Those who have not had cancer hope they never have to experience it. Pat Hibbard is glad she did. The experience, she says, has given her perspective she didn’t have before.

Not only did Pat battle breast cancer in 2003 but she discovered she had ovarian cancer in 2008 when her gynecologist was examining her for a non-threatening polyp on her ovary. Pat’s doctors agree that this chance discovery saved her life. As a result, Pat knows that “I’m supposed to be doing something, The Lord is not finished with me yet!”

Pat is grateful that she can educate her twin daughters about eating well and taking care of themselves as well as being routinely scanned for cancer. “I’ve completely changed my lifestyle; I’m getting exercise and rest. I’m preaching this to my daughters: take good care of yourself and enjoy your life to the fullest!”

And Pat is taking her own advice. She has always been passionate about her family heritage. Her family hails from Santa Fe where her grandfather was a real cowboy and her mother was born on a dude ranch. She loves to go to Santa Fe and visit family and explore the region.

Since her cancer experience, Pat has revived her interest in her family history and, wanting to keep the stories alive, has been talking to writers about helping her write a book based on the diaries of her great grandmother.

When asked about her experience at The Zangmeister Center, she said, “If you have to go through this, The Zangmeister Center provides wonderful treatment and support. They have a holistic approach that makes the experience that much better and they even know your name when you come into the center. It definitely puts you at ease.”

Pat spends her free time these days lunching with friends, cheering on the Indians and as a volunteer, helping chemotherapy patients manage their treatments. “I love being able to give back. I’m a very fortunate woman,” she said.

Kathleen Servick spent most her career teaching High School students, reading and being an active parent to her children, but on January 9, 2009 everything changed—she had ovarian cancer.

“Finding out I had cancer, was one of the most surreal experiences I have ever known,” she said. “I used to joke that I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. If there was any coincidence to that, Then the Zangmeister Center was my Oz—the most calm and serene place I could imagine.”

What Kathleen remembers most about her treatment at The Zangmeister Center wasn’t the treatment or how the medications made her feel, but the kind souls who helped her through her battle with cancer.

“Even in my most fearful moment, Dr. Adams and the staff at The Zangmeister Center relieved my pain and my fears. I constantly told them, ‘You guys are my best friends.’”

During her treatment, Kathleen said she really discovered the people around her and felt truly blessed by the overwhelming compassion and support she got from her community. Since her diagnosis, she says, every day she has received at least one card in the mail and a hot meal on her doorstep from family, friends, students and neighbors.

“My cancer has given me a greater sense of purpose and I know I have control of the choices I make in my life,” Kathleen said.

Now that her cancer is in remission, Kathleen is embarking on the next great journey of her life, a celebration cruise with her family—a celebration of how far she has come and where she is going next.

Whether Karla Taylor was volunteering her time to mentor inner-city children, being an active single mom and grandmother or indulging herself in some shoe shopping nothing got in her way, until she experienced a sharp pain in her lower back that left her immobile.

After a series of abnormal pap tests, chronic and debilitating pain and many miss-diagnoses, Karla turned to The Zangmeister Center at the suggestion of her family physician.

The years of abnormal pap smear results were an indication of cervical cancer.

Once Karla was under care at The Zangmeister Center she started an aggressive chemotherapy and radiation program. However, the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and to her pelvis. After many successful treatments and surgeries, Karla is now cancer and pain-free.

Karla knew the only way she could stay positive through her treatment was to help brighten the spirits of the other patients at the center.

“When I went in for treatment I encouraged everyone else to just stay positive,” she says. “Just as I did for myself, I made sure other people were happy and keeping busy.”

If Karla can provide any advice to those going through cancer, she says it would be to “Keep close to your faith and surround yourself with positive people who bring your spirit up.”

Karla says her cancer experience has made her a stronger and wiser woman.

“As women and mothers we need to take care of ourselves,” she says. “It is so important to get regular pap smears and exams. If anything feels out of the norm, go and get checked. No one is too young.”

Cancer never got Karla down; she continued with her life and never stopped hoping.

“I have been through a lot in my life and I have conquered all,” she says with pride.

Jud Bush’s philosophy is to appreciate life. He considers himself fortunate to be able to do the things he loves almost every day. He and his wife spend much of their time in the summer on their boat on Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, where their three children and five grandchildren love to visit and go tubing and waterskiing. In the colder months, the the family spends time at their condo in Myrtle Beach, where Jud golfs and boats.

But every three weeks Jud travels back to his native Columbus for his chemotherapy sessions at The Zangmeister Center.

