Reaching from Sisters to Uganda

It's not often a woman from Sisters receives an invitation to meet with members of Parliament, let alone the President and first lady of an African nation. Last year, Janet Storton got that call from Uganda. Leading up to the trip, Storton had one thing on her mind: planning the meetings to discuss a life-changing topic dear to her heart.

It turned out that this journey would face greater obstacles and have implications far different than any previous one.

Since 2007, when Storton first traveled to Uganda, her passion and influence has helped the village of Kapchorwa blossom. On her first trip, she brought two quilts for the children she and her husband, Peter, sponsored. The women had never seen anything like it, and they asked Janet to teach them how to create their own "blankets of color." Her once-in-a-lifetime trip soon turned into a life-long passion to help the women attain economic stability and skills they could share with others.

Storton began by teaching the local women how to sew, delivering sewing machines and later helping them start their own catering business, learning new cooking skills and better hygiene. The women named themselves "Sisters of the Heart" and adopted the motto, "Women Empowering Women." With the new tools and knowledge, they began to lift themselves out of poverty.

On one of her trips, Storton heard about the plight of young women who needed a different kind of help. That's where her plan to provide a haven for girls who have been trafficked in the sex trade or were unable to get an education began, and the reason the Ugandan leaders wanted to talk to her. Storton's proposal included housing the girls and teaching them skills and a sustainable way out.

Two weeks before her departure, Storton began experiencing vertigo. She didn't want dizziness to hinder her travels, knowing how grueling the journey would be. So she called her doctor, May Fan.

"She'd adjusted my neck before so I knew a quick visit to her would have me feeling much better," she said.

Sure enough, Dr. Fan's treatment did the trick and Storton was just about to head out the door, when Dr. Fan asked her to schedule a mammogram. Storton wasn't due for one, but Dr. Fan insisted. Storton wasn't happy about fitting in another appointment before she left. Knowing Storton was busy and not inspired to take her advice, Dr. Fan slipped a note to the receptionist telling her to not let her leave until she made an appointment. Begrudgingly, Storton complied and scheduled an exam.

When the results of a mammogram aren't good, things can move very quickly. Soon after her exam, Storton received the call from her doctor that no person ever wants to get: She had breast cancer, it was aggressive and moving fast.

"That's when the bomb dropped and I knew I had to cancel my trip," Storton said.

After the shock of her diagnosis leveled out, Storton had to know why Dr. Fan had been so insistent. There hadn't been any lump or sign there was a problem; at least none that Storton knew to be aware of before researching possible symptoms of breast cancer.

"I asked her why she'd insisted I have a mammogram when I wasn't even due for one," said Storton. Dr. Fan replied that something just told her to get it done. "If I'd waited one more month, things would have been very different for me," said Storton.

Storton gave up her trip to Uganda, consoling herself that it would all still be there when she was finished with treatment.

"I knew I'd recover, there was still so much work to be done and I planned to be back there to do it. I said to my team of doctors, you have to have me ready by next September, because I'll be leaving the country. They all laughed but said six months would possibly be doable. I had hope."

Storton decided she'd beat cancer by being positive.

"To stay mentally strong helps you recover physically. I never felt alone - I had support from family, friends, and people I barely knew. I'll never forget the Teddy Bear Kiki Dolson sent me for comfort. I still have it," she said.

When Storton cancelled her travel plans, she received a message from the ladies in Uganda.

"They knew my cancer was serious and sent an email asking for my surgery date. They planned to hold a prayer vigil and fasting on that day for my full recovery, and I knew God would listen to this village!"

Storton knows her village right here in Sisters also had a huge impact on her recovery.

"My church friends and so many others were my local prayer warriors," she said.

Storton wants to encourage other women who receive a cancer diagnosis to hit it head-on, stay positive, listen to your doctors and do your research. She also stopped doing anything that didn't promote healing.

"If I had blown off Dr. May Fan that day I'd be looking at a completely different story now. I made it to Uganda this September. I've come out of it stronger. I'm more compassionate towards others going through this journey. Now I can reach out and help with authority because I've been through it."

Recently, Storton's cousin was diagnosed with cancer. She plans to be there for her and repay the kindness shown to her during her journey.

Storton's initial strategy during treatment was to keep busy, until the fog of treatment descended. That's when sleep and movies helped pass the time. But when she was feeling better she began working on getting a dental team from Salem to travel with her on the September trip to Uganda.

"We left as planned, and if there was ever a reason for me to live through my cancer ordeal this was it. That team healed over 500 people who were silently suffering with all kinds of dental problems. They don't have modern dental care in the remote villages except local 'dentists' who leave their victims in worse shape than when they came in."

Storton explained that the people led their daily lives in great pain and never showed it. The dental team also took care of sixty children at an orphanage, rescued off the streets that had never been to a dentist or even knew how to care for their teeth.

"Seeing all this work, having people relieved of their pain, had me thanking God over and over," she said. "I know that was why I was healed."

The dental team, called "Open Wide Ministries," told Storton the Ugandan mission was one of their favorite trips.

"When we arrived and got out of the van at the orphanage, the children started singing and dancing because they were so grateful the Americans arrived to help them," said Storton.

Storton's already planning for her next trip to Uganda. With support from Sisters Community Church and the Sisters of the Heart Foundation the women in the village are leading the way to a healthier, sustainable community all sewn together with love from the heart of Janet Storton.

When Storton returned from her latest trip, she brought back new products made by the ladies in Uganda. They are available to purchase through Storton. To contact Storton call 541-595-1818 or email [email protected] To learn more about Sisters of the Heart visit Sisters of the Heart Foundation.