Farming with Faith Through Cancer

One never knows what tomorrow will bring.
Celebrate each day!
I have tried to sit down and write this for several weeks... perhaps blocking my ability to post anything else that has been happening in the world of faith, family, farming and food. perhaps I struggled because it confirms a reality, perhaps because I am humbled by all who have stepped up to help, perhaps because it is still hard to talk about. BUT today, I am committed to sharing and moving forward!

Spring 2015 is a farming season we were not too sure about last fall. And oddly enough, not because the farm was struggling. We had good crops coming off the field, we had good equity, land, moisture, a plan for planting and labor. We had a good foundation in faith. We even had financing all in line for the 2015 farm season. What we didn't have was our health.

On September 5th, 2014, confirmed on Sept 8th, we found out that my husband had Leukemia. At that time he was VERY ill and although they doctors hoped that he would be able to recover from the side effects (dangerously enlarged spleen, lack of appetite, and pain among a few other things) from this cancer, nothing was a for sure. As treatment was started to improve his excruciating high levels of while blood cells and some of his side effects, we learned quite a bit.

We learned that Leukemia is not curable, only treatable/ manageable at best. We found out that he would most likely be on one form or another of Chemotherapy ( in a pill form) daily for the rest of his life. We had no idea how he would respond to the treatment. We didn't know what the future was going to look like, but we did discover that our employees, family, friends and the businesses that we did business with had our back and were willing to make harvest and the farm continue and ensure we were taken care of! That's what small town rural America is all about- right!

Now, that famous saying.... God doesn't give us more than we can handle... for several weeks I wanted to let God know exactly what I thought of him at that moment.... and yes, I would have not been polite and if God was a human standing in front of me, he may have called 911 and pressed charges. But he isn't human and he is a great listener who provides strength when we need it the most!

So, 7, almost 8 months have passed. It has been a true roller coaster. Steven was in the hospital for 2 weeks. He has had weekly blood draws in Bismarck, 55 miles ways, since discharge. After about 5 months they switched to every week and now Steven has his blood checked every 4 weeks. We meet with the oncologist in Bismarck every other month and have been to Mayo Clinic in Rochester 3 times. Yes, he really does take a form of Chemo everyday- twice a day in fact. As tired as this medicine makes him, it is for the best! All of his blood work continually gets better. The doctors have repeated several highly skilled tests analyzing cells in Steven's Bone marrow- now that is a story-- a need stuck into your hip bone with almost not numbing medicine and no sedation, no thanks! All results are looking VERY good!

When it is said that God answers prayers on his own time and that there are many things to be gained from struggle, as painful and tough as it may be, I'd have to agree. As of 2 weeks ago, the doctors could not detect any cells that cause the Leukemia that Steven has!!! Saying that we are ELATED, would be an understatement.

Although this is what we feel to be "our miracle", it doesn't mean the doctors were wrong when they said Steven's Leukemia wasn't curable. It means that for the time bring, we are doing everything right. We will still have to check blood monthly, check cells for mutations - which cause the cancer, and make sure that none of the side effects from the chemo is taking hold.... so far being tired is the only one he has and that is something we can live with!

But when all is said and done, we realize that everyone has a burden or two to carry. This just so happens to be one of ours and by having it enter our life we haven't let it take over, but show us all that we have to be thankful for...we have so much.. Faith, Family, Friends and the ability to do what we love, Farm!

Here's to farming season 2015 and our whole new outlook on life!

We the People: Thankful and Time to Share

As the month of November beings, I am always thrown into the mode of remembering things and taking time to acknowledge things and people that I am thankful for. So tonight, I start a series of posts called, " We the People".

On this November 3rd, 2013, I am ultimately thankful for the words, " We the People". At a time when the country is struggling, I hear chatter about individuals not being able to make a difference, and personal struggle  with many events,  I am drawn to these words. WE THE PEOPLE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. We have been given a voice, a brain, and a right to ask, investigate and speak out. WE THE PEOPLE deserve answers and acknowledgement. WE THE PEOPLE need to know that this is still our country, our home. WE THE PEOPLE can make a difference. BUT, WE THE PEOPLE need to step up and be heard. 

