior to agreeing to the surgery to make sure we asked the questions we wanted answered. We were both pleased with the answers and felt comfortable with the surgeon and her experience.

Having said that, if I were 21 and facing this surgery, I think I would have explored the possibility of natural cures, and if they hadn’t worked, then I would go for the robotic surgery. However, I have had a melanoma removed and my mother and many of her nine siblings died of cancer. Therefore, I am very careful, perhaps overly careful, whenever there’s a possibility of the disease. My primary physician (an endocrinologist would be the specialist in this field) and I are working on the proper dose of synthetic thyroid and I feel absolutely no different from before the surgery.

I hope my story sheds some light on thyroid disease, and helps people understand potential causes and the treatment options that are currently available. Research is the key!

–Judy Colbert

Resources:

• Alzheimer’s Reading Room: http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/
• American Thyroid Association: http://www.thyroid.org/
• Dr. Pier Giulianotti: http://www.uic.edu/com/surgery/general/giulianotti.html
• Longevity Medicine Review: http://www.lmreview.com/
• Dr. Carol Roberts: http://www.wellnessworks.us/
• Dr. Shane Steadman: http://www.findachiro.com/profile/robert-shane-steadman-3097100/

In October, we posted a feature on Nancy Willemstein, 63, who ran more than 30 marathons since turning 48.  Click Here to read the original story.

Update: In 2009, Nancy ran five, (26.2 mile) marathons. That brings her lifetime total marathons to 34, and she has no plans to slow down. To mix up her daily exercise regime, she has begun free weight training at the Y, swim lessons, and Zumba. And she fits this all in while working a full time job at Steelcase in Grand Rapids, MI. Here are pictures of Nancy finishing the Twin Cities Marathon in October and the Huntsville Marathon in December. Not bad for a Grandmother!

Nancy finishing the Huntsville marathon

“I have three goals that I live by: drive, desire and determination, and each day I strive to use them all to be my best. God has given me this body and I want to do the best I can with it,” said Nancy.

Marion Gold, 65, of Scottsdale did just that -she took her hobby of beading and her eye for color and turned it into a new business.

A medical journalist by trade, Marion enjoyed a successful career as an editor, and EVP of a health communications agency in Chicago. She always had a creative flair in business strategy and in how she portrayed her business persona – always meticulously dressed in St. John suits and matching pumps with expertly applied makeup. She even sported a bejeweled calculator on her desk as she ran a million dollar health care business in the 1980’s.

Finding Purpose through Pain

In 1994, Marion launched her own editorial company, but she says her world stopped when both her parents died within two years of each other; her father Larry in 2000 and mother Ray in 2002. “At the age of 58 I found it hard to write. A book I was writing languished. Articles didn’t get beyond the first two paragraphs. My mother’s strength helped me face the grief of losing Dad. Now they were both gone, and despite a satisfying career and home life with my soul mate Jerry, I felt as though my heart had been broken and I would never again find peace,” she said.

In sorting through her parents treasures in New Jersey, Marion found boxes of vintage beads from one of her mother’s many craft projects and remembered her mother’s unfailing creative spirit. She set aside the book she was writing and began to work with the beads which soothed her. Her partner Jerry encouraged her to, “Do what feels right to ease your pain and grief.”

Marion found working with the beads ”joyful” and saw it as a way to memorialize her parents. “Jerry encouraged me to show my beaded products to a gallery shop. As a marketer I was used to making cold calls, so I set up an appointment, put a sample case together and I was off. Imagine my delight when “ChiaroScuro,” a boutique on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile was displaying and selling my work,” she recalled. “So here I was at the age of 58, suddenly starting an entirely new business called Moonbeams, Lilacs and Roses. (www.moonbeamsdesignerjewelry.com) I felt a sense of energy again, and I imagined my mom and dad encouraging me,” she explained.

The company name is derived from personal experience: “Moonbeams” is a Hebrew symbol of renewal, “Lilacs” were Marion’s mother’s favorite flower, and “Roses” are Marion’s flower of choice.

