TERRE HAUTE —
Diagnosed with a death sentence in 2002, doctors advised Denise Story to get her affairs in order as she had less than a year to live.
But that was then, this is now, and Story’s decadelong fight with cancer has been anything but a defeat. Now in her 40s, she lives every day in defiance of the odds.
“I had a reason to live,” the mother of two said Saturday morning in her home, holding pictures of her sons 10 years after learning she had colon cancer.
Story was a young mother in her 30s that June when doctors discovered a 31⁄2 inch mass wrapped around her colon. Given its advanced stage, there wasn’t much hope heard in discussions with the medical community, she said.
Friend Stacey Thompson-Dorman recalled going to the doctor’s office with her throughout the early stages of diagnosis and treatment. Their shared faith in God was a source of sustenance, and one upon which they drew heavily.
“There was still a fear of the unknown,” Thompson-Dorman recalled. “Her true faith in God is what kept her going all these years.”
Nine surgeries, 163 chemotherapy treatments, and two rounds of radiation all merged around extended hospital stays and pain, but the desire to see her sons grow up was the motivation she attributed to saving her life.
“My dad died at a very young age,” she said, explaining how his death at 51 impacted her and her brothers. Ensuring that kind of pain wasn’t experienced by her own young children was paramount to her.
Then 9 and 6, Andrew and Austin were baseball players in the Clay Youth League. And though sick from chemotherapy and too sore to sit long, she recalled how attending those games kept her going.
Austin, now a 16-year-old Northview High School junior, noted he was too young to fully understand what was occurring at the time, but over the years, his mother’s dedication has rung home.
“I’m grateful,” he said of her attendance amid the circumstances.
Andrew, now a 19-year-old Ivy Tech student, said as a 9-year-old, the concept of cancer is tough to grasp.
“At 9 years old, you don’t know. I don’t think any 9-year-old can understand when someone tells you your mom only has one year to live,” he said Saturday. “It’s been a long road for her. We’re all proud of her for fighting as hard as she did.”
Dawn Clinkenbeard remarked at the ongoing effect Story’s fight has had on others around her. Ten years ago, Clinkenbeard first met Story while working for the American Cancer Society, coordinating Relay for Life events. A volunteer from the start, she said the young mother was among the first in line to help, even though most thought she wouldn’t live long enough to follow through.
“It was just such a heart-wrenching story at the time,” she said, recalling how Story was trying to prepare her sons and family for the possibility of her own death. “She’s just a miracle.”
The two became friends, and Clinkenbeard credited experiences with survivors like Story as part of the reason she decided to return to school and become a nurse. In December she expects to graduate from Ivy Tech Community College as a registered nurse.
“Certainly working with patients like her over the years has shown me how important it is to have good nursing care,” she said.
Beth D’Amico still marvels at the strength required for a mother to tell her children she might not live another year.
“She is an amazing mother,” she said, thinking back. “It was awful. I truly didn’t think she was going to make it, but you always try to stay positive and hope for the best.”
In Story’s home, above a glass case full of carved angels, are painted the words “Every day holds the possibility for a miracle.”
Crediting her friends for their support, and her children as inspiration, Story said the ongoing battle with cancer is going as well as can be expected.
“This will be the first year, knock on wood, with no surgeries,” she said, emphasizing that despite an initial diagnosis, cancer victims have a chance if they have the will to fight. “It’s been a long, long journey.”
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
-
Buds: Stacey Thompson-Dorman (left) visits her best friend Denise Story Saturday afternoon at Story's eastside home.
-
Foursome: Denise Story (center) holds her family dog and is flanked by her 16-year-old son Austin and her best friend Stacey Thompson-Dorman Saturday morning at their eastside home.
-
Tribune-Star file/Jim Avelis Long ago: Denise Butts with her sons Andrew and Austin in 2004.
Discussion
Reason to live: Denise Story was given a year to live … 10 years ago
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 21, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Monday and Tuesday, based on jail records.
-
UPDATE: Damage surveys show 2 weak tornadoes hit near Indy
INDIANAPOLIS — The National Weather Service says storm surveys show two weak tornadoes struck central Indiana.
