2021 In Honor Of melanie pederson

There are times in your life when simple words can change your life. For me it was “you have cancer”.  The first time I heard those words, I was diagnosed with basal cell skin cancer which resulted in Mohs surgery to successfully remove the cancer from my right nostril. With a little help from a plastic surgeon and 40 stitches later, the hole was closed.  The second time was in October 2008. I was sitting in my surgeon’s office after a third biopsy in four years.  While cancer was a strong possibility, it didn’t become real until I heard him tell me the biopsy confirmed cancer. I felt devasted. My first thoughts were of my granddaughter, Jordan, who I had taken a leave from work to be with at Children’s Hospital during the day as my daughter was working second shift at the time. Jordan was born on July 22nd and diagnosed with a Vein of Galen Malformation (VOGM), a rare type of vascular malformation of the brain that develops before birth and spent the first 4 ½ months of her life in the hospital. 

I went through genetic testing and found no history of cancer in my family at that time. However, my mother died of lung cancer (smoker her adult life) and my father died of complications from prostate cancer and dementia. My sister, Christine, was diagnosed with endometrial cancer and is remission. So much for genetic testing. Based on the size of the tumor and the fact my cancer wasn’t invasive, my choice was a bilateral mastectomy as I didn’t want the stress of wondering if the cancer would appear in the other breast. My surgery was on October 26th at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison WI. My husband, Greg, came up from HSV to be with me at the hospital and to help care for me. The nurses were wonderful and told me what to expect when I looked at myself in the mirror with the stitches and ports sticking out of my body. I saw my ‘new normal’ and learned how to empty my drains and care for myself. On our way home, we stopped at Children’s to visit Jordan. I remember being in the elevator with drains in both pockets holding Taco Bell for my daughter when a woman who told me she was a breast cancer survivor of 15 years, offered to help hold the food which felt incredibly heavy. But I got to see my daughter, hold my precious Jordan with my husband at my side. I spoke with my son and family. Life was good. 

An unexpected call from my doctor in November brought tears to my eyes when he recommended another surgery due to unclear margins. This time it was a day surgery that required another drain, and I was told not to lift anything over 10 pounds. Jordan weighed 12 pounds at the time. My husband, sister and sister-in-law came up to help with Jordan while I recovered. A week later, the results were inconclusive. I went through 9 weeks of radiation, five days a week and am now considered ‘cancer free’ after five years of follow-up. I truly feel blessed. 

I tell people that I am a ‘professional volunteer’ and volunteer in the community, church and help my family as needed. As the oldest of eight children, I learned to be a caregiver, to do what needs to be done and developed a work ethic that has stayed with me. In 2010, I attended my first Village Walk for Cancer Research and made the decision to get involved and have been involved ever since. 

Cancer is a growing epidemic that affects millions of people every year. This disease affects the cells in a person’s body causing them to grow abnormally and impair the function of nearby tissue. Understanding this process through research continues to find more effective ways to manage and one day, eradicate this dreadful disease. 

You can make a difference! We are asking for your help and support to raise $50,000 for cancer research.  The Walk is on Saturday, September 25th at the Balboa Pavilion and starts at 8 am. The walker registration fee includes a t-shirt and is $30 until September 1st, then the fee will be $35. Sponsorships and in-kind donations are still available.  For more information go to walkforcancerresearch.org. Help us make a difference by “walking, biking, or kayaking away Cancer”.

David came from Texas.  Diana came from Missouri. They met in Hot Springs and spent the next 36 years together. And now, Diana is honored that the Village Walk for Cancer Research will celebrate the life of her wonderful spouse who lost his battle with cancer in July, 2020, at the height of the pandemic. 

After spending many years in Texas, David and his family relocated to Hot Springs when he was a senior in high school. David and his dad were for many years “Whitlow & Son” developing subdivisions and building houses in and around Hot Springs. Along the way, he earned degrees from Arkansas Tech University and Webster University in St. Louis. David began work in Hot Springs Village in 1983 as a Work Resource Coordinator.  Later in 1989 he was promoted to Director of Public Works. He and Diana moved to Hot Springs Village in 1993. David retired after 28 years of service to the POA! And after retiring the Whitlows continued to enjoy the good life as property owners. 

Even though David worked full time, he was a person who was always involved in public service throughout his life. He was a charter member of Mid-America Lions Club, Hot Springs Homebuilders Association, deacon of the First Christian Church, and president of the Village People Federal Credit Union. He was especially proud to be a charter member of the HSV Rotary Club. Further proof of the Whitlows philanthropic nature is apparent in the creation of an endowment which they created with the Hot Springs Village Community Foundation which helps to fund non-profits in the Village and surrounding area.

Both Diana and David were victims of this terrible disease. Diana is a survivor of fallopian tube cancer since 2013. David’s journey had a sadder outcome with his death on July 31, 2020. David fought a valiant two-year battle against esophageal cancer. In an attempt to spend a few more years with his loved ones, David willingly entered UAMS to undergo an especially complicated ten-hour surgery. While the family expected a long hospital recovery, sadly he suffered an anoxic brain injury 3 weeks after the surgery from which he never recovered. This situation was made sadder because of the pandemic during which the family was unable to be with him. 

Listening to Diana as she talks about David and her life with him, it is clear that the 36 years they spent together was a happy one filled with many great memories for them and their 3 children. And now the Village Walk for Cancer Research is proud to honor the memory of David at this year’s walk to be held at the Balboa Pavilion on September 25 at 8 a.m. Registrations forms are available at walkforcancerresearch.org. Sponsorships and in-kind donation are also greatly appreciated. Help us make a difference by “walking, biking, or kayaking away Cancer”. You can make a difference!

Martha believes in cancer research and the benefits of clinical trials.

 She is grateful to God for being here today and is eternally grateful to be here doing what she loves. Martha is looking forward to traveling again, remembering trips to Cuba, Poland, Austria, and Japan (as a Hot Springs delegate). 

Martha loves to cook and entertain, however, the cooking has curtailed since Wilbur’s death in 2015. 

She believes in making a difference in people’s lives and likes to do things that are enjoyable to her; reading, knitting and golfing. 

She is here for a purpose, to help other people and to make a difference in their lives, especially the lives of children.  

 Honoring Shirley’s memory.

Shirley liked the Hawaiian saying, “Live in the Aloha Spirit” which means to live in such a way that you embody genuine warmth, affection, and compassion in your relationships and interactions with others. This helped Shirley deal with the loss of her mother (who died of breast cancer at the age of 55), the loss of her precious husband and son and her granddaughter, Kelsey’s diagnosis of ovarian and thyroid cancer. 

If you knew Shirley, she didn’t have time to be sick and didn’t dwell on her many medical conditions that included breast cancer. If there was something that needed to be done, she was there. She stayed active in PEO, The Village Walk for Cancer Research, Hospice, First Step Teach, golf, many bridge groups and Christ Lutheran Church Befrienders Group.  Shirley proudly served on the board of First Electric until she wasn’t able to make the long drive to Jacksonville. Shirley was active with the Village Walk and was recognized for all of her involvement with the Village Walk and as a cancer survivor in 2007. 

Shirley died on June 2, 2018 leaving her legacy for all to cherish.