Designing a Unique Collection

Marion started out making and selling bookmarks, beaded pens, and letter openers. Today she offers a diverse collection of beaded gifts and jewelry with exotic gemstones like topaz, larkspur, purple agate, fossil coral, bronzite, jasper, jade, malachite and black onyx adorned with her signature sterling silver accents. Fans of Marion’s say she has a great sense of color and design. They describe her jewelry as elegant, whimsical works of art. Many of her new customers are a result of girlfriends admiring their friend’s unique necklaces and bracelets. “Each beaded product I create is something I would like to have on my own desk. Each jewelry design is something I would feel good about wearing or giving as a gift,” she explained.

In developing her business, Marion launched a website (designed by ATG Productions) – as an online retail company to sell her luxury crafts. She uses her photography skills to take “jewelry portraits” for the site and advertising materials. “Today, I spend a lot of time reading about each gemstone, so I can describe it accurately online. And I’m learning a lot about selling online, and using the newer techniques of social marketing on Facebook and Twitter,” she said.  

Transforming Passion into a Business

What would Marion advise to someone wanting to take a passion and turn it into a business? “It helps to love what you are doing. Remember that not every day brings sales. And it takes dedication, hard work, good friends and lots of good luck.”

“My parents set a beautiful example of great strength, courage, and love throughout their lives. They understood that life is indeed a journey, and often a journey in the midst of pain. But life also takes us to unknown places,” she said.  “It is my hope that my personal journey down the path of love and remembrance will inspire others. I miss my parents, and not a day goes by that I don’t think of them. The creative process is one very important way that I honor them,” she said.

Retirement Plans?  

Are there retirement plans any time soon? “Retiring has never been on my agenda. I’ve always felt whether it is writing, mentoring, or designing jewelry- there is always something new and interesting that I can accomplish,” she said. “I still have my communications and publishing business, but it’s the Moonbeam’s side of my work that always puts a smile on my face and in my heart.”

By Mary Pat Byrne (If you have an idea for an inspiring story, please send the details to MPB@JustANumber.com)

We begin mail delivery as we walk down one wing and she tells me anecdotes of the residents.  “She always gets a lot of magazines!” my Mom says, or  “This lady walks up and down the halls all day long”.  We comment on the nice art pieces hanging on the walls and the lovely seating area at the end of the hall, with windows looking out to a scenic view of snow and bare trees, an Indiana winter landscape.  We stop in to visit her friend and my godmother, who can barely see, hear or walk anymore.  Though glad to know I’m there, once I identify myself, Eileen launches into her litany of complaints.  My Mom happily suggests that Eileen could pray while she sits in her darkened room.  That’s it, I thought, Mom has always looked at the bright side of things!   I’m not surprised at all to hear her suggest Eileen might pray for others. That suggestion typifies the strong faith and optimistic view that Mom holds of the world. I recognize those traits in me, learned as a young girl, and smile as I know I have also have passed them on to my children.

Her strong faith and optimistic view, is evident still as she passes out her words of encouragement to all she encounters on her mail route: “How are you doin?” “Glad to see you back (from the hospital)”.  I’m transported back to my youth, as I walk these halls with her, recounting her suggestions to me to “turn it over” when dealing with a difficult situation.  I didn’t understand, then, how you “turned it over” and how doing so would relieve you of the anxiety, pain, or worry of the concern that would be bothering you.  I’ve come to learn, that there is a serenity that follows when one can, indeed, turn over problems to “the Good Lord”, as my Mother refers to Him.

At 92 years of age, we siblings consider Mom to be in fairly good health, all agreeing that we hope to be in as good of shape as she when we reach her age.  She walks slower these days, a broken hip 5 years ago stopped her more vigorous walking with her group of lady friends on Fridays but she continues to exercise on a stationery bicycle in the workout room of the Retirement Center where she lives. 

She is trying out hearing aids this month (surprised at all the sounds she now hears) so she can participate more fully in the conversations in the dining room.  She walks downstairs for dinner and typically sits at a table for four or six.  As she stated, “everybody else has hearing aids too and complains about them.”  At least she recognized, finally, that it wouldn’t be bad to try them out.  I’m convinced it is her positive outlook that will keep her using the hearing aids, even though they bother her, as she must learn to accept hearing different sounds, put them in and out of her ear, and remember to press a button to switch modes when she talks on the phone.