So many times we are upset about things and just sit and complain in our own homes, to our neighbors, and our spouses. We choose not to speak out, be heard and share our experiences, our stories with a larger audience. We may be afraid that our voice will offend others. (They may just be offended because they wish they could have said it, feel guilty, or simply have a different perspective. Don't be afraid. If they can realize that you are standing up for and not directly against them, all will be okay.) We may also feel defeated before we have even begun or that no one cares. Additionally, we may even feel that we don't know enough to speak out. But, we DO know enough. WE know our story. WE know how a decision, change or event impacts us and this is what people need to hear. 

WE THE PEOPLE cannot settle, we cannot let others make our decsions, we cannot swallow our voices. We have to find our voice, speak loudly and share our story. No one can change the emotions, facts and impact that our own stories tell. So I ask that WE THE PEOPLE not be so afraid, look at our own stories and speak up and out! Share with a neighbor, your community, your community school, the media, and your elected officials! WE THE PEOPLE have a lot to share. 

Who doesn't like a good story, and we have a lot to share! 

Why Be An Agvocate ( advocate for agriculture)

Standing up and speaking out is not something I have always done. To this day it is not something I always feel comfortable or like to do, but I do it anyway. Growing up in Minneapolis I really knew nothing about how the food in my kitchen and on my table came to be. I knew certain things were grown, but had no idea of the amount of work, time frame, costs, and risks involved. When I met my husband, I quickly got a glimpse of what I had been missing. He grew up on a grain farm. He had also helped raise hogs and ostrich. He knew that farming was not just something to do, but that it required dedication, hard work, risk, planning, budgeting, a wide variety of skills, and the need for knowledge and experience.
As we dated, got married and now run a third generation farm, I feel a need to share what my family does. I feel that a large number of people have a lack of understanding of what happens and why. I feel like conversing whether it be in text, pictures or in a "real" conversation about a variety of topics in agriculture is meaningful and re-connects people to one of our favorite things... FOOD!

I have played the cheerleader and skeptic of social media. I initially dove in with both feet, then retreated for awhile, and then started to use a variety of outlets again. Currently, I use my personal Facebook page, our Heger Farms Facebook page, Twitter, this blog, and Heger Farms website (Hegerfarms.com) which is need of updating. My husband was not always a fan either. Advocating takes time. When you take time for something, you take it away from something else. He wasn't sure advocating through social media was a needed step. We both questioned why a good old fashioned conversation was no longer "good enough". But with time and looking at some of the numbers, we decided that using social media was important to reach more people and let others see what our family and farm were about. Interestingly enough, I just received an order of office supplies and stationary. All of which have a note for people to check out our Facebook page. My husband even commented this morning, "Make sure you tell them to check out our Facebook page.", when I was writing a few letters. I do believe we have made great strides down an ever evolving road.

I have been asked when I find the time to keep each advocacy platform up-to-date. Well, I simply do what I can. I do a lot of reading on topics in the evenings. I will say that my phone and iPad are very important tools that let me "work" from all sorts of places. I sneak posts in while waiting for kids to come out from sport practices, when waiting in the field for a rider, when waiting for supper to get done or when inline. Most of the time, I post things when I have a second here or there . In general, it is when I am waiting! But because not all advocating takes place in social media, I find time to visit classrooms, talk with other kids' parents, friends and numerous others at sporting events, conferences, the park, the grocery store and simply by wearing t-shirts that share an agricultural message.

(bottom T-shirt available from www.redmeatmafia.com)

I have found that when I use social media to share and talk with people that I am often redirected to listen. Others share and post comments or their own pictures and information. With social media they are able to share articles and links. People ask questions and a wide variety of people can respond. I find that being an advocate is not about only sharing, but digesting what others are thinking and saying. I do not know nearly as much as others. I rely on my connections to enlighten me and bless me with perspective. I can then gain understanding and share even more.

Advocating needs to come from the heart. It is communication about something you are passionate about. It takes time, energy, and dedication, but it is worth it. Agvocating for me is not just one more thing to do. It is what I do each day.