Sunday, March 8, 2009
Friday, October 31, 2008
Trunk or Treat
Here is a picture of Chuck and Sharon at the Trunk or Treat at church. They ate chili and pies and did not see any elephant trunks....right Chuck??
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Bismarck Trip - to the Temple
Here is a picture of Charles and Sharon Campbell after their first visit to the temple where they each took out their endowments and were sealed for time and all eternity on 6 September 2008.Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Sharon's Cancer Story
Couple shares the pain of her cancer By Natalie J. Ostgaard, City Editor
As Janet Scott led Chuck and Sharon Campbell onto the stage during the opening ceremonies for the West Polk County Relay for Life Friday evening, it was immediately apparent the couple shared an intense bond. Once at the podium, their unusual, bittersweet story of cancer survival emerged.
"So far I've survived this inflammatory breast cancer," Sharon said, her voice choking back tears. "With the help of God, my loving husband and all the prayers everybody's giving, I'm here."
The Campbells live in the small bedroom community of Shelly.
Even before Sharon was diagnosed with cancer last July, the couple faced a number of health and social obstacles -- both being legally blind and Sharon being a recovering alcoholic chief among them.
"We may both be blind but we deal with it," Chuck said. "We're still as independent as we can be. We fight to get things in Braille for ourselves and others. We do a lot together.
"I've never seen such a fighter in my whole entire life," Chuck said of his wife.
He knew cancer was a big thing, he said, but never so much as when he started going to the Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo with his wife.
"That place was full of people -- I don't like seeing a place like that full of people," Chuck said. "We were there hearing a little baby cryst I wanted to pick him up and say everything was OK, but it wasn't. It just rips you apart, people of all ages having cancer. You think 'why? I don't understand it4'"
In this together
Her cancer did not first manifest the usual way as a lump, Sharon explained, but as a rash on her left breast. The rash got worse and formed a shell, which she self-treated with over-the-counter remedies, and her nipple inverted. While this progressed for a couple of months, Chuck suggested the have it checked by the doctor.
"I started chemoggtherapy) in August and had 19 treatments," she said. "The only thing that tasted good during my first seven treatments was homegrown tomatoes and peanut butter. My appetite's good now but I didn't think it was ever going to happen.
"I know the frustrations and emotions that cancer survivors go through with chemo," she said. "Chuck and I went through them together. It would have been hell for me to go through it alone, and I probably wouldn't have because I'm an alcoholic. If I hadn't stayed sober I would have gone deeper into the bottle." Chuck and Sharon Campbell share their story of survival at the Relay for Life Friday evening. (Natalie J. Ostgaard, photographer)
A month ago, Sharon had a double mastectomy in Rochester, where she was referred to the Mayo Clinic. She was set to start radiation treatments by now, but has had to wait because of drainage problems, she added.
"When my oncologist said this could come back even with a double mastectomy -- it could hit you in the bones, liver, and elsewhere -- the nurses that day hugged us, and we were crying so hard. There were about 10 really caring nurses who gave us extra hope with those hugs.
"I'm really happy to be here," Sharon gushed. "Chuck is not only the light and love of my life but one heck of a caregiver."
Being a caregiver is a challenge but also rewarding, said Chuck. "You learn how to care for them and love them even more.
You never know what you're going to go through. You never know what life's going to hand you, what your role is here. Every night I lay there and think, 'Is she still breathing? Is she going to be alive one more day` There's so much fear, not knowing in my heart and soul what's going to happen."
"It's a tough battle, but when you've got one another you've got everything," Chuck asserted. "Material things mean nothing."
It is important to educate people about cancer, he stressed, and not hide behind it.
"We need to bring it to the forefront, let everybody know that it may be a bad thing but never give up. There is a lot of hope out there. It's a great world, and isn't it great to be alive?" he concluded.
Living in the Present One day at a time, This is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past. For it is gone. And do not be troubled about the future. For it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful. That it will be worth remembering.
As Janet Scott led Chuck and Sharon Campbell onto the stage during the opening ceremonies for the West Polk County Relay for Life Friday evening, it was immediately apparent the couple shared an intense bond. Once at the podium, their unusual, bittersweet story of cancer survival emerged.
"So far I've survived this inflammatory breast cancer," Sharon said, her voice choking back tears. "With the help of God, my loving husband and all the prayers everybody's giving, I'm here."
The Campbells live in the small bedroom community of Shelly.
Even before Sharon was diagnosed with cancer last July, the couple faced a number of health and social obstacles -- both being legally blind and Sharon being a recovering alcoholic chief among them.
"We may both be blind but we deal with it," Chuck said. "We're still as independent as we can be. We fight to get things in Braille for ourselves and others. We do a lot together.
"I've never seen such a fighter in my whole entire life," Chuck said of his wife.
He knew cancer was a big thing, he said, but never so much as when he started going to the Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo with his wife.
"That place was full of people -- I don't like seeing a place like that full of people," Chuck said. "We were there hearing a little baby cryst I wanted to pick him up and say everything was OK, but it wasn't. It just rips you apart, people of all ages having cancer. You think 'why? I don't understand it4'"
In this together
Her cancer did not first manifest the usual way as a lump, Sharon explained, but as a rash on her left breast. The rash got worse and formed a shell, which she self-treated with over-the-counter remedies, and her nipple inverted. While this progressed for a couple of months, Chuck suggested the have it checked by the doctor.
"I started chemoggtherapy) in August and had 19 treatments," she said. "The only thing that tasted good during my first seven treatments was homegrown tomatoes and peanut butter. My appetite's good now but I didn't think it was ever going to happen.
"I know the frustrations and emotions that cancer survivors go through with chemo," she said. "Chuck and I went through them together. It would have been hell for me to go through it alone, and I probably wouldn't have because I'm an alcoholic. If I hadn't stayed sober I would have gone deeper into the bottle." Chuck and Sharon Campbell share their story of survival at the Relay for Life Friday evening. (Natalie J. Ostgaard, photographer)
A month ago, Sharon had a double mastectomy in Rochester, where she was referred to the Mayo Clinic. She was set to start radiation treatments by now, but has had to wait because of drainage problems, she added.
"When my oncologist said this could come back even with a double mastectomy -- it could hit you in the bones, liver, and elsewhere -- the nurses that day hugged us, and we were crying so hard. There were about 10 really caring nurses who gave us extra hope with those hugs.
"I'm really happy to be here," Sharon gushed. "Chuck is not only the light and love of my life but one heck of a caregiver."
Being a caregiver is a challenge but also rewarding, said Chuck. "You learn how to care for them and love them even more.
You never know what you're going to go through. You never know what life's going to hand you, what your role is here. Every night I lay there and think, 'Is she still breathing? Is she going to be alive one more day` There's so much fear, not knowing in my heart and soul what's going to happen."
"It's a tough battle, but when you've got one another you've got everything," Chuck asserted. "Material things mean nothing."
It is important to educate people about cancer, he stressed, and not hide behind it.
"We need to bring it to the forefront, let everybody know that it may be a bad thing but never give up. There is a lot of hope out there. It's a great world, and isn't it great to be alive?" he concluded.
Living in the Present One day at a time, This is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past. For it is gone. And do not be troubled about the future. For it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful. That it will be worth remembering.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Sharon and Chuck's Blog is about to begin
This blog is for Chuck and Sharon Campbell to use. This photo is of 2 missionaries, Sharon and Chuck at their home in Shelly MN. Soon this blog will tell our story.
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