Sue Kilburn said standing in the photographer's studio to get her photo taken that it all probably started "when my sister held a For Sale sign in front of me for a photograph"(see below!)
Since then she has had a good life with some bumps that have led her to become who she is!
"What makes a person strong or should I say what made me who I am today? DIVERSITY" she said.
Sue said a serious illness and a stay in the hospital as a child may have planted an unknowing seed that led to her becoming a nurse later in life.
"We have all faced life's ups and downs and learn ways to grow through those experiences. For me, I became a Fighting Spirit."
Sue was married and had twin boys. She was soon divorced and found herself working and going to school to complete her nursing certifications driving a couple nights a week to Slippery Rock or Indiana Universities for 12 years.
"Then I met my best friend and future husband, Ron!" They added to their family and all was moving forward.
Then in, 2005 Sue was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She had lost a father to cancer and that was devastating.
But remember she is Fighting Spirit!"
"I have had surgery for a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation and I lost my hair as well as my naive idea of being invincible."
She worked through her chemo and then did what good nurses do, she went to work helping others who faced the same diagnosis she had received.
"My diagnosis was in March 2005. As of today, I am cancer free and the past five years I worked as a breast health educator working with breast cancer patients at the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute."
Sue continues to have mammograms and follow-up tests for areas that are questionable. That is the responsible thing to do! She takes the tests and waits for the results and when they come back negative(meaning a very positive result!) she says "I feel like I have dodged yet another bullet."
"Cancer is not me but it will always be an aspect of my life and something I must be vigilant about in taking care of through routine testing and working with my health care team. I do not miss my appointments or any of the tests that are ordered as this is my life and I want to remain proactive."
"I am feisty, strong, and stubborn( in the nicest way) but also a marshmallow inside and a caregiver to any in need. Laughter is my go to when things get tough and prayer. We all face diversity in life but what we do with those experiences make us who you are today. I have learned to work for what I believe in and to make changes in my life as needed, I have hopefully helped make changes in the world in my own small way, it is my Fighting Spirit!"
Since then she has had a good life with some bumps that have led her to become who she is!
"What makes a person strong or should I say what made me who I am today? DIVERSITY" she said.
Sue said a serious illness and a stay in the hospital as a child may have planted an unknowing seed that led to her becoming a nurse later in life.
"We have all faced life's ups and downs and learn ways to grow through those experiences. For me, I became a Fighting Spirit."
Sue was married and had twin boys. She was soon divorced and found herself working and going to school to complete her nursing certifications driving a couple nights a week to Slippery Rock or Indiana Universities for 12 years.
"Then I met my best friend and future husband, Ron!" They added to their family and all was moving forward.
Then in, 2005 Sue was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She had lost a father to cancer and that was devastating.
But remember she is Fighting Spirit!"
"I have had surgery for a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation and I lost my hair as well as my naive idea of being invincible."
She worked through her chemo and then did what good nurses do, she went to work helping others who faced the same diagnosis she had received.
"My diagnosis was in March 2005. As of today, I am cancer free and the past five years I worked as a breast health educator working with breast cancer patients at the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute."
Sue continues to have mammograms and follow-up tests for areas that are questionable. That is the responsible thing to do! She takes the tests and waits for the results and when they come back negative(meaning a very positive result!) she says "I feel like I have dodged yet another bullet."
"Cancer is not me but it will always be an aspect of my life and something I must be vigilant about in taking care of through routine testing and working with my health care team. I do not miss my appointments or any of the tests that are ordered as this is my life and I want to remain proactive."
"I am feisty, strong, and stubborn( in the nicest way) but also a marshmallow inside and a caregiver to any in need. Laughter is my go to when things get tough and prayer. We all face diversity in life but what we do with those experiences make us who you are today. I have learned to work for what I believe in and to make changes in my life as needed, I have hopefully helped make changes in the world in my own small way, it is my Fighting Spirit!"
Editor's note: I first met Sue years ago when I was working on a series about women's health issues. I saw her at a baseball game and then a few weeks later at an assignment about three generation's all jumping out of airplanes at the same time. I approached her because, well I was gutsy and she was approachable! She was wearing a pink hat and was bald at the time. I sheepishly asked her about her situation and she was very kind and accepting of what I was trying to do. I followed her on her last day of Chemotherapy and we did a story for the Meadville Tribune. I find her to be one of the most remarkable people I've met and she is without a doubt the personification of the Fighting Spirit super hero character!
Her work has been on-going and she maintains a website to help others at http://suek.weebly.com
So check that out and share with others. Breast Cancer is becoming a manageable cancer, if there is such a thing, but it needs to be detected early. self breast exams, mammograms and follow-ups are essential if you you have to battle this horrible inflictiction.
Her work has been on-going and she maintains a website to help others at http://suek.weebly.com
So check that out and share with others. Breast Cancer is becoming a manageable cancer, if there is such a thing, but it needs to be detected early. self breast exams, mammograms and follow-ups are essential if you you have to battle this horrible inflictiction.