My name is Kara Edwards-King, Jeanie Turner’s daughter. I would like to share a special story about her.

Over the last 14 years I have been watching my mom battle breast cancer.  Her battle has had more than its fair share of ups and down, bumps and turns.

I have been watching my mom face the difficulties of battling Stage 4 Cancer.  Recently I witnessed a traumatic incident.  As a result of taking certain medication she has been unsteady on her feet.  She fell hard that day resulting in bumps, bruises and scrapes. It was difficult to watch my mom in that situation, and it really changed me.  My heart goes out to her every day. I want to make a difference in her life and be there for her every step of the way.

A few months ago I really needed a haircut. I was going to make an appointment with my hair dresser to get it cut and colored... But then it occurred to me, “Why not donate my hair to my mom?” It was the perfect opportunity to give back to someone so special to me. It would make a real difference in her life, and extra special because the wig would be my hair not a stranger’s.

Since a lot of human hair wigmakers are very strict with the type of hair - how it has been treated in the past, how it was cut etc. I bypassed the standard organizations. I found Anton’s Hair Company ( www.antonshair.com ), a unique local business specializing in making wigs for cancer survivors.  A few weeks ago I had 10"-13.5" cut off.  I have to say, now that it is cut; it is one of most special things I have done for anyone. She will be able cherish this gift for the rest of her life.

All of these events made me realize that she is battling every day for her life. I came to better understand the challenges she is facing and all the hope that she keeps alive for herself.  Because of cancer treatments her own hair may not grow back.  I found out after deciding to donate my hair to her that her insurance would not fully cover the cost of a wig, but that didn’t stop us from getting the wig made.

Watching my mom battle breast cancer all these years has made me want to “pay it forward,” and help make a difference in other lives.  My experiences all these years have really changed my feelings for her. I have become aware of all the many others who are battling any kind of cancer or serious illness. Fundraising is my small contribution for those facing the challenges my mother has seen

All Fighting for "Hope," donations will be divided up to the following; Jeanie Turner for medical expenses and for her wig, Anton’s Hair Salon (to help those who can't afford wigs), Evergreen Hospital (Seattle Cancer Care Alliance),  Evergreen Hospice, families in immediate need for cancer expenses.

**All Color Pencil Artwork pictures on this webpage is done by the Fabulous, Jeanie Turner (Karas Mom)

 ~Love Kara Soo Edwards-King

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Behind Every Extraordinary Woman There Is Hope and Optimism

My name is Jeanie Turner and this is my story. I am a woman, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a step-mother, a friend and a cancer survivor.

I was born 1948 and raised in Escondido, California. Until my little sister was born 6 years later, we lived in a 2 bedroom house that my father and grandfather built. I was blessed with a good education. My early years were in our small town- kindergarten through high school. After high school I attended our nearby community college. When I was 46 years old, I went back to college and finished my Bachelor of the Sciences degree in Computer Science at Seattle University. I was chosen to be one of the "10 Outstanding Seniors" by my fellow classmates.

While I am very proud of my academic achievements, being a mother is the most important part of my life. We adopted five children of our six children. Each of my children was a miracle. I have been on TV twice talking about the importance of adoption. My family and I were chosen to be in a video about adoption with Ruth Walsh, a popular TV anchor at the time.

Now that the children are grown up and on their own, I have returned to art to enhance my life. My mother was an artist and art has been a big part of my life.

Currently I am in love with color pencil art. My teacher just told me that I am one of the best students she has ever had. She is very well-known in the arts community, and is one of the better known experts in color pencil art. My feet still have not touched the ground! I also love quilting. I am now restoring some of my great grandmother's quilts and making cute little purses from a collection of neck ties I bought years ago at a garage sale.

In 1999 at age 49 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was identified from a routine screening mammogram. It was a shock when the doctor took me into his office to tell me he had found a suspicious spot in my breast. It was to be diagnosed as Ductile Carcinoma In Situ, Stage 0. (Cancer is staged 0-4). It was unlikely to spread from its location. The treatment was lumpectomy, radiation therapy and a 5 year regimen of Tamoxifen (a drug to prevent recurrences). Although challenging in and of itself, it was made that much more challenging because I was going through a painful divorce after 26 years of marriage.

