July 12, 2007 at 7:15 a.m.
Physician who battled cancer as a patient will co-chair Relay for Life; at Almelund Threshing Grounds Fri. & Sat., July 27-28
Physician who battled cancer as a patient will co-chair Relay for Life; at Almelund Threshing Grounds Fri. & Sat., July 27-28
He is a retired physician from Fairview Lakes Regional Hospital, but still one of the busiest guys around. His hobbies include gardening and yard work during this time of year. "I have a love/hate relationship with mowing, tree trimming, and all of the maintenance it takes to keep up a two-acre lot on the lake. I am thankful to live in such a beautiful location, although it is a lot of work. Today I was most appreciative when my sons showed up to help me out with the yard work," he said with a chuckle, on a 90 degree July day.
"I really like to work in my vegetable garden. I am an Albert Lee farm boy at heart and I like to have my hands in good soil." One look at the garden and you know it is tended with care, as are so many other things in Overgaard's life.
Marianna and Peter met in grade school and Overgaard said he "went to town" to meet his wife. They were high school sweethearts and also went to college together at The University of Minnesota. They married when Peter was a senior in Pharmacy School. "Marianna and I have been blessed with a great marriage and family," he commented with pride.
From 1957, he worked for four years in retail pharmacy and it was a tragedy in his family that propelled him to go on to medical school. The Overgaards lost their first baby at 19 months old to a kidney complication. He returned to college at The University of Minnesota Medical School to prepare for his new career.
Overgaard interned in medicine while serving in the Navy. The family spent three years in New Port, Rhode Island. "The Navy trained me well and I learned a lot about obstetrics and general surgery. Marianna and I had little children and we were both very happy and very busy, which is nothing new," remarked the Relay Chairman.
"The rest is history as we chose to settle in the Chisago Lakes area. I enjoyed working in Family Practice for 29 years and retired July 10, 1998. Now I like to golf more often, spend time with our 10 grandchildren, as well as our four children and their spouses. I volunteer for various organizations, and I had my own airplane for seven years and enjoy flying."
Sounds like a near perfect life, doesn't it? Yet, almost everyone we know can tell stories about someone they love having cancer, and that is true of the Overgaards, too. Peter was diagnosed with cancer in January of 2005 and went through treatment.
"My cancer was discovered by a routine yearly examination and blood test - PSA. Cancer does not always exhibit symptoms, so it is important to be your own advocate when it comes to your own health. Having a primary care physician that knows you is important and it is your job to get a check-up on a regular basis," said Overgaard.
"Denial is often our own worst enemy. Listen to your body and pay attention to things that are not normal to you. You know when you are just not feeling up to par, but you have to ask for help and get an accurate diagnosis for treatment," said Dr. Overgaard. "Trust your instincts."
"Educate yourself about preventative measures if your family has a history of cancer. Take tests earlier as your doctor recommends, like a colonoscopy or a mammogram, to set the bar as to what is normal for your body. There are so many resources out there that are available to help in learning about cancer and your options for treatment. The American Cancer Society has done a good job of reaching out to people and teaching them about cancer," he added.
Peter and Marianna Overgaard attend Zion Evangelical Church, in Chisago City, which is heavily involved in the Relay For Life of Chisago County. The church has three teams of participants as well as several other members involved in the planning of the event. Jane Wachutka is the Chairwoman for the Relay For Life of Chisago County; Team Recruitment Chair is Sue Frame; Team Leader for Zion is Judy Lifgren and she organized a spaghetti dinner fundraiser in June. Pastor Michael Peterson has volunteered to conduct the invocation at the event.
Relay For Life is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Funds raised help support life-saving research into new treatments and diagnostic tests, as well as patient services and early detection/prevention programs. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer, you can find local resources and cancer information by calling 1-800-ACS-2345 or visiting www.cancer.org.
Once again, The Relay for Life of Chisago County will be held Friday, July 27, beginning at 6 p.m., at the Almelund Threshing Grounds. There will be food, a silent auction and activities for the entire family.
For more information about the Relay For Life of Chisago County, contact Sue Frame at 651-257-2033 or [email protected]. us. The public is encouraged to attend!
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