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H E L P W H E N I T M A T T E R E D M O S T
“The physicians at Dirne saved my life,” Schaller said.
“Because of my insurance situation, they sent me to
Panhandle Health District. They were incredible. They
processed my paperwork quickly and got me on a great
program.”
From there, Schaller came to the Kootenai Cancer
Center for treatment.
“I love it here,” she said. “The facility is beautiful and
calming, and all of the nurses and physicians are won-
derful. I couldn’t imagine going through this anywhere
else. It was supposed to happen here.”
Because she lives farther away from the cancer center
and is caring for her parents, Schaller relies on her friends
for support and transportation. She said being a member
of the equestrian community helps a lot. Her friends at
the stable help support her and keep her going.
“The community up here is phenomenal,” she said.
“My good friends, Kathy and Fred, help take me to and
from appointments, andmy friend Judith fromCalifornia
came to visit me early on. They’re all troupers—everyone
pitches in.”
L O O K I N G T O T H E F U T U R E
Schaller wants to help other patients going through the
cancer treatment process. Although she is incredibly
happy with her medical care, she wants to help others
struggling with the mental challenges cancer patients
face.
“When you hear, ‘You have breast cancer,’ you really
hear, ‘You’re going to die,’” she said. “I asked myself,
‘Does everyone think that?’ I really want to be a counselor
or social worker for people going through the same thing. I
want themtoknowwhat they’regoing through isnormal—
and that they’re not alone.”
Indeed, they are not alone. Every year Coeur d’Alene’s
Race for the Cure event draws some 3,000 participants,
and last year it helped fund 447 mammograms for wom-
en in northern Idaho. It’s this collaboration between
the regional Susan G. Komen foundation and regional
providers that is giving women like Lynnette Schaller
hope and a vision for helping others in the future.
N E E D H E L P ?
Kootenai Cancer Center offers a variety of
support groups for people whose lives have
been touched by cancer. Turn to page 23 for a list of
groups, times and contact numbers.
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