Over the course of four weeks, members of the community will be sharing their story. These stories are about individuals and their experience with cancer. They are the reason the Lowell community comes together for the Pink Arrow Football Game. Each story is written by the person you will read about or by someone on their behalf. We thank them for sharing their story and courage.
Photo courtesy of Heather Eveland and is used with permission. Heather donates her time to get to know those she is photographing and capture an image to be used with each story. You can visit her photography website and Facebook page for more information about her work.
Heather is also the volunteer coordinator for Pink Arrow events. If you are interested in helping out at the Kidz Zone during Riverwalk (Saturday, July 14), Community Day (Thursday, Aug. 16), or game day (Thursday, Aug. 30) please contact her by calling 616-291-8907 or send an email to [email protected]. Heather will let you or your group know what help is needed to determine the best fit.
The following is from Kathy Noskey. She tells of her cancer journey.
January 5th 2018. An ultra sound at the Lack’s center indicated two masses (tumors) in my uterus. They were cancerous. Yes that was a big shock for both my husband, Dick and I. Now we needed to share this with our kids and their spouses (who are like our kids as well). We invited them all over and the three youngest grandkids were able to come as they live in Lowell. Our other 7 grand kids love out of town.
We wanted to tell them face to face. We knew not a text or email was the way to go. No mom or dad or grandma or grandpa wants to tell their kids or grand kids this news, “Your mom/grandma has cancer.” But Dick took over and explained it all to them.
The look on their faces said it all. As a mom and grandma, I hugged each person in the room and gave them a kiss and said, “I love you.” We all needed each other to walk this journey together with The Lord. I received calls and texts and emails from the rest of the grandchildren who live away from home.
We have 10 grandchildren. Four have graduated from Lowell, three are attending college. Two are in Lowell Middle School. One is currently at Lowell High School.
I also have 3 other grandchildren who did not live in Lowell. They lived in Cedar Springs growing up. Oldest of the three lives in Grand Rapids and cleans carpet. The second oldest is a grand daughter who has moved on and joined the United States Navy and is stationed in Groton, CT. The youngest of the above 3 is currently in Cedar Springs and works at Sam’s club.
I had 6 chemo treatments and family would come up that day and bring lunch. I will have 27 radiation treatments and I just finished my first week and have 4 more weeks to go. Living in Lowell is also a blessing when walking this journey. I have a number of people in Lowell who stop and ask “How are you doing?” Or say , “I am Praying for you.”
One of the most beautiful events in Lowell has been and is the Pink Arrow week here in Lowell. I am humbled to have been invited to tell my story. As I write this, there are tears of joy that I can share my story and tears of sadness as I have lost a brother in law Ron Pawloski and a very good friend Maureen Mikulski and have known others that have lost the battle. We all come together in Lowell to walk this journey together as the strongest “Little Town of Lowell” Thanks to everyone who is walking this journey with me.
Kathy Noskey
Hi Kathy, your cousin Lori Malec here. We are praying for your full recovery. We are in Hesperia right now. How can I give you a call?
Love you!
Kathy, I have thought of you often since we talked in Meijer’s some months ago. You have been in my prayers and I’ve wondered how your treatments were going. Thank you for sharing your story and pictures of you and your beautiful family. You are loved!
Bless you,thank you for sharing your story.We know your not alone.Cancer can strike anytime,at any age.We fight to survive.Every day is a gift for sure.