Surprise: This was Jimmy's day
Jim Wohnoutka of Minneota was given five years to live when he was first diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. That was 11 years ago. "I would have been happy to have had the five years," he admitted with a wry smile.
Jimmy, as he is more commonly referred to, said he had been having "a rough few months" lately with his health. But when he woke up on Saturday, he felt much better. "I was a little surprised, but I had a little extra (spring) in my step," he said. "I've had to use a cane lately to help get around, but I really don't need it today."
There would soon be an even bigger surprise in store. Wohnoutka was set to attend the Lyon County Relay for Life in Marshall, as he's done in the past with his wife Kathy. Chanda Bossuyt, their daughter, called her mother and asked her to first stop by the AmericInn in Marshall before going to the Relay for Life event at the Red Baron Arena.
"I told mom they needed to pick up something and bring it to the Relay for Life," said Chanda.
When Jim and Kathy arrived at the AmericInn, Chanda met them outside.
She brought out a wheelchair for Jim so he wouldn't get tired from all the walking. Once inside the motel, Jim was met by five of his nine siblings who live in various parts of Minnesota and their spouses.
They had come to the Relay for Life to surprise their brother and to support him on this special night. Jim's sister, Karen Barta of Olivia, arranged for the special day with the other siblings. Also from Minnesota was Jim's sisters Teresa Kragenbring of Atwater, Marge Bergo of Spicer, Deb Kull of Rice, and brother Jerry Wohnoutka of Richfield.
"I then told my dad that if he gets too tired, we had a room on the third floor for him," Chanda explained.
"I didn't give him any time to ask questions because I wouldn't have had the answers."
When they arrived at the room and opened the door, his four other siblings — three sisters from Florida and one brother from Nevada —were waiting there to surprise him. The out-of-state siblings were Jim's brother Greg Wohnoutka of Reno, NV; and sisters Betty Dubert of Hosford, FL; Phyllis Berninger of Crawfordville, FL; and Diane Nichols of Punta Gordy, FL.
"There were a lot of tears," said Chanda. "I knew some of the siblings living in Minnesota were coming and they asked me to meet them at the AmericInn. But I had no idea all of them were coming. So it was a big surprise for me, too."
Jim was left speechless, but his tears revealed his feelings. "We just wanted to support him," said Greg. "I'm so glad we could all get together at the same time," said Betty.
It was the first time the 10 siblings have been together at one time in 10 years. "A very special day for all of us," said Jim with a smile.
"I had no idea they were all coming. It was a complete surprise and it really meant a lot to me to see them all again."
There were 11 Wohnoutka siblings, but oldest brother Bob died of cancer about five years ago. Bob's wife, Diane Wohnoutka of Spicer, also attended the surprise for Jim, as did other spouses: Dennis Barta, Dick Bergo, Chris Berninger, Alan Nichols, Lionel Kull, Becky Wohnoutka (Greg) and Sue Wohnoutka (Jerry). Also supporting Jim was Chanda of Marshall and her daughters Alyssa, Rachel and Marci. And Jim's son Andy, his wife Jill and their son Sam, who live in Bird Island.
"When dad was diagnosed, he was given a five-year survival rate," said Chanda.
"At the time, he hoped to see Alyssa graduate from high school. "And now he has seen all three granddaughters graduate from high school, including Marci who just graduated from Marshall High School, and two college graduates (Alyssa and Rachel)."
The Wohnoutka clan took up three rows of chairs during the Relay for Life program. As each cancer survivor in attendance had their name called by Betsy Jo Kack and Tracy Larson to stand and be recognized, Jim, with a wide smile on his face, received a hearty applause as he rose up off his chair.
During a live auction by Chuck Deutz for four large donated items, an enormous quilt was sold to Dave Karolczak for $500 which goes to the American Cancer Society. Karolczak, Jim's brother-in-law from Brookings, SD, then took the microphone from Deutz and announced that the oversized quilt was a gift to Jim.
The Wohnoutka siblings all went home late Sunday afternoon. "My dad never expected to see all his siblings all together like this again," said an emotional Chanda.
Great turnouts
Cancer survivors, those currently battling cancer, those knowing someone who succumbed to cancer, and those just supporting all of the aforementioned turned out on Friday at the Red Baron Arena.
There was a seemingly endless number of luminary bags which were in support or memory of victims of cancer. Some were colorfully decorated, while some had inspirational messages, or just simply had a name written on the bag.
Each one was as meaningful as the next. There were games for the kids, rides on a firetruck, food, silent auction, live auction, inspirational speakers, introductions of cancer survivors, entertainment, music, a Reflection Walk, and a lot of smiles … and a lot of tears. All the money raised at the event goes to the American Cancer Society.
A step at a time Kari Loft, this year's Lyon County Relay for Life Honorary Survivor, gave an inspirational talk about how she "keeps on keeping on" by running every day.
On the beginning of the 2017 school year (Sept. 7), four months before she was diagnosed with cancer, Loft decided to begin a running streak.
"Just for the heck of it, my goal was to run one mile a day for 365 days," said the Marshall High School English Learners (EL) teacher, and softball and hockey coach.
"When I found out I had Stage 3 breast cancer on Jan. 19, 2018, I was determined to keep running. Cancer didn't realize that I was busy and I didn't have time for it. Cancer also didn't know that I liked challenges." Loft arranged for her daily runs around her treatments, tests, and procedures. But she never missed a day of running.
"Sometimes it was a slow run," she laughed. "But I never took a day off and I ran in all kinds of weather.” "I even ran after having my port put in. I could feel it in my neck as a I ran, but after about two weeks it became a part of me." Her running streak stretched to 399 days. "I could have gone one more day to make it 400," she said.
"But 399 is a pretty cool number, too. Take that, cancer."
The heart says it all
As Relay for Life Honorary Caregiver Brittany Christensen of Marshall told the story of her son Dyllen's battle with cancer, he stood right by her side at the podium and made a heart sign with his hands whenever something she said touched him.
"Just showing my love for her," Dyllen, 10, said after his walk around the luminaries. "She's the best." Dyllen was eight years old in December of 2017 when he began having severe stomach pains and wasn't eating like he normally did. After several doctor visits, there was no improvement. In fact, he was getting worse.
Following many more trips to the doctor, it was discovered Dyllen had tested positive for H. pylori bacteria and was given a two-week supply of antibiotics. "Eventually, I would find him on the floor of the shower curled up," Brittany said tearfully. "He had lost 17 pounds and he would be up at night screaming."
On April 3, 2018, Brittany again took him to the doctor and insisted on a CT scan. "The next day, April 4, will be etched in my memory for the rest of my life," she said, referring to the date it was announced that her son had Burkitt's Lymphoma, a rare type of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. During Dyllen's initial surgery, surgeons removed a tumor the size of a baseball as well as 11 inches of his intestines. Dyllen has now been cancer-free for 10 months.
"We live only for today and we don't worry about tomorrow," said Brittany.