LIMA — Breast cancer survivor Joni Ruppert spoke at Lima Memorial Health System’s Celebration of Life.
To celebrate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Ohio Mammography Day, Lima Memorial hosted its 19th annual Hope Garden Ceremony Thursday.
“I was diagnosed in the winter of 2012-2013,” said Ruppert. “I never missed a mammogram, so from one mammogram to the next it had developed that quickly, but the doctors told me ‘this is not going to be fun, but we’re going to get this’ and they did. “
Ruppert started the event by giving an account of her experiences that helped her get through the battle with breast cancer, and how family, friends, doctors, nurses and an Elizabeth Edwards quote — “She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails” — helped her stay positive.
Guests were entertained by the Lincolnview High School Select choir. A quilt was hand-crafted by a mother of a current breast cancer patient.
Survivors were encouraged to sign a section of the blanket and leave a message of encouragement for current and future patients to see after the quilt is hung for display. The quilt will be displayed at Lima Memorial’s Women’s Health Center.
Ribbon on the blanket were also tied by survivors to signify a binding of themselves to the strength of other survivors.
Lima Memorial hosts the annual event to bring breast cancer survivors together and so other patients who may be currently battling cancer can see and talk with other people who have gone through similar experiences.
“A lot of times when someone is diagnosed they think that they are all alone and are scared thinking, why is this happening to me, then to come and see all these other women who have also been diagnosed it gives them hope,” said Dr. Darlene Weyer, medical director of Lima Memorial’s Women’s Health Center.
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