October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
A baseball saved my life BY SUZI WIEBE | suzi@prliving.ca
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call it my old and slow moment. I’ve always played baseball; I played it growing up, so I consider myself a ball player. However, on that day, at that moment, I missed a grounder that came up unexpectedly. I didn’t get my glove up in time to catch it and it hit me in the chest. I was bruised in more ways than one. Along with my pride, the impact of the ball left a bruise and a bump on my chest. Over time the bruise faded but the bump remained, so I made a doctor’s appointment. Eight weeks had passed since the baseball hit my chest and the bump was now a lump that had been touched, squished, scanned, biopsied and then on June 14, 2017, diagnosed as breast cancer. Who do you tell, not tell? Do you tell the world? Twenty-four hours had passed since that life-altering moment. I tried to work; I even drove to see one of my clients but I couldn’t go into the business for fear I would start crying so I went home. I had so many questions and no answers. I cried a lot. I called my husband Rod at work and asked him to come home. I wandered through the house, thinking too
Stefanie Pletscher The Crafty Medic
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As word spread, I was getting all kinds of great messages and it became apparent I couldn’t keep answering with long explanations, so my cancer was given an identity: “Maintaining Rock Star Status.” much, worrying too much and when Rod came through the door, we cried together. I tried to watch TV but the show was sad, and the music was sad, so I just went to bed. It rained the next day; it seemed appropriate. I caught myself holding my breath, I wasn’t sure why. I had so many things to think about, so many questions and no answers. When Rod came home to check on me, I said we needed to talk to someone. I texted Sneeta Takhar, a local oncologist, who also happens to be my friend and hockey teammate. She met us for coffee and we talked. I was so glad she
Sarah Mazurek Krafty-Kritter
Women In Business $300 Education Bursary
TOQUE NIGHT AT THE ARENA: Suzi Wiebe’s team, the Ice Cats, wore toques in support of her, when her hair fell out. Right, husband Rob Wiebe, the RCMP Staff Sergeant, rode in Cops for Cancer on behalf of his wife. was my friend. Little did I know that she was about to become MY oncologist, too.
The journey begins
Rod and I decided to tell just a few people: our kids, family, some extended family, colleagues, and a few friends. It was hard, but there was also this huge sense of relief once our people knew and didn’t run to the hills. Our people were amazing! As word spread, I began getting all kinds of great messages and it became apparent I couldn’t keep answering with long explanations, so my cancer was given an identity: “Maintaining Rock Star Status.” It even evolved into having its own emoji, the smiley face wear-
Jennifer Konopelski The Nutcracker Market
First Credit Union $500 Business Development Bursary
Brittney Chisholm Suncoast Integrated Health First Credit Union $500 Education Bursary
Congratulations to the 2020 Women in Business bursary winners! Join WIB to be eligible to win a bursary next year. Need another reason to join Powell River Women in Business? Membership in ON SALE - just $15 for the rest of the year. POWELL RIVER LIVING • October 2020 •
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