Since 1994, Jud’s been battling prostate and renal cancer. After radical surgery and radiation in 1994 and 1995, Jud enjoyed almost nine trouble-free years. He was referred to The Zangmeister Center four years ago when he had recurring problems. Since then, “I’ve used pretty much every service The Zangmeister Center has,” Jud laughs.

His good-natured attitude about his frequent visits to the center stems from the service and treatment he’s received. “All in all it’s been a good experience. Almost everything you need can be taken care of at the Center. If you have to go through this, The Zangmeister Center has a very user-friendly process. They make it much easier on patients. Even on days I have chemotherapy, it’s usually no more than a half day, including seeing my doctor, getting lab results, picking up a prescription at the pharmacy and having my treatment. This helps make cancer manageable.”

And managing his cancer properly is important to Jud. “It’s so easy to let cancer run your life; it can become all consuming and you become so involved with what the end result is going to be that it takes on a whole life of its own. I’ve tried to stay away from this. It just doesn’t add any value to life.”

Last year, Jud retired from his career the owner of an insurance agency. “The timing was perfect,” he said. “ I’m 65, it was time to retire. I worked through treatment and never let cancer interfere with my work, family or social life. The convenience The Zangmeister Center provides really does help me not have to dedicate my life to cancer. Now I can just focus on my family and friends and doing things that are fun.”

“That’s what cancer has taught me about life. It makes you a little more appreciative of life and gives you a feeling of really living each and every day.”

A busy mom involved in her daughters’ sports, her husband’s environmental business and her community, Jolene Johnson rarely slowed down. But her diagnosis of Stage 3 ovarian cancer in November 2008 turned her life upside down.

“It was quite a shock,” she says. “Cancer doesn’t run in my family and it never crossed my mind that I would have cancer.”

Jolene visited her gynecologist after sensing something was wrong. Her doctor suspected cancer immediately and referred Jolene to Dr. Andrews at The Zangmeister Center.

“They have given me pure luck. I am so lucky to be with the center and Dr. Andrews. I saw him only a few hours after my diagnosis and he wanted to operate that day.”

“I was terrified by they made it okay. Everyone at the center was so kind. They were hugging me and telling me I was going to get through it. And they were right—I did!”

Jolene’s experience with The Zangmeister Center inspired her to volunteer at the center, helping other patients get through their treatment by providing a shoulder to lean on and someone to talk to.

“I had so much support from the other patients when I was going through it. It is important for me to give back.”

Jolene’s cancer experience has changed her.

“Dr. Andrews taught me to live better and take care of myself,” she said. “I’ve also learned to look at life differently and value how precious everything is. I really try not to miss a minute.”

Jolene says it truly is the little things that matter more to her now.

“This spring when the snow melted and the grass turned green, I noticed it was so much greener than it has been ever before.”

When Evelyn White was diagnosed with Stage 4 Uterine Cancer that had metastasized to her lungs, she was terrified. “But then I embraced the fear and sadness and then suddenly felt the calm. I asked myself, ‘Who am I now that I have cancer?’ and told myself that until I am not here anymore, I am still here.

It was this attitude that enabled Evelyn to manage her cancer through surgery and chemotherapy in 2004. Now she sees Dr. Vacarello at The Zangmeister Center every six months for a check up.

“The people at The Zangmeister Center are so amazing. They can teach someone like me whose life is bent on giving to learn how to receive. It’s hard to stop and let someone else take care of you. They were very instrumental in helping me do this.”

“Whoever is at the desk is always smiling. It’s such a good environment for people who are ill; it reduces stress so much. Everyone treats you like you are special. They listen to you and respond as if you are the first person who has ever asked questions.”

During her treatment, Evelyn decided to pursue a dream she has had for years: she wanted to go to seminary school. Already a PhD, Evelyn got a Masters in Theology at Methodist Theological in Columbus, all the while she was battling cancer.

Now, cancer-free, Evelyn puts both of her degrees to work in her private counseling practice. She’s energized by her work and believes her cancer experience and time at seminary have enhanced her ability to treat her clients. “What I’ve found is that there is a yearning for meaning. As my clients heal, they become more interested in God and eternity and mattering to the greater good. My experiences have helped me guide them to their own answers.”

She’s also pursuing a Masters in Divinity but is taking her time and looking at her education as a journey. “My biggest hobby is being a student,” she laughs.

When asked about what her cancer experience has taught her, Evelyn responded, “I had lost sight of my life and the ability to stop and truly enjoy each moment. One gift cancer gave me was how to sit on the porch and watch the birds.”