We return to her two-bedroom apartment, after delivering mail, and I look at the wall of Madonna (Mary and baby Jesus) pictures, which I helped her hang after she moved in, on one of my visits home.  “Look Mom, you’ve got all your friends back,” I said to her when the images were all hung.  Mom began collecting Madonna pictures when I was young and her collection spanned two walls in our living room growing up.  They too were a symbol of her strong, Irish Catholic faith that sustained her through the trials and tribulations of marriage, raising five children, living with my Dad after he suffered from heart attacks and watching his descent into dementia then years in a nursing home prior to his death.  All in all, Mom would maintain her deep conviction that “the Good Lord” would provide her with guidance and that Mary too would assist in solving problems of the day.

Though I didn’t stay faithful to my Catholic upbringing, I did stay faithful to living a “spiritual” life.  Mom used to declare that I was the “ecumenical one” because, beginning in high school, I was interested in learning about eastern religions.  I would come to believe more strongly in Angels and all things Spiritual than the Catholic way as the only way but I did, still, maintain a deep faith like my Mom.  My faith also sustained me through my own trials and tribulations of marriage, raising two children plus a divorce, learning to be a single Mom and then remarriage 10 years later.

I’m grateful for Mom’s optimistic view of the world, which my Dad also shared.  Between the two of them, I learned early on to see the cup ½ full as opposed to ½ empty, which would serve me well as I went about my own life.  Mom was thrilled that I was able to pursue both a career and family.  Even though she relinquished her career, working for American Airlines in the 40’s, after getting married, she instilled in me the idea that I could manage both a career and a home.  I never doubted her. 

Thanks Mom for your unwavering faith and support of your career minded, daughter!

Running friends who inspire each other: (from left) Juli, Nancy, Amanda, Jeri Lyn, and Francine

In the game of life, Nancy Willemstein is anything but a spectator.

During the past two decades, this slim, attractive 5’5” woman has established herself as an inspiring mother, grandmother, co-worker, and friend to many runners. She’s a determined, vibrant 63-year-old senior master’s class marathon runner.

Nancy began running in the 1970s at age 32 to lose weight after the birth of her two children. After several years of running shorter races, she signed up for her first 26.2 mile marathon at age 48. Her brother Paul talked her into running a second marathon when she was 52, and she was hooked.

Not ready to stop

Today at 63, Nancy has done 34 marathons and is not ready to stop. In fact, she seems to be hitting her stride. Running has taken her to 17 states and four countries, and has increased her circle of friends at least ten-fold. “I have met such wonderful friends from all walks of life and look forward to meeting so many more,” she said.

At 60, Nancy qualified to run in the famed Boston Marathon by completing a 26.2 mile race in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in four hours and 26 minutes – a personal best. She describes qualifying as one of the highlights of her life, surpassed only by giving birth to her two children. “I was on a high for six months after qualifying for Boston,” she said. She hopes to qualify again this year.

“I believe so strongly and passionately about being healthy and active,” Nancy explained. “Life is all about our attitude and how we use what God had given us.

How does she keep going? “I have three goals: drive, desire, and determination, and each day I strive to use them all to be my best. God has given me this body and I want to do the best I can with it.”

Nancy has worked for Steelcase for the past 26 years as the receptionist for corporate headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She runs about eight hours per week before or after work and on weekends. “When my co-workers or friends ask me about the races, they ask, ‘Did you win? I always say, ‘Of course I did: I finished, and that’s what it’s all about.’”

Running friends Amanda, Nancy and Jeri after finishing a race in Lansing, Michigan

 Extraordinary energy

Running also helps her in her career, she noted. “Running helps me clear my mind, keeps me positive and upbeat, and gives me energy. This helps me represent Steelcase with energy and a great attitude. When I can run before work, I feel especially good,” Nancy explained.

