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The American Cancer Society, Relay for Life of Chisago County will be on Friday night, August 21 from 5-9 pm at the Chisago Lake Lutheran Church, in Center City -1 Summit Avenue.  There will be hundreds of luminaria to view, each in  honor of someone who has survived or in memory of someone who has died of cancer. This year, the  county group celebrates a husband and wife as Honorary Survivors, Eric Stromberg and wife, Annie (Willem) of Shafer.

Both have had cancer - Annie, 17 years ago and Eric just in the past year. 

Annie experienced squamous cell throat cancer causing her to be treated with radiation which affected her vocal cords.  She could not swallow, had a feeding tube and was always tired and felt cold. She was a young mother and very challenged with all the health issues and parenting responsibilities.  Today, she is a successful college graduate and licensed nurse. She has worked for St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood, and now is a Fairview hospice nurse and an incredible caregiver for her husband,  with his colon cancer.

Eric discovered his cancer via a colonoscopy last year and then found out it had metastasized to other organs including his liver and lymph nodes. Chemotherapy has been challenging resulting in lots of fatigue, hair loss and eventually a difficult surgery but he says Rochester Mayo really helped him a lot and his treatments should be complete.

It was a dark journey for both Eric and Annie, but they have had tremendous help and support from their families, friends and the community especially a big fund raiser recently in the neighborhood at Buffalo Ridge.  

They have strongly believed in prayer and love and want everyone to faithfully get their colonoscopies, at age 45. Especially men who often put it off and don’t want to do it.  If you have a family history of colon cancer, typically you should begin even earlier at 35 years of age. 

Today, there is the home test, and modern medicine has made the clinical colonoscopy less uncomfortable as in the past.  

The Strombergs want to tell their story, help other people and spread awareness, so come and hear them speak at the Relay for Life August 21, in Center City at the big Lutheran church up on the hill.  If you cannot attend, you can give a donation which is used to support patients and programs, at www.relayforlife.org/chisagomn 

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