Marysville Lutherans support cancer fight
Published 11:45 pm Friday, July 10, 2009
MARYSVILLE — Barbara Byrd was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2006. After surgery she made a recovery.
But Byrd’s cancer returned to attack other organs in her body. In addition to renewed medical treatment, the Marysville woman needed emotional support. She found it at her church.
The cancer support group was established at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Marysville in 2004. Those with cancer, recovering from cancer and caregivers meet every second Sunday of the month to share their stories and offer ideas and encouragement to each other.
“This is a place they can come to talk, share and we will pray for them,” Byrd said.
Group members began inviting speakers to their monthly meetings to talk about exercise, nutrition and help for family members and caregivers.
When Byrd was sharing her feelings at one of the meetings, Rob Vereb, the speaker at tomorrow’s support group, approached her. He said that what she was describing was grief.
“We think about grief when someone passes away,” Byrd said. “It’s amazing that we don’t have more information on handling it in a healthy, healing way.”
The group made the decision to open their meetings to the public and to those with other serious illnesses.
“It is this church’s invitation to the community to be the good shepherd,” said pastor Joe Kutzke.
Kutzke joined Bethlehem Lutheran a year ago; he was impressed when he learned of the cancer support group.
“They were trying to do something positive in a difficult situation,” he said.
Kutzke believes that the issue of cancer and other serious illnesses is more than within the church walls.
“We are all affected by it,” he said.
One of the things Byrd says group members have found is that people who have a strong faith are able to deal with the difficulties of cancer differently than people who don’t.
“God is with us in this walk,” she said.
Healthy grieving
Bethlehem Lutheran Church’s Cancer Support Group holds a special presentation, Necessary (Healthy) Grief: The Way to Healing, featuring Rod Vereb from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 7215 51st Ave. NE, Marysville.
More info: 360-659-2022 or www.BethlehemLutheran.com