When visiting her son during the winter, she took his two children Isaac and Maddie sledding. After sledding down the hill and hauling the sled and kids uphill several times, a neighbor asked, “We recognize the children, but who are you?” Nancy explained that she was the grandmother and the neighbor was taken aback by her stamina. “You can go up and down those hills like the kids,” the neighbor said.

Nancy’s most challenging race was the 2004 Boston Marathon, which she ran to raise money for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. As a charity runner (rather than a qualifier), she began the race at noon on a scorching 87 degree day.

“It was incredibly hot and many runners were dropping out,” Nancy recalled. “I remember saying to myself, ‘Maybe I should drop out, too.’ But at mile 17 as we were approaching Heartbreak Hill, here were the cancer supporters to cheer us on. I thought, ‘I will keep running for these people facing chemo and radiation who can’t control what is happening to them.’ I dug deep and I finished in five hours and 50 minutes.” That was her slowest and most challenging race, but a personal victory.

Nancy often is asked by people who can’t run due to injury or bad knees what they can do to shape up. “I say, ‘Just move!’” she explained. “Move your body, be active, walk, bike, do yoga or pilates – do something every day. If you biked as a child, get back on the bike. Being active does as much for your body as it does for your mind.

‘Wonderful’ feeling

“You have to want and embrace health,” she continued. “I will always have the chubby little girl inside of me from when I was growing up, but feeling the way I do now is so wonderful.” 

To supplement her running, Nancy joined the YMCA last winter and has tried the yoga, pilates, Zumba and swimming classes. She runs outside year-round, embracing and appreciating the beauty of each season. (Her athletic shoe brand of choice is Saucony.)

What does this vital woman have to say about diet? “Watch what you put in your mouth. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, protein, nuts, and fish. I love salmon. But I also love a glass of red wine and a piece of dark chocolate. Try and drink lots of water. I drink water all day long.”

Nancy with daughter Juli

Nancy recently went to her 45-year high school class reunion, discovering many of the super jocks had gained a bit of weight. “I really felt good physically, but more importantly emotionally. Running puts me in a great frame of mind. Someone asked me, ‘Are you still running? You look great for your age!’ But I really believe age is just a number – it’s what you do with it that counts.”

Nancy ran the Twin Cities marathon on October 4^th with a finish time of four hours and 38 minutes. She hopes to qualify for the Boston Marathon again with another marathon in December. If she qualifies, she hopes to run that race with her 40-year old daughter, Juli Duprey. “To qualify and run the same year as my daughter would be the ultimate for me. How cool would that be?” Nancy asked.  

“I have no thoughts of stopping,” Nancy concluded. “Running is a great part of my life and the benefits of health are endless. It is never too late to embrace health.”

–Mary Pat Byrne (If you have an idea for an inspiring story, please send the details to MPB@JustANumber.com)

Nancy Gohmann was 57 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her story is worth hearing in light of the recent revised guidelines on breast cancer screening, and also in how this woman did not let cancer take, alter, or define her life. Today, at a very active 72, this fit redhead has some advice on breast health and living well.

In January 1993, Nancy, a Chicagoan and mother of three sons, went for a routine mammogram and the results came back normal. Four months later, Nancy found a lump in her left breast while showering and immediately went to her internist and then to a breast surgeon. Upon examination, the surgeon suggested they wait a month as it looked to him like a non-malignant cyst. But within a few weeks the lump grew and Nancy experienced tenderness under her arm. She insisted that the surgeon give her another look and a needle aspiration was performed. “The next day the surgeon called me at work and said, ‘We can’t believe this, but your tests came back positive for cancer.’ I was devastated.  I asked myself, how can I have a normal mammogram and just a few months later, I have cancer,” she recalled.  Within three days, Nancy had a lumpectomy. The lump was cancerous, 14 of 21 lymph nodes taken tested positive for cancer, and the oncologist described her disease as ‘aggressive. ‘

After the diagnosis, Nancy made a pact with herself: “I will not let this cancer beat me,” she told herself. She underwent six months of chemotherapy followed by six weeks of radiation. She lost her red hair and experienced the debilitating fatigue of cancer therapy. “It was uncomfortable, but I made a promise to myself that I would not die. My brother was going through cancer therapy at the same time and I knew my family could not lose two of us. I never thought I would not make it, but I prayed a lot.”

