Team HOPE Helps Many After Karen Kubal Edler recovered from a cancer diagnosis, the support she received from the community prompted her to pay it forward to others in need of support. Team HOPE has been helping many adversely affected by various situations over the past six years. Edler grew up on a farm near Tyndall, SD. She has been employed with Federal Bureau of Prisons for 16 years and owns Kare ‘n More personal services. She is married to Dave Edler, her daughter Kaylee Halverson and husband Josh have three children. What started as a routine physical in 2010 for the then 43-year old turned into a day that changed her life. Before heading out the door one Friday afternoon to meet with friends, she received a call from her doctor. The amazing woman behind it all. This photo was taken at Karen’s first Susan G Komen walk in Vermillion. No matter the struggle, no matter the fight, this amazing Survivor always has a smile on her face. The dedicated crew at the 2016 Poker Run. Karen and Dave Edler, Jen and Brad Carda, Karen and Kevin Frangenberg, Rich and Julie Fischer. Without these 8 Full time dedicated supporters Team HOPE would not be where it is today. “The only words I can remember hearing was, ‘I am so sorry to have to tell you this over the phone, but the results of your biopsy confirm that you have cancer.’” Her heart and body felt heavy, the phone call didn’t seem real. Reality set in when she confronted her friends with the news that evening. Telling her family and friends was the hardest thing that she had to do. As she explains, what followed quickly behind the diagnosis was two years that tested her endurance, strength and faith. After a bilateral mastectomy to remove her tumor, it was found that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. Following was four months of chemotherapy, 33 radiation treatments and another year of numerous surgeries and hospital stays due to complications. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????? 18vHERVOICEvMAY/JUNE 2017