Three years after my cancer diagnosis, I married Steve Turner, the sweetest, kindest person I have ever known. Cancer raised its ugly head again when we were married just one year. In October of 2003 I was diagnosed with breast cancer Stage 3(A), a much more serious diagnosis. I had to have a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation followed by a post treatment drug, Arimidex. I was sad to lose my breast. I was not a candidate for reconstruction at the time for surgery because I had already had radiation. There was still the possibility of reconstruction at a later date. At first, I wanted to replace the breast, but as time went by I adjusted to my new condition and have chosen to remain the way I was post-surgery.

A few years after the second cancer treatment, I started having problems with my feet (pain and functional problems). I spent over a year going from doctor to doctor and test to test. I had surgery, physical therapy, cortisone shots and anything else the doctors could recommend. Finally a new doctor suggested that if it wasn't family history or diabetes, it might be cancer. I was finally diagnosed with Paraneoplastic Syndrome. It is a rare condition associated with breast and other cancers and it occurred in my feet. I finally had a diagnosis! The bad news was that I was now at Stage 4. It has been over three years since this diagnosis and I am still doing very well.

It is not commonly known that 30% of women who get breast cancer end up dying of metastatic breast cancer. I will be under treatment for the rest of my life. The breast cancer has spread into my liver. I have been through radiation to my chest twice. I have been on about 8 chemotherapies. Last spring I was diagnosed with brain metastases and had to undergo brain radiation and a long treatment with steroids. The steroid has made me lose my balance easily, so I have had frequent falls. Although none of these falls hurt me seriously, they did frighten my family.

I have kept myself up to date by joining a wonderful group of women on the internet. They post interesting information on the latest in cancer treatments, plus advice about their own cancer experiences. I have learned so much interesting and important information from these women!

There is a saying among my online friends that we find a “new normal” and that is very true. My daily routine is quite simple. I go to bed around 10:00 pm, sleep until noonish, get up, get dressed, eat breakfast and go back to bed. Some days I sleep in until 2:00 or 3:00 PM. Other days I am off to medical appointments. Other than this excessive sleep, I would call my life normal.

Part of the “new normal” includes my physical appearance and abilities. The only good part the cancer experience is that I have lost a lot of weight, and it remained steady for 3 years. Due to the steroid, I have gone from “young” to “old” in the way I walk. The worst part is that I fall frequently. And I am always fatigued. I look and feel like an old woman, I hope this will go away as I taper off the steroid.

Today, I am happy in spite of the difficult cancer treatment. I am grateful and have been very happy with the care I have received. Right now, I go to the hospital weekly for an infusion. I will have great insurance until Steve retires in 2015.

I am often asked if I am in remission. Generally, once the cancer has spread (mine is in my liver, brain and bones) a patient reaches Stage 4, and there is no remission. Only about 2% of all patients might have a remission, but no one knows how long it will last.

I have been blessed with so much love and support from my husband, my family and my wonderful in-laws and so many dear friends. I do not know how I could have kept going through all of this if I had not had the help of my absolutely wonderful family, friends, and my cancer support groups.

My daughter Kara is one of my biggest inspirations. I have seen her bounce back from major injuries with such tenacity and determination that it is hard not to be inspired. Since my recent “dramatic” fall in the driveway, Kara has stopped over every day to check on me, bring me food, and take me to various appointments since I can no longer drive. She even took it upon herself to chop off her hair to make a gorgeous wig for me. Since I will be on cancer treatments for the rest of my life, I may never be able to grow back my natural hair. She has also found friends to drive me when she is not available. Between Steve and Kara, I have a family to be so proud of. And I think I have at least a few more good years in me!

People who have not had cancer are often curious about cancer and how it affects a person. I have been asked how cancer changes a person and what positive things have come from the cancer experience. I would like to give some “pretty” answers here, but all the change has been very hard. Sick, losing a breast and then my hair, there is nothing nice about cancer. And there is no positive impact of this nasty disease.

Another often asked question is “Would you have done anything differently had you known what you know now?” I am convinced that there is nothing you can do about cancer. Get your mammograms and any other pertinent screening tests. I have always eaten very well, never smoked or don’t drink. But there is no special reason I was the one to get cancer.

  ~Jeanie Turner