-
Storm causes scattered Indiana power outages
INDIANAPOLIS — A line of thunderstorms that moved across Indiana caused scattered building damage and power outages for several thousand homes and businesses.
-
Kindergartner diagnosed with MD treated to a day with the fire department
“He’ll just never forget this day,” Stacey Manley said, a little bit tearfully, as she watched her smiling 6-year-old son Carter sitting happily in the captain’s seat of Fire Engine 2.
-
Casey, Illinois aims for another world record
The town of Casey, Ill., may soon weave its way into the record books as the small town with the most world records. After setting records for the world’s largest wind chimes and the world’s largest golf tee, Casey is now looking to become home to the world’s largest knitting needles and crochet hook.
-
Rose-Hulman projects will promote growth, learning for people with physical challenges
Life changed dramatically for college engineering student Drew Christy on Feb. 22, 2008 when he was involved in an auto accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
-
‘500’ gas stations being sold to Speedway LLC
After several decades in business, the area’s familiar “500” gasoline stations and convenience stores will soon be missing from the roadsides of Vigo and Sullivan counties.
-
Terre Haute woman faces 14 charges
A Terre Haute woman faces 14 criminal counts after her arrest Friday on drug-related charges.
-
Two adults injured in ATV accident
Two adults were injured Sunday evening while riding an all-terrain vehicle near Lexington Farms Subdivision off Moyer Drive in southern Vigo County.
-
Vigo schools’ medical claims down 4 percent
The Vigo County School Corp.’s medical claims were about $13 million over the last 12 months, down 4 percent from the prior year, said Diane Titchenell, an Anthem account manager that works with the school district.
-
2013 Government Directory now available
The 2013 Government Directory is now available.
-
UPDATE: 5 killed, 6 injured in I-70 van crash in Illinois
ST. LOUIS — A van carrying church members returning from a California gathering careened off of a southern Illinois freeway and overturned several times today, killing five people and sending six others to hospitals, authorities said.
-
2 children reported dead from Indianapolis fire
INDIANAPOLIS — Authorities say some autistic children lived in the Indianapolis condominium unit where a fire has killed two children.
-
Tighter Indiana drunken driving law seems unlikely
INDIANAPOLIS — Some key Indiana legislators say it’s unlikely that the state will any time soon go along with a federal safety board’s recommendation that the threshold for drunken driving be cut nearly in half.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 20, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, based on jail records.
-
Life-Size Ping Pong: Valley pickleball tourney draws large crowd to Brittlebank Park
It’s been described as “ping pong on steroids.”
Some people call it “life-size ping pong where you stand on the table.” -
Boat trip aims to raise awareness about Lewy Body Dementia
In 2013, the Year of the River, it makes sense to link a grand adventure on the Wabash River with a good cause.
-
Legislature had little taste for alcohol bills
When it comes to alcohol, the 2013 legislative session may be marked more by what it didn’t do to boost booze sales than what it did.
-
STATE OF THE STATEHOUSE: Is it regulation that doesn’t make sense or evening the playing field?
I’m not much of a drinker, so I haven’t spent much time thinking about how Indiana’s alcohol laws personally impact me, but that changed last fall when my daughter got married.
-
RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: April 29-May 3
The Vigo County Health Department inspected the following food establishments April 29-May 3:
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
Olivia Munn Flaunts Her Bikini Bod
Britney Spears Under Fire Once Again For Being A Bad Mom
The all-new Xbox One
RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma
Nidal Hasan paid $278K while awaiting trial
VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City
Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble
Jennifer Lawrence Gets Naked and Painted Blue as X-Men's Mystique
Pickler's Dance Moves Cause A Stir
Obama to tornado survivors: The country stands beside you
Reporter Cries Over Devastation
Sneak Peek: 'Modern Family' Says Good Bye
Trailer: 'The Last Stand' Available on Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Digital Download
IWitness Look at Moore, OK Tornado
RAW: Moore, OK tornado touches down near school
Robert Pattinson Moves Out
