A mother’s legacy

Mama Ducks Cleaning For Cancer

Hatches A Business With Heart

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month and November being Lung Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to bring your attention to our program, Mama Ducks Cleaning for Cancer. Mama Ducks is here to help and support those warriors fighting cancer. Being able to give back and make a difference was one of the reasons I started my business in August 2017. My mom and I (like a lot of women) have that Rosie the Riveter attitude. We as women believed we too can accomplish anything we set our minds to. That was my story — a story of love and a legacy honoring my mom.

My mom, Betty Klysen was diagnosed two weeks after I started Mama Ducks. Hearing my mom’s diagnosis, I made the decision I would be her advocate, to go through the journey with her, do anything she needed and fix it — like most daughters. It was Labor Day 2017 that our battle with cancer as a family started.

My mom was diagnosed at Mayo Clinic with small cell lung cancer. She had four tumors, with the largest wrapped around her heart. Everything turns out in my life and I try to look at life through rose-colored glasses, with an attitude that I can fix anything. And it wasn’t until five months later that I learned what the surviving odds were. After the initial treatment, I convinced my mom and dad to move in with my family and receive her treatment at the Roger Maris Cancer Center.

During the next three months, I had the honor to be able to care for my mom by taking her to her appointments, dispensing medications and providing daily care. Like most people battling cancer, she had periods of weakness, brain fog and pain, which made daily routine activities like cooking and cleaning almost impossible and certainly not a priority. I saw how falling behind on regular daily chores had an impact on a cancer battler’s attitude to fight. And I’d always known that even a healthy person feels stressed and depressed when routine cleaning falls behind.

Before her sixth treatment we were told she was cancer free, every tumor was gone. It was a miracle! We had the most amazing Christmas. Unfortunately, we didn’t know that the cancer was, in fact, in the sheath of her brain.

My mom, Betty Klysen, lost her fight on January 29, 2018.

I couldn’t fix the situation. Because of faith I knew she was at peace. She had done all she could, and it was five months I treasured so much. We were so fortunate to have the time together sharing each moment, and laughing about memories from years before — nothing not said. During her battle I kept thinking how I would have regretted not being able to share each day with her. Some of most treasured moments over those five months were so simple, like holding her hand, praying with her and my dad, cooking for her, and providing her with a clean home.

I know I’m not alone in being able to experience this. We don’t really know what it means to battle cancer until this is your family, your friend or your mom. After her passing I knew I had to give back to honor her.

My mom gave me the courage, strength and encouragement to start Mama Ducks Cleaning for Cancer. I remember making the phone call to her when I was debating whether to stay on the sales hamster wheel or take a chance and make a business for myself. She believed so much in me and told me, “Do it, you’ll be a success.” I had a lot to risk, but she knew there was so much that could be gained. We encouraged each other that fall. Two years later I have twelve employees and a brand people locally know and recognize because she believed in me.

Breast cancer affects so many strong, tough women — including my dear friend Joan and my loving mother-in-law, who were very fortunate to beat breast cancer.

Mama Ducks Cleaning for Cancer gives two complimentary cleanings each month to those battling cancer who need some help. It’s my way of giving back, and honoring my mom’s legacy.

To Learn More About

Mama Ducks Cleaning for Cancer please check my Facebook page and website. People can be nominated on our website, mamaduckscleaningservice.com

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