By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

The Geneseo Lady Leafs raised more than $5,000 at their recent Pink Zone Night, but the event was about much more than money.

Team members, coaches, parents and fans created an atmosphere of care and support at the event held each year in honor and in memory of those who have battled cancer. The funds raised from the event are donated to local cancer support groups.

The GHS gym was packed with pink, from shirts and sock to ties, etc., worn not only by the players of both Geneseo and United Township teams, but also by many cancer survivors and others who took part in promoting awareness of the dreaded disease.

One of the survivors was Connie Yager, who is currently considered cancer-free after winning her battle with Non Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Yager was honored by GHS basketball player Addison Smith, whom she has known since she was born.

Smith said, “I chose Connie because she is such a strong and amazing person. She is just like family to me and both she and her husband Alan have supported me so much throughout high school, and I wouldn’t want to have anyone else there on Pink Zone Night.”

Non Hodgkin Lymphoma is considered a blood cancer which attacks the immune system, Yager said, and she added, “It develops in the lymph glands. The white blood cells grow abnormally and form growths or tumors throughout the body.”

Even though it has been more than 20 years since her diagnosis, Yager continues to have blood work completed on a regular basis.

Her battle with the disease began in August of 2002 when a biopsy was done during her appointment with her primary care doctor.

“The result was Non Hodgkin Lymphoma,” she said. “I was sent to a wonderful oncologist (Dr. Michael Porubcin) who is still in practice.”

After additional testing, she began chemotherapy treatments within one week of her diagnosis…”They were very strong treatments and before I ever had the second treatment, I had lost all of my hair. What a devastating feeling!”

Her treatments continued through the end of January of 2003 when she began a maintenance program that involved once a week for four weeks every six months for two years.

Yager admits she did become “very weak, but I had lots of support from family and friends,” she said. “They provided all sorts of support, including prayers, food, rides and visits. My Grace Church family continued to pray for me through it all as did other churches in town. I don’t think I could have made it without them beside me.”

She continues to see her oncologist on an annual basis and having regular blood work done also is a means that detects warning signs.

“My oncologist calls me if anything doesn’t seem right from my blood work,” she said. “After 20 years I feel totally blessed. After having been given a 50/50 chance, I have so much to be thankful for. When someone I know receives a cancer diagnosis, I try to reach out to them. It is a scary thing, but I always tell them it is worth the fight! And you have to have a positive attitude. I really feel God was looking out for me and healed me. I count my blessings every day!”

Yager’s treatments were at Unity Point Hospital in Moline and her tests were all sent to Iowa City for a second opinion…”My doctor often checked with Mayo Clinic during my treatment to find out if there were any changes that should be made. My doctor has since changed to Genesis Hospital in Silvis.”