by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
It seems as if Summer Hagy of Sartell was born to fit her first name, what with her cheerful, sunny-bright and optimistic disposition.
Hagy, a cancer survivor, is anything but a quitter. No autumn gloom for her, no wintry despair. Energetic and determined, she fought and she beat breast cancer.
At the recent Relay for Life cancer fundraiser in Sartell, Hagy took time to share her personal story with the Sartell Newsleader.
On June 26, 2014, just one day before she was set to go on an ocean cruise, a medical check-up found the cancer, which her husband had suspected. It was Stage 2A, a lower stage, but – as with any cancer – any stage is serious and frightening.
“I’d had a complete physical just six months before my diagnosis and nothing showed up at that time,” she said. “It’s a good thing my husband suspected it might be cancer.”
Hagy underwent 33 radiation treatments at the CentraCare Coborn Cancer Center in St. Cloud.
Although the breast cancer is gone, she is continuing occasional chemo treatments because she discovered she is genetically susceptible to cancer, the same kind of genetic predisposition faced by movie actress Angelina Jolie.
Like many other cancer survivors, Hagy, her husband, relatives and supporters did a lot of walking on the Sartell Middle School track during the all-night Relay for Life June 5-6. Their walking team is dubbed “Team Hagy.”
Hagy works at the American Heart Association as a youth-marketing coordinator. Her husband, Jeff Hagy, is a sales manager for Rasmussen College in St. Cloud.
Hagy’s advice for anyone diagnosed with cancer is this:
“Share your story with someone. Find someone good to share it with. Then get connected with a solid support network. In my case, I did a lot of blogging about my cancer and learning about it through blogs. I still do a lot of blogging and sharing my story helps a lot of others.”
Cancer survivor Summer Hagy of Sartell (fourth from left) is surrounded by family and supporters, all member of Team Hagy. The team was preparing to walk many miles around the track at Sartell Middle School as part of the Relay for Life rally June 5. From left to right are Chad Frimanslund of Minneapolis; Maddux Hagy of Sartell (Summer’s stepson); Connie Petersen of Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Summer’s mother); Summer Hagy; Jeff Hagy (Summer’s husband); Nancy Elgin of Cedar Point, Iowa (Summer’s stepmother); her husband Don Elgin (Summer’s father); and Andrew Yeager of Grand Rapids, Minn.
Claudia Germann of St. Cloud leans against an antique car as she greets visitors to Relay for Life June 5 on the grounds of Sartell Middle School. Germann was trying to interest all comers to consider volunteering as drivers to take cancer patients to and from their treatments. Germann, a two-time cancer survivor, is coordinator of the Road to Recovery volunteer drivers’ program.
At the Relay for Life rally June 5, a walking team named “Fightin’ Chicks” relaxes before beginning their relay walk. The team raised the third-highest amount of money at the event of the 27 teams – $4,004. It’s comprised of (left to right) Judy Braegelmann of Waite Park, Jareet Kaproth of St. Cloud, Lori Zipp of Sauk Rapids, Sharon Skuza of Sauk Rapids, Doreen Unterberger of St. Cloud and Tom Skuza of Sauk Rapids. Sharon and Tom are married. Kaproth is Tom’s cousin, Braegleman is Tom’s sister-in-law, and Zipp is Tom’s younger sister.
A team dubbed “Team Jerry” prepares to walk to raise money for the American Cancer Society during the all-night Relay for Life rally at Sartell Middle School June 5. The team was named in honor of Jerry Larson of St. Cloud, who passed away in June 2014 of cancer. He was the long-time owner of the Ace Bar and Grill in downtown St. Cloud. From left to right (first row) are Abby Daniels, Hailey Daniels, mother Jessica Daniels with son Nolan Daniels, Candice McLeod and Kaylee Hilldebrand. In the second row are Adam Daniels with toddler Sullivan Daniels, Daniel McLeod with toddler Avery McLeod and Michelle McLeod, who works at the CentraCare Coborn Cancer Center.
Some of the fundraising walkers began early at the Relay for Life rally held in Sartell June 5-6. Walkers did relays all night long to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.
Early-bird Relay for Life participants sign up as they enter the athletic facilities at Sartell Middle School Jan. 5.
