Millersburg resident says her courageous fight is fueled by her children and grandchildren

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

It’s a fight one in eight women face in this country. About 12 percent of women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime.

There is no sure way to prevent it, but there are steps women can follow to lower risk factors such as lower body weight and a good diet. Early detection from a mammogram can increase the survival rate.

Not every woman catches it early.

Izzy Auger
Izzy Auger

Isabell “Izzy” Auger of Millersburg was going through life’s duties, making money to support her family by cleaning shoreline homes in Presque Isle County and Petoskey, as well as driving to Rogers City to take care of her mother.

All was well until Izzy started feeling dizzy.

 

“I could not stop,” said Izzy. “I needed the money.” She and her husband Tom are raising their college-age son and four grandchildren, the two youngest of 5 and 6, in a modest home along Maple Street.

The illness eventually slowed her to the point where she had to see a doctor.

Shortly after, in late March 2013, Izzy was diagnosed with stage III-breast cancer, meaning the cancer had extended beyond the immediate region of a tumor.

It’s when the fight started.

The outcome was uncertain; however, the purpose was very clear. Her family needed her to get through it.  I said, let’s do whatever we have to do get it over with,” she said.

Izzy had a mastectomy to remove one breast and began the process of killing any lingering cancer cells with chemotherapy at the Alpena Regional Cancer Center.  It is a treatment that uses drugs to destroy the cells. As in the case of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, she became weak and lost her hair.

To make matters worse, Tom was laid off from his job of more than 14 years; however, it may have been a blessing in disguise.

“It was God saying, ‘Tom, you have to take care of the kids and her, and she needs a ride to chemo every other day,’ ” she said.

Izzy would get home from the treatments and barely had enough energy to walk from the vehicle to her bed where she would go no further.

“Tom would go to the store and I would get, ‘Mom, mom, make me a peanut butter and jelly,’ ” she said. Tom and the older children would help with the younger ones as the treatments continued. She remained upbeat.

“I wore my little hat and went to basketball games, and walked on parents’ night,” said Izzy. Her oldest grandson, Cortez Washington, who has lived with Izzy and Tom for 17 years, is standout athlete at Onaway High School.

On treatment days, she would take her grandchildren along as inspira

tion; however, it appears the woman with a personality bigger than life would cheer up others.

“The nurses would always love when she was there because she kept the other cancer patients entertained and happy,” said Tom. “Alpena was very good to us.”

Like many families fighting cancer, the cancer chapter has been emotional, with a positive outcome so far.

Izzy is fully recovered with no signs of cancer. Her hair has grown back, and surprisingly, it grew out curly. She looks different, but is still vibrant and full of life.

“Her getting better was such a blessing,” said Tom.

Izzy is willing to talk to anyone who may be faced with similar circumstances. She also has one piece of advice: take your children or grandchildren along if chemo treatments are needed as a reminder of what the fight is all about.