Survivor Series

Elizabeth Bessert remembers her childhood a bit differently than most. When Bessert was 3 years old, she, as many other children might, fell off a slide. However, unlike many other children, the pain persisted for three years. On October 10, 1997, at just 6 …

Sara Flores is a courageous cancer survivor who has faced her diagnosis with remarkable strength and resilience. She has leaned on her faith, family, and community for support throughout her journey. Her story is about hope, determination, and inspiring …

For Jacqueline Zepeda, her triumph over thyroid cancer is one that leads back to family, faith, and expert doctors. The symptoms that led Zepeda to start her search for an underlying condition were a storm of common signs. This list began with anxiety …

Jodi Scherwitz-Boling was diagnosed with cancer on May 7, 2024. However, her unwavering strength and determination have inspired everyone around her.  A dedicated nurse with 23 years of experience in the Neurotrauma Critical Care Unit, she has spent her …

Ashleigh Jett was born and raised in the small community of Lothian in Maryland. She came to Indiana after moving to Hammond around the time of her early teenage years. She graduated from Carmel High School near Indianapolis. She’s been a homemaker here in …

Undergoing radiation treatments for many is a difficult test of courage. For one woman in the Region, however, her treatments brought her closer to a stranger in an unexpected manner. Shelly Sunderland was sitting next to a patient prior to their first time …

Juanita Segura was born and raised right here in the Region, and she still resides in her hometown of East Chicago, Indiana. She’ll observe her cancerversary this November, as it’s been almost exactly 10 years since she was diagnosed with lung cancer. The …

Laura Herrod resides in Chesterton today, yet she grew up on the South Side of Chicago. She is a middle school counselor working in the Region. Twice she has battled cancer and survived it. Her stories now serve as testaments of endurance to women …

Sue Straatman sat in a doctor’s office in the Community Healthcare System (now Powers Health) Hospital Emergency Room next to her only son, Rob, when she received her ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2008. The team of five doctors sitting in front of her …

What recently happened?  The La Porte High School (LPHS) Advanced Choir held its annual fall choral retreat at Red Mill County Park on Saturday, Aug. 24.  More than 65 students gathered for a fun day, participating in icebreakers and outdoor …