GETTING A DIAGNOSIS OF
CANCER IS A FRIGHTENING.
FOR MANY PEOPLE IT'S THE
SUPPORT OF FRIENDS THAT ENABLE
THEM TO STAY STRONG.
WE KNEW THAT SHE WAS REALLY
STRUGGLING AND WORKING HARD AND
DOING EVERYTHING SHE COULD.
UP UNTIL THE END.
PAM BATTLED BREAST CANCER
AND LOST LAST WEEK.
BUT THE WAY SHE CHOSE TO FIGHT
IS HEARTWARMING.
IN THIS WEEK'S LIFE STORY WE
SEE HOW THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP
GAVE PAM THE STRENGTH TO KEEP
PUSHING.
SHE WAS KNOWN FOR ALWAYS
WEARING LIPSTICK AND EARRINGS.
AS WELL AS A SMILE.
SHE PUTS HER ARMS AROUND YOU
AND GIVES YOU A BIG HUG AND
FILLED ME WITH CONFIDENCE,
ACCOLADES, WARM FUZZIES.
HER JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE
INCLUDED MARRIAGE AND
MOTHERHOOD.
AND A LONG CAREER IN WOMEN'S
HEALTH CARE.
AND THEN WHEN SHE WAS 51, A
BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS.
THE BEAUTIFUL THING THAT CAME
WITH THE UGLY NEWS WAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THIS ELITE
GROUP.
THEY ARE KNOWN AS DRAGON DIVAS.
WOMEN WHO SHARE AN ONGOING
FIGHT WITH REST CANCER AND AN
AMAZING DETERMINATION TO WIN
DRAGON BOAT RACES.
OFF THE WATER WE ALL HAVE
BREAST CANCER.
ON THE WATER WE ARE ATHLETES.
THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE.
WE CHANGE COMPLETELY WHEN WE'RE
ON THE WATER.
KATHY AND GAIL BOTH PADDLED
WITH PAM FOR YEARS.
AT PRACTICES, A COUPLE OF WEEKS
AGO PAM WAS ONLY ABLE TO RIDE.
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE
THINGS WE DO FOR EACH OTHER.
IF YOU CANNOT PADDLE WE PADDLE
FOR YOU.
SHE CAME TO WRITE ON THE BOAT.
IT WAS A GOOD RIDE.
IT WAS WINDY, SHE ENJOYED EVERY
MINUTE.
EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T FEEL
WELL.
HOW IS SHE AFFECTED YOU?
HER DETERMINE --
DETERMINATION, ONE FOR CHILDREN
TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT SHE WAS
TO US.
PAM WAS 56 YEARS OLD.
A CELEBRATION OF HER LIFE IS
PLANNED AT HOME IN PLYMOUTH.
THAT IS THE PLACE WHERE SHE AND
HER HUSBAND GOT MARRIED.
THE FAMILY SAYS DONATIONS CAN
BE MADE THE UNIVERSITY OF
MINNESOTA FOUNDATION FOR BREAST
CANCER RESEARCH.
