{"id":47506,"date":"2024-10-01T15:11:13","date_gmt":"2024-10-01T22:11:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/?p=47506"},"modified":"2024-10-01T15:11:16","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T22:11:16","slug":"faith-support-celebration-guide-couples-cancer-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/news\/faith-support-celebration-guide-couples-cancer-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Faith, Support &amp; Celebration Guide Couple\u2019s Cancer Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article\">\n\t<header class=\"header\">\n\t\t<span class=\"type\"><\/span>\t\t<h1>Faith, Support &amp; Celebration Guide Couple\u2019s Cancer Journey<\/h1>\t\t<time>October 1, 2024<\/time>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div id=\"block_407b7d0b5f83f5cec0cf0e10a5905a16\" class=\"shs-block block-news-article entry-content\">\n\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<p>Navigating cancer is an individualized experience, much like a choose-your-own-adventure book. Each story starts the same \u2014 with a cancer diagnosis \u2014 but the chapters that follow can vary based on many factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Rob and Donna Durbin of Corvallis, this chapter in their lives meant embracing their faith, cherishing connections, leaning into their personal support system and finding ways to celebrate by creating hope and encouragement for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-rob-s-chapter-beacon-of-hope\">Rob\u2019s Chapter: Beacon of Hope<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was a win-win situation for me,\u201d Rob said after being diagnosed in 2012 with acute myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. \u201cIf I live, I\u2019m with my loved ones. If I die, I\u2019m with my Lord and Savior.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having been rushed to a hospital, then placed on a ventilator with a 10% chance of survival, it was Rob (and Donna\u2019s) belief that the steadfast care of the cancer team and their faith gave Rob peace to breathe again on his own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the mindset of \u201clet\u2019s do this,\u201d Rob spent the next 100 days in the hospital, underwent a bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy, blood transfusions and physical therapy after enduring a stroke. He was then able to attend his many follow-up visits close to home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy cancer diagnosis is only but a chapter in the larger story of my life,\u201d Rob said. \u201cBut it is in this chapter and from this illness that so much love surfaced and many connections were formed that may not have otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, 12 years later, Rob is living life like he did before his diagnosis \u2014 playing and coaching competitive racquetball, spending time with family and is soon to retire from his 39-year career as a dedicated and well-known rural postal carrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGod has given me a second chance and the opportunity to share with others that even when given a bleak prognosis that this disease can be survived,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-donna-s-chapter-encouragement-for-a-healthier-future\">Donna\u2019s Chapter: Encouragement for a Healthier Future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy journey with cancer started at a young age when my mother was diagnosed with melanoma,\u201d Donna said. \u201cMany, many years later my father also battled his own cancer diagnosis of the colon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These early experiences with cancer left a lasting impression on Donna, so much so that she pursued a career in health care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cServing as a nurse for many years, I was able to funnel my passion for education and the importance of early cancer detection through screenings and annual checkups,\u201d she said. Fast forward to 2021, when Donna\u2019s diligence and passion for taking an active role in one\u2019s own health and wellness proved its value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI went in for my annual mammogram and it was then that cancer was found \u2014 stage 1 breast cancer,\u201d Donna said. Because the cancer was detected early it hadn\u2019t spread to any surrounding lymph nodes. Donna was able to have a lumpectomy followed by five rounds of radiation therapy. \u201cSetting aside time for an annual screening appointment may seem daunting but it sure beats the time needed to treat cancer if not caught early,\u201d Donna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-honor-amp-celebrate-an-annual-tradition\">Honor &amp; Celebrate \u2014 an Annual Tradition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Each year since 2013, Rob and Donna have joined other cancer survivors at the National Cancer Survivors Day event hosted by the Samaritan Cancer Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Durbins shared that the event provides a mutual affirmation for them. One, to see the cancer team that cared for each of them and two, to show the team they are alive and well \u2014 that their work matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both Rob and Donna expressed that their individual, yet connected, chapters with cancer are a tribute to their faith and their care teams, and a reminder to not take life for granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn more about cancer care at Samaritan, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/health-services\/all-services\/cancer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">samhealth.org\/Cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<aside>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/pt-the-durbins-smiling-at-each-other-CO.jpg\" class=\"attachment-cta size-cta wp-post-image\" alt=\"Rob and Donna Durbin smiling at one another at the annual Cancer Survivor&#039;s Day event.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/pt-the-durbins-smiling-at-each-other-CO.jpg 360w, https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/pt-the-durbins-smiling-at-each-other-CO-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/pt-the-durbins-smiling-at-each-other-CO-120x100.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t<\/aside>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rob and Donna Durbin of Corvallis have each faced the life-altering challenge of facing a cancer diagnosis. Their journey is a testament to how faith, a strong network of loved ones and celebrating the beauty of every day life can help in navigating life\u2019s toughest moments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":47508,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_shs_workflow_notes":"","_shs_exclude_from_navigation":false,"_shs_promote_article_on_blogs":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"news-topics":[285],"news-types":[270],"services":[],"specialty":[55],"class_list":["post-47506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","news-topics-patient-story","news-types-feature-article","specialty-oncology"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47506","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47506"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47506\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47508"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47506"},{"taxonomy":"news-topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-topics?post=47506"},{"taxonomy":"news-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-types?post=47506"},{"taxonomy":"services","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/services?post=47506"},{"taxonomy":"specialty","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/specialty?post=47506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}