Diane - Cancer Center of Western Wisconsin

“When I was little, my dad said I blinked a lot, so he called me Blink, which over time, evolved to Wink. Today, at 81 years old, I’m still known as Wink!”

Wink’s humor and positivity have been a source of strength over the past five years. In 2020, she saw her primary care doctor for what she thought was a bladder infection. After some tests and a scan, she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer.

Conquering fear with family

“Growing up, people whispered the word cancer,” Wink said. “If you had cancer, it meant the end for you. Now that’s not the case.”

Still, this has been a journey Wink never imagined. After her diagnosis, her first thought was her two adult sons and their families. “But then I realized, I have no unfinished business with my kids,” Wink nodded, adding, “And my husband has been amazing. He takes notes at my appointments and does so much!”

Chemo and care teams

When Wink was first diagnosed, she asked her physician, “If I was your mother, where would you send me for treatment?” He told her to go to the Cancer Center of Western Wisconsin (CCWW).

Wink promptly began receiving chemotherapy at the CCWW Baldwin location. After six weeks of chemo, she had surgery to remove her ovaries. Then came a swollen arm. “I had a blood clot,” Wink said. “I had cancer in the lymph nodes near my scapula, which pushed on my blood vessel and caused a clot to form.”

“My care team was on it,” Wink said. “When they detected the blood clot, they took me right down the hall to get a scan. The doctor talked to my oncologist, to understand what was going on, before he spoke with me. The logistics were so good. It all happened in one spot, right in our backyard!”

The reassurance of community-centered care

Wink says you’d never know the infusion room at CCWW in Baldwin is filled with cancer patients. “That room is full of love,” she said. “Everyone is laughing and smiling and joking. We soak it up.”

Having the same medical care team throughout her cancer journey has meant a lot to Wink. “My oncologist is fabulous, and the nurses are spectacular,” Wink said. “We know them all, and we hear about their families. Seeing the same faces is comforting.”

Wink is grateful she doesn’t have to go far for her care. The convenience of the Baldwin location means Wink is only 15 minutes from home.

“Plus, it has a pharmacy on site, the food is wonderful, and the coffee is free!” Wink enthused.

The healing power of love and laughter

Cancer treatment is a team sport, and Wink is grateful for the love that surrounds her. “My husband drives me to all of my appointments,” Wink said, smiling. “He says I’m a survivor and a fighter.”

“Life is good as long as you aren’t too fussy,” Wink says with a laugh. “I’ll stay as healthy as I can and enjoy life at the speed that I can,” she said brightly. “I’m taking one day at a time.”