When the chips are down, we often see the angels in our life. Nancy’s mother-in-law, Alma, then 82, was living with Nancy’s family and stepped into the role of champion caregiver, researching therapy side effects and making organic meals to nourish and strengthen her new patient. “Women are different than men,” Nancy explained recalling Alma’s support. “She was so maternal and comforting. I’ll never forget her efforts.”  Nancy remembers she and Alma poring over Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book, which proved to be a godsend.

Nancy was also supported by her circle of girlfriends. Jackie Fischer, 70, met Nancy in 1958 when their husbands were friends and they lived on the same block while raising children. “The one thing about Nancy that defines her is her attitude. I knew she wasn’t going to let cancer defeat her. She helped get me through my own battle with cancer in 2007,” Jackie said.

When Nancy finished treatment, Jackie was going through a divorce. Jackie suggested the two of them pursue new activities for fun and fitness. The first activity was line-dancing classes which the two attended weekly for more than five years. Next came golf lessons at Jackie’s urging. Today, Jackie and Nancy are in leagues and play several times a week in season.

Nancy getting autographs at baseball game

“Nancy is an extraordinary woman and is always seeking new adventures,” said Jackie. She loves travel, musicals, plays, baseball games, museums. She consistently strives to get the most out of life. She is Ms. go, go go!  And she can strike up a conversation with anyone…for that I am jealous, but when I am with her, we always meet new people. My family adores her. For my 70^th, she came with my family on vacation and kept up with the young people. She is upbeat, honest, and a very faithful friend for which I am grateful,” said Jackie.

We asked Nancy: How did having cancer change your life?

“After cancer, I learned never to take anything or any day for granted; tomorrow is never promised, so live for today. I thought about the things I always wanted to do, but never did as I was raising my family. I had a passion for travel, so I made it my priority.  I have been on a Mediterranean cruise, to Europe, white water rafting in New Mexico, to New England, mostly traveling with my girlfriends. With Jackie, I took line-dancing and golf lessons. I believe that exercise keeps me young, so I power walk for an hour every day, outdoors in good weather, and in the mall in bad.

What do you tell other women about breast health?

“This is your body, and you are the boss. If something doesn’t feel right, ask questions and demand answers. It is so important to do breast self exams. I got so angry when I read the new recommendations on self exams and mammograms. If I didn’t find the lump, I might not be here today. I feel very strongly that women my age should have a mammogram every year. “

Since being declared a cancer survivor, have you spent your time differently?

“I take life one day at a time, and embrace adventure. Life might be a little scary at times, but I say to myself, just do it!”

(Nancy’s friend Kate, 49, says Nancy taught her the game of golf and told her it is never too late to take up a new sport. Kate said, “Nancy is amazing and has so much energy. We walk the course for 9 holes and I can barely keep up with her. I really admire her spunk and spirit. I only hope to be like Nancy when I am 72.”)

Nancy, how would you complete this sentence:  Nowadays, when I wake up, I often think….

“I am grateful for seeing another day – whether the sun is shining or not. I make it a point to do the things I really enjoy … traveling, spending time with my nine grandchildren and girlfriends, shopping, golfing, walking, having nice dinners with friends, and focusing on the positive. Tomorrow is never promised, so live for today. At the end of the day, I am very happy sitting by myself with a glass of wine and toasting my life – as nice as it is.”

Mary Pat Byrne (If you have an idea for an inspiring story, please send the details to MPB@JustANumber.com)

Turning a Lifelong Hobby into a Major Life Passion

Joyce with husband John

Joyce has always liked biking, but became passionate about distance cycling after her husband urged her to join the Evanston (Illinois) Bike Club with him. “I knew if I wanted to see John on weekends, I should consider his suggestion. And besides, the more time I spent biking, I realized that I was enjoying it more than going to classes at the gym. I was becoming passionate about biking.” In her late 40’s she joined the bike club where she met new friends, built up her endurance and researched and bought a nice road bike. Joyce finds motivation from club members in their 70s and 80s who are stronger and faster cyclists than she is. And biking as exercise is more forgiving on joints than other aerobic exercises. “I hope to keep cycling in the years ahead – into my 70s and 80s. Being on rides with the club has taken me to places I would never have explored on my own, and it has motivated me to keep riding.”

