just a thought

There’s no place for personal emotion in the testimony of a grieving family. So, Dru’s loved ones stifled their indescribable pain, lifted their heads high and with the strength that only God could give them, they carried on—careful to follow the rules.

I was careful, too, when I chose this topic. I wanted to speak for victims. So, I wrote and wrote and wrote, but the more I did the less peace I felt. My fingers only typed anger. I sounded combative—demanding our readers: “Hear us. We’ve been wronged. We’ve been hurt. We deserve to be heard. LISTEN TO US.” I was spinning in circles, losing sight of my own message and scrapped several [whole] drafts.

The truth is that victims are often sentenced to a life of silence.

But, some surviving loved ones will force themselves to find an outlet; they realize the courtroom is not the only venue for action. Sometimes victims’ families are able to turn their pain into purpose and when they do, it is powerful. No criminal, or system, or reporter can stifle the progress, or the changes that occur through the actions of those left behind. And, the rippling effect is dramatic. These actions give voice to victims and suffering.

Dru’s voice calls out loudly through her mom’s advocacy. Dru’s Law is included in the Adam Walsh Protection and Safety Act and requires convicted child molesters to be listed on a national registry. The registry helps aid law enforcement track sex offenders and mandates appropriate hard-hitting federal punishment if they assault a child.

Linda Walker has partnered with Edward Smart and other parents to form the Surviving Parents Coalition. Their purpose is to advocate for legislative initiatives that spread public awareness, provide laws and initiatives to protect children, educate young people on safety, and promotes national DNA collection/assessment laws.

In the same way, the Officer Daniel Boyle Scholarship Fund sends a message of hope and promise to the [nearly] 700 kids who have received a scholarship in Dan’s name. Watching my parents and scores of volunteers work to preserve Danny’s memory by helping to educate kids sends a thunderous message of optimism. The aid is based on a student’s desire to learn and their family’s need for financial help. More than one million dollars has been raised for the Officer Daniel Boyle Scholarship Fund—and the totals keep rising.

These families hear you, Dan.

A single mom captures it: “Thank you so very much. My three children’s lives are better because of your scholarship. You gave them an education and they are prepared for their future and will give back, too, because they understand what you did for them. You gave them a chance. God bless you.” nurse navigators: your “easy button” A nurse navigator takes you by the hand - sometimes literally - and guides you and your family through your cancer journey. She enters the picture shortly after you get the diagnosis from your doctor - often within an hour.

There is a voice in the silence…we hear it.

Kathleen is a stay-at-home mom who serves on a number of community boards/committees, is active in her church, kids’ school, and politics and runs to sustain her own mental health! This Philadelphia native is married to a fourth generation North Dakotan, Drew, and proudly considers North Dakota her home. They have three children.

Before becoming a mom, she was director for Bismarck’s Child Advocacy Center and was a speech writer. Kathleen received a BS from The Pennsylvania State University and completed her graduate studies at Temple University, in Philadelphia.

Your palms sweat. Your mind races. Your stomach does a somersault. You know the crazy feeling when you’re hit with the unexpected - a breakup, a job loss, a family crisis. And it’s double crazy when the unexpected forces you on a path you’ve never traveled. You feel lost, overwhelmed, uncertain.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if you had a personalized “guide me through” app for every time the unexpected hit, even when the unexpected turned out to be…cancer? Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center has exactly what you need.

“When people find out they have cancer, the emotions run the gamut - shock, overwhelmed, scared. But almost always they’re left with ‘What’s next? What do I do?’”

Empowering You

“Cancer care is complex,” says Nancy. “In breast cancer, for example, we arrange for newly diagnosed women to have hour-long appointments with a radiation oncologist, a medical oncologist and a breast cancer surgeon even before any treatment has been determined. We want women to have all the information they need, including treatment options, so they can make an informed decision.”

In addition to coordinating care and providing information, navigators:

• prepare the way They let patients know step-by-step what will happen next. “Women tend to be planners,” says Nancy. “It’s a relief for them just to know.”

• answer questions “A cancer diagnosis can bring heightened awareness of your body. You notice new things, triggering lots of questions. We let patients know they can call us with any type of question,” Nancy explains. “If we don’t know the answer we’ll steer them in the right direction. Patients appreciate having one point of contact.”