“When going to bed, let all your worries and anxiety go. There’s nothing you can do about it anyway. Just shut it down.” Lorie Kyle says this is the best advice she has ever received. Lorie is a single mom of 3 children (Kyle, Chaz, and Abbie) and is a two-time cancer survivor.
In 2004, at the age of 36, Lorie found a lump and went to her doctor, it was breast cancer. Lorie had 4 rounds of chemotherapy, 30 rounds of radiation, and a lumpectomy. Lorie and her children moved on to better days. Or so she thought. Three years later, Lorie felt a lump behind her right pectoral muscle. “My Dr. said he couldn’t believe I felt it because it was hard to get to with a biopsy. My nightmare had returned. Not only in my pectoral muscle, but also both breasts, and also grew into 10 of my lymph nodes under my right arm, and two ‘suspicious’ spots on my lungs.” Lorie endured a 15- hour surgery in October 2007 which included a total mastectomy, removal of her pectoral muscle, and removal of her lymph nodes. Lorie also had a reconstruction called Dorsi Latissimus Flap Removal, which was a procedure of taking her dorsi muscles from her back and using them for support for her breast implants. After some healing, Lorie then had to have 6 more chemo treatments. “I remember feeling pretty good one day and decided to go into the snow and do my grocery shopping and two days later, my blood counts were so low, I had to have a blood transfusion. As time went on, I had met strangers (I call my Angel Friends) that reached out and helped and offered to help make my days better. Many times I refused because I am a stubborn woman! Now I tell others that are facing cancer, to take all help offered and rest on those good days!”
How did Lori overcome these obstacles, which also included a hysterectomy? “Honestly, I don’t think I really completely have, but what helps me day to day is looking at my kids, knowing I’m here for them, seeing their smiles and watching them grow up, living our daily life activities, having close friends and family, is truly a blessing.”
Lori has now started a non-profit called Cancer Connections. The organization helps local cancer patients and their families with everyday tasks, such as house cleaning, transportation, meals, childcare, yard work, and more. “My kids are my #1 goal. My #2 goal is to keep my organization going, helping anyone get through their journey, while fighting cancer. Just the simple things mean so much for someone that has no energy while feeling poisoned from the chemotherapy treatments. I hope to find more volunteers and businesses to donate time or whatever specialties they have to offer, especially because we all know someone that has had to face this deadly disease.”
Lori also volunteers for her local cancer clinic in Mount Vernon, helping patients and their families with transportation, cleaning, and paying for medical bills from fundraisers. “I truly believe that I have survived to be here for my children, and also to help others keep faith, believe in hope, and to help them through their journey in any way I can.” For more information on Cancer Connections, connect with them at www.facebook.com/cancerconnections.