Biking Provides a Sense of Well-being

Joyce says biking gives her, “a sense of health and well-being,” and the fact that she shares this passion with her husband is “a wonderful bonus.”

We asked Joyce to share her thoughts on biking and fitness with us:

When did you take up biking? I got my first 2-wheel bike at age 6 and have been riding ever since. About 5 years ago, my husband and I joined the Evanston Bike Club, and we began riding longer distances as we discovered new places to ride. We both found riding in a group to be very enjoyable and challenging—weather permitting, we spend most weekends on group rides. I have built up my endurance and speed as a result of riding with the club.

How many races/distance events have you done?  I have not done any races—my riding is purely for pleasure rather than competition. I have been on about a dozen longer distance rides (about 50 miles or more) over the past couple of years.    

What cities has your biking taken you to?  Or places off the beaten path….. Most of my rides have been local, but some of my out of town cycling trips have included San Francisco, Napa Valley, Portland, ME, the Kal-Haven Trail near South Haven, MI, and the Indiana Dunes. There are a lot of great bike paths and routes in the Chicago area—my favorites include a ride from Evanston to the Middlefork Savannah in Lake Forest and a ride along the Fox River starting in Elgin.

How many hours a week do you bike? How many miles in a typical ride? I generally ride about 10-15 hours a week, depending on the time of year. A typical ride is about 35-40 miles—sometimes longer.  During the winter months, I ride occasionally if the temperature is above 40 degrees or so. Those rides are typically shorter—as long as there is no snow or ice and the wind isn’t too brutal, riding in the Chicago area during winter can be really fun! 

What are the benefits you feel biking and exercise have added to your life? Biking has given me a sense of accomplishment—I never thought I could ride more than 20 miles in a day, let alone 100. It also helps free my mind—when I am riding on an open road, I am not thinking about work deadlines and projects. It’s a much needed diversion after a demanding work week. In general, exercise gives me a feeling of well being.

Has biking increased your circle of friends?  I have made many new friends as a result of riding with the Evanston Bike Club—it’s a supportive group, and I look forward to seeing them on my weekly rides.  Five years ago, I would never have imagined being in a bike club—but I have found that being in a club has enabled me to meet a diverse group of people who I enjoy being with. We also get together socially outside of club rides, such as going to hear jazz at local clubs.

Who or what inspires you? I am inspired by members of our club in their 70s and 80s who continue to ride on a regular basis. They are able to maintain the group’s pace and ride long distances. Some continue to log several thousand miles each year.

You stay so young and healthy-looking; do you have any advice for women over 50 in terms of diet, routines, etc.? I don’t spend much time focusing on my age—my advice is to find an activity you really enjoy that motivates and challenges you. I try to eat a healthy diet, i.e., lots of fruits and vegetables. And as John often reminds me, the trick is to “eat less and exercise more.” 

What kind of bike do you own? I have a Cannondale road bike that I purchased in 2005. When I first started riding with the club, I had a hybrid bike, which was fine for rides up and down the lakefront. However, I found that when riding with the club, I often could not keep up with the group when riding longer distances and decided that I needed a lighter bike with better components. Having a lighter weight road bike has made a big difference in my ability to maintain a decent pace and to keep up with others on group rides.  

Are there other sports you like to do? What do you do in the winter? I have participated in aerobics and strength training classes for several years at local health clubs—I also try to go to the fitness center at work during my lunch break. I especially like step classes, even though they are hard to find these days. While I occasionally use exercise machines, I prefer a group setting for exercise.  I try to do some form of exercise at least 30 minutes a day—sometimes my exercise is limited to my 1½ mile walk to and from the train station.  Overall, I have found that exercise has helped me build flexibility and strength, which make a huge difference on longer bike rides.

–Mary Pat Byrne (If you have an idea for an inspiring story, please send the details to MPB@JustANumber.com)