News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Thousands of women are diagnosed with cancer each year - yet each one feels terribly alone.
Support Our Sisters ensures that women facing this dire change in their lives are not alone, that they have the fellowship and support of other women who truly know what they are going through - because they have been through it themselves.
"We are all frightened of the word cancer," said Sisters breast cancer survivor Katie Powers. "These women have the heartfelt feeling that they really know what you're going through. They listen; they really listen. They don't judge. They don't give their opinion unless you ask for it. They're just there for support."
The support group was started 14 years ago, founded by two Sisters women who were each facing breast cancer.
"They needed someone to talk to," Powers said.
Though it originally focused on breast cancer, Support Our Sisters has since become a cancer support group for all women. There are more than 30 members from Sisters and across Central Oregon. Meetings are scheduled for the fourth Thursday of each month in different members' homes.
Agendas include guest speakers, fellowship time and physical and emotional support. Members are also available via phone and email.
"If we need to share something, we do," Powers said. "It's quiet sometimes; sometimes it's quite lively. We laugh, we cry..."
There is one thing they don't do: "We don't ask 'Why me?' It's pointless."
S.O.S. also participates in "Heaven Can Wait," a June event in conjunction with the Sara Fisher Project, and in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
Powers believes it's important during October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month that those facing cancer realize that they're not alone.
"It's a really warm, comforting feeling," Powers said.
For more information call Maggie at 541-815-8131 or Marilyn B. at 541-382-4492.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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