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Since Devils Lake resident Donna Egbert was diagnosed with cancer, her friends and family have done everything they can to help her out. She said they have offered numerous calls, prayers and visits, as well as an impressive stack of "get-well" cards.
"I had a stack of cards that was eight inches high," Egbert, 65, said during a telephone interview Monday from her hospital room in Fargo.
That same group of friends has now set up a benefit account at Western State Bank for the family, with "The Women of Peace" from Peace Lutheran Church, making the first deposit.
"There's a group of us friends that have become like family, so we call each other our 'framily'," said long-time friend Mary Bracken. "We feel so helpless and want to help Donna and her family in some way, and since this has been going on since last September, we felt that maybe a benefit account would help them with their extended hotel stays, meals, gas, etc."
Egbert was diagnosed in September with Burkitt's Lymphoma, a vigorous cancer that attacks the circulatory system, and spent Sept. 2-Dec. 8, 2011 in the hospital, with few days of reprieve. She has continued with the treatments, making her ill and weak, and has been in and out of hospitals for months.
"The doctor told me Burkitt's was very aggressive and needs to be treated very aggressively," Egbert said.
This week, Egbert continued her chemotherapy, but is hoping her system will soon be strong enough to travel to Rochester, MN, for a stem cell procedure.
"They will take my stem cells out, give me radiation and then put my cells back in," she explained.
"When I'm strong enough, I'll go down there for the stem cell procedure," Egbert said, noting a successful surgery would prolong her life even longer. "There's no real cure for this type of cancer, it's treatable, but not curable."
She said the ordeal has been tough, but she has remained strong with the help of family, friends and her faith.
"My faith in God and the feeling that he is walking with me on this journey is helping me and the whole family deal with this situation," she said.
Egbert was a housekeeper in Devils Lake for many years and her husband, Dave, was a long-time employee of Hoiberg's Office Supply. He was most recently employed at a storage facility, but retired when his wife fell ill. The couple has two children, daughter Diane Pennington, who has been updating the family's Caring Bridge website, and son, Darin of Minneapolis.
"We've had a lot of support, that's for sure," Egbert said. "We sure appreciate all the prayers, that's what's gotten us through this."
Donations can be dropped off at Western State Bank in Devils Lake or mailed to: Western State Bank, PO Box 610, Devils Lake, ND 58301.
Since Devils Lake resident Donna Egbert was diagnosed with cancer, her friends and family have done everything they can to help her out. She said they have offered numerous calls, prayers and visits, as well as an impressive stack of "get-well" cards.
"I had a stack of cards that was eight inches high," Egbert, 65, said during a telephone interview Monday from her hospital room in Fargo.
That same group of friends has now set up a benefit account at Western State Bank for the family, with "The Women of Peace" from Peace Lutheran Church, making the first deposit.
"There's a group of us friends that have become like family, so we call each other our 'framily'," said long-time friend Mary Bracken. "We feel so helpless and want to help Donna and her family in some way, and since this has been going on since last September, we felt that maybe a benefit account would help them with their extended hotel stays, meals, gas, etc."
Egbert was diagnosed in September with Burkitt's Lymphoma, a vigorous cancer that attacks the circulatory system, and spent Sept. 2-Dec. 8, 2011 in the hospital, with few days of reprieve. She has continued with the treatments, making her ill and weak, and has been in and out of hospitals for months.
"The doctor told me Burkitt's was very aggressive and needs to be treated very aggressively," Egbert said.
This week, Egbert continued her chemotherapy, but is hoping her system will soon be strong enough to travel to Rochester, MN, for a stem cell procedure.
"They will take my stem cells out, give me radiation and then put my cells back in," she explained.
"When I'm strong enough, I'll go down there for the stem cell procedure," Egbert said, noting a successful surgery would prolong her life even longer. "There's no real cure for this type of cancer, it's treatable, but not curable."
She said the ordeal has been tough, but she has remained strong with the help of family, friends and her faith.
"My faith in God and the feeling that he is walking with me on this journey is helping me and the whole family deal with this situation," she said.
Egbert was a housekeeper in Devils Lake for many years and her husband, Dave, was a long-time employee of Hoiberg's Office Supply. He was most recently employed at a storage facility, but retired when his wife fell ill. The couple has two children, daughter Diane Pennington, who has been updating the family's Caring Bridge website, and son, Darin of Minneapolis.
"We've had a lot of support, that's for sure," Egbert said. "We sure appreciate all the prayers, that's what's gotten us through this."
Donations can be dropped off at Western State Bank in Devils Lake or mailed to: Western State Bank, PO Box 610, Devils Lake, ND 58301.
