The Villages - October 2021 - 13
That was three years prior, and
now those friends were reaching
out to Pelle, showing compassion
and offering insight and personal
perspectives.
" My phone was ringing off the
hook, " she said. " I was getting
messages from women who had
cancer, and I didn't even know. "
Friends
from
California
EVERYBODY'S
EXPERIENCE IS
DIFFERENT. I GOT
CONFUSED AND
STARTED QUESTIONING
MY MEDICAL
and
Wisconsin contacted Pelle when they
too were diagnosed after her.
" It was like, what's going on with
this cancer? " she said.
Pelle said the generous outpouring
of support was initially moving but in
time began to weigh her down.
" I went into overload, " she said.
DECISIONS. AT SOME
POINT, I JUST HAD TO
PUT THE BLINDERS ON
AND FOCUS ON WHAT
MY DOCTORS
WERE TELLING ME.
- Ann Pelle
" I told my husband Mike, 'I can't listen to everybody.' " (They said) 'you need
to go to Shands (cancer hospital), or you need to go to Moffit Cancer Center.'
But my cancer wasn't that (severe), and I didn't feel the need to run all
over God's creation for treatment. Everybody's experience is different. I got
confused and started questioning my medical decisions. At some point, I just
had to put the blinders on and focus on what my doctors were telling me. "
Pelle thanked her supporters and decided she'd only discuss details
with a few trusted friends - " women who were the most in tune with my
experience. "
Then there was radiation - a necessary evil.
" It was like a runaway freight train, " she said. " But you don't have a
choice; you have to get on. "
Pelle describes her first radiation visit. " I thought I didn't belong there.
I saw really, really sick people. You knew they were sick. They had turbans
on or they had no hair. They had IVs and pouches with chemo. It hurt my
heart. I didn't look sick or feel sick, and just to sit there with them - it was
hard to be there. "
Little kindnesses buoyed her along and gave her hope. Pelle holds out her
wrist to show a special gift from a friend - a bracelet with two tiny charms.
" St Benedict, " she said. " It says 'I am blessed,' and this is the breast
cancer ribbon. I left this on the entire time, and I bought a few friends one
too and mailed them along with a homemade card. "
On the day she completed her treatment, Pelle stood in front of her
victory bell, reached out with a proud hand and yanked the chain.
" That was the best part- ringing the bell, " she said.
A tradition in medical centers and hospitals around the word, the sound
of the bell marks the end of chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
Pelle moves forward now in gratitude, noting that she'll continue to
get mammograms every six months, take her prescribed medications and
remind friends to get their mammograms too.
In the spirit of a true majorette, she's marched through treatment and
made it to the finish line - ready to twirl and dance once again.
MAGAZINE
13
The Villages - October 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - October 2021
Contents
The Villages - October 2021 - Cover1
The Villages - October 2021 - Contents
The Villages - October 2021 - 1
The Villages - October 2021 - 2
The Villages - October 2021 - 3
The Villages - October 2021 - 4
The Villages - October 2021 - 5
The Villages - October 2021 - 6
The Villages - October 2021 - 7
The Villages - October 2021 - 8
The Villages - October 2021 - 9
The Villages - October 2021 - 10
The Villages - October 2021 - 11
The Villages - October 2021 - 12
The Villages - October 2021 - 13
The Villages - October 2021 - 14
The Villages - October 2021 - 15
The Villages - October 2021 - 16
The Villages - October 2021 - 17
The Villages - October 2021 - 18
The Villages - October 2021 - 19
The Villages - October 2021 - 20
The Villages - October 2021 - 21
The Villages - October 2021 - 22
The Villages - October 2021 - 23
The Villages - October 2021 - 24
The Villages - October 2021 - 25
The Villages - October 2021 - 26
The Villages - October 2021 - 27
The Villages - October 2021 - 28
The Villages - October 2021 - 29
The Villages - October 2021 - 30
The Villages - October 2021 - 31
The Villages - October 2021 - 32
The Villages - October 2021 - 33
The Villages - October 2021 - 34
The Villages - October 2021 - 35
The Villages - October 2021 - 36
The Villages - October 2021 - 37
The Villages - October 2021 - 38
The Villages - October 2021 - 39
The Villages - October 2021 - 40
The Villages - October 2021 - 41
The Villages - October 2021 - 42
The Villages - October 2021 - 43
The Villages - October 2021 - 44
The Villages - October 2021 - 45
The Villages - October 2021 - 46
The Villages - October 2021 - 47
The Villages - October 2021 - 48
The Villages - October 2021 - 49
The Villages - October 2021 - 50
The Villages - October 2021 - 51
The Villages - October 2021 - 52
The Villages - October 2021 - 53
The Villages - October 2021 - 54
The Villages - October 2021 - 55
The Villages - October 2021 - 56
The Villages - October 2021 - 57
The Villages - October 2021 - 58
The Villages - October 2021 - 59
The Villages - October 2021 - 60
The Villages - October 2021 - Cover3
The Villages - October 2021 - Cover4
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