Carol believes her purpose in life is to create and teach. She beads, makes moccasins, grows traditional tobacco, and shares her gifts with others to continue passing this important knowledge on to future generations. She makes boxes full of moccasins so that future generations in her family have them and know they were loved and thought of long beyond her time.
Cancer was never a part of her plan. A gallbladder attack led to scans that showed spots on her lungs. Further screening and resection of lower left lung brought her results: non-small cell lung cancer.
Carol talked with her doctors and it was decided chemotherapy and surgery were the best route based on location of the spots.
Even with a label of “incurable”, Carol continued her treatment and was committed to a healthy lifestyle to honor her health and maintain the highest quality of life for as long as possible.
5 years later, Carol still maintains that she feels good and doesn’t have many symptoms, regardless of her active cancer diagnosis. She remains physically active, she continues to do the things that bring her joy and give her purpose.
Carol continues to honor our traditional medicines like sacred tobacco, educate others around her, and advocate by sharing her story of resilience. She is an inspiring example that cancer survivors are sacred and life doesn’t stop at diagnosis.