When the Unexpected Knocks: How Cancer Gave Audrey Angus Perspective 2
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An unusual twist
Not long after her diagnosis, Jason’s farming partner’s wife was diagnosed with a second case of breast cancer.
“Two business partners watching their wives suffering from basically the same thing…it was just ironic,” Jason says. “We made it through 2018 from a farming standpoint, but it did not go as we expected."
Audrey admits the farmers had a few less meals delivered to them that spring and made a few more trips to Subway.
“We learned we can accomplish an awful lot as a family when we are forced into that type of situation,” Jason says. “We also learned that we don’t have to rely on our wives so much. They were unavailable to run people from field to field or throw a sandwich together, so our business figured out ways we could work without having one of the wives catering to us.”
During those five months of chemo, they learned many other lessons, too. When it comes to cancer, you can never ask enough questions, Jason says. Being informed was important to Audrey and helped her handle the stress along the way.
“Find advisors that you trust, doctors that you trust, and then do what they say,” she says. “If you're not super happy, get a second opinion, which I did. They happened to agree completely with the first opinion, but that was fine. It gave me peace of mind.”
At some point, Audrey says she had to deal with the hard questions. What if things don’t work out? What would happen to the kids?
“Not to be morbid, but you have to get okay with an early demise. I certainly don’t want to go early – I want to see as much of our kids’ lives as I can,” she says. “The thought of not being there for my kids’ graduations, weddings, etc., is horrible. But they would get through it. You just don't want them to have to deal with that burden, in addition to figuring out how to grow up.”
That was the hardest part for her friend and customer, Mike Haag, to watch. He says it’s amazing how fast one word can turn someone’s world upside down.
“For someone as active and involved in our industry as she was with two young kids, it just hurt you. I found it very painful to think about her going through that,” Haag says. “But she always focused on going forward. I don’t think she missed many days of work or time with her kids, but I know she didn’t feel very damn good at times.”
A World Pork Expo to remember
After completing chemotherapy, Audrey went in for the first of two surgeries in the beginning of June in 2018. A couple days later, she left for the World Pork Expo. While visiting with her old boss from Cargill at the trade show, she was interrupted by a phone call from her doctor that she will never forget.
“The doctor said, ‘It’s gone. I don't get to make very many of these calls – only 13% of people get a pathological complete response (PCR), Audrey,’” she recalls. “They found no residual cancer in my breast or lymph nodes which meant a significant reduction in recurrence rate.”
Obviously, she was thrilled. And relieved. She called Jason immediately and then went back to work on the trade show floor.
“We had an entertainment tent,” she laughs. “I had to serve barbecue and drinks to my customers!”
As soon as World Pork Expo wrapped up, she went home for the second surgery, followed by 36 straight days of radiation. Her prognosis is good, she says. Every six months, she has diagnostic scans and visits a cancer specialist in Chicago.
“Cancer causes you to self-reflect. It's very humbling,” Audrey says. “I came out of it medically fantastic, but I don't think we can contribute that to anything other than faith and God's plan. I would have liked a heads up on this whole deal, but that's not the way it works.”
Audrey views life a little bit differently now. She doesn’t let little things bother her anymore. She empathizes with folks who have been through stressful times.
“I think I needed more empathy. Maybe cancer was God's way of saying, ‘Hey, you need to be knocked down a notch and have a little more empathy,’” she says. “I treasure my time with my friends and family. I don't work as much as I used to, and my work does not get my whole heart and soul all the time.”
Jason is grateful cancer brought their family and friends closer together.
“We may never understand ‘Why Audrey?’” Haag says. “But knowing her before and knowing her after, if anything, she’s even better than she was because of the perspective cancer gave her. Through it all, she was always still Audrey.”
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Pat Bane Tells the Truth Behind Pig Farming
Building a Farm-To-Fork Business One Pig at a Time
