Rosalie is everyday hero

Written by Suzy Johnson | 07 June 2010

Rosalie Peipert, an Everyday Hero

When I heard my name and the ‘C’ word in the same sentence, my world fell apart. As my brain shut down I had to consciously remind myself to breathe. But what can you expect when your dreams are suddenly stamped with an expiration date? After seventy-two sleepless hours, I did exactly what my doctor told me to avoid: I went on the Internet and googled the rare cancer that was now part of my identity. The more I read about endometrial stromal sarcoma, the more panicked I became.

Then I saw a link…a support group? I couldn’t believe my eyes. Desperate, I reached out hoping to find someone who would understand. Rosalie Peipert reached back. Not only did she understand, but she has been living with ESS for 29 years as of June 24, 2010; that’s 28 years longer than I thought possible. Her first words to me were, “You came to the right place.” As I read those words, I could feel her virtually holding my shaking hand. It allowed me to take my first deep breath in days.

Rosalie then shared her story with me: ESS was even rarer when she was diagnosed, and little was known then of how to treat it. Rosalie was the first one with uterine sarcoma to experiment with taking the aromatase inhibitor Femara in 2001. Since joining the ESS sisterhood, I have witnessed that no matter what road bumps this cancer sends her way, Rosalie is the first to reach out with warmth, comfort, and virtual hugs to welcome newcomers from all corners of the world.

Living with cancer is frightening. But knowing Rosalie has given me the courage to breathe, sleep, and live my life, knowing that she lit the dark path ahead of me with her brightly glowing spirit.

This Team Sarcoma Everyday Heroes entry was submitted by Jill from Boise, Idaho.