Although she was born in Luverne, Minnesota, Nancy TerWee has spent most of her adult life in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and she wouldn’t have it any other way! She attended school in Sioux Falls to become an LPN and pursued that career for a while by working in a nursing home and a hospital. She recalls the time spent working in the nursing home very fondly, but says after eight and a half years, she was ready for a change. She worked at Children’s Care Hospital and School for about a year, but decided she needed to look in a new career direction so she would have more time to spend with her sons.
That was 16 years ago, and Nancy still feels grateful she decided to take a chance and make that leap because as she enthusiastically proclaims, “I became a fitter and it’s been my passion ever since. I loved fitting from my very first experience and once I had the training from Amoena I knew this was to be my life’s work!”
In January of 2006 Nancy’s work took a very personal turn when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I never doubted I could get through it because of all the women I’d worked with over the years who had given me such inspiration. The best thing about doing a fitting is going into the room and shutting the door and letting the world stop for a moment. It’s just you and the lady in a very intimate setting. There is no room for anything but complete honesty. I always somehow felt that I might get breast cancer, but when it actually happens it’s life changing. If I had the choice of doing it over again I really think I would say do it all over again because of where it’s taken me. What I’ve learned about myself, my family, my friends – you never realize just how much you are loved until you go through something life threatening.”
“You don’t realize what you are made of,” she continues, “or what you are capable of handling until you face the possibility your life may be ending. Breast cancer has certainly helped me to see what the women I help are going through with my own eyes. It’s given me a whole new dimension. I let my customers know I’m with them for the long haul. I want them to know they are going to get through this. I feel that they are comforted by talking to someone who has been through a diagnosis. I hope that by talking to them I can also help make them a bit less overwhelmed by the medical aspects because they are armed with a bit of personal information. I had the very best oncologist you can imagine. Her name is Amy Krie and she is everything you would ever want in any doctor. She takes her time with you and really listens. It’s like sitting down and talking to your best friend. Unfortunately, not every patient gets that sort of treatment!”
Nancy also personally understands how breast cancer can sit on a back burner and try to take control of your life. She tells her customers about breast cancer websites she finds helpful, but cautions them not to spend too much time searching the Internet because you can get too much information.
But as Nancy would most certainly be quick to say – enough about me – it’s time to talk about another subject close to her heart – Avera Home Medical Equipment’s new location! “We moved into our new space on February 27th of this year and I couldn’t be more thrilled! We now have two fitting rooms with a space between them where I can store our supplies. We have a lot of Amoena on hand. We also carry post surgical camisoles, swimsuits, breast forms, bras, and lymphedema products too. I’ve made a point of visiting local surgeons to stress the importance of getting women to come in before they have their surgery so they know what to expect and so they can go home with one of the post surgical camisoles.”
One of Nancy’s pet peeves is hearing stories about women who are told to watch a suspicious lump or shadow on a mammogram for six months. “I’m sure there are legitimate instances where a wait and see approach makes sense, but I think women need to listen to their gut instinct and if they feel they need to have something biopsied or examined further, they need to know they have the right to speak up. There is enough wait and see involved with breast cancer. If you have a concern, you certainly aren’t going to be able to forget about it while you are waiting. It’s not like you aren’t thinking about it most of the time. I feel that taking action quickly makes the most sense.”
When asked how her clients have enhanced her life, Nancy says, “I think I take something from every woman I meet. Each one has something unique to teach me. When I’m in with my ladies we laugh and we cry. Usually the last thing I do is give them a hug.”
Nancy also has a bit of advice for women who are newly diagnosed, “The first thing you need to do is just kind of sit back and take a deep breath. Finding a way to calm yourself is crucial because when you are tense and upset it is more difficult to think clearly and make good decisions. For me it was sitting down with a diet Pepsi™ and some chocolate so I could just sort of think things through (I know, it’s not health food, but give me a break). It always helps to have people you can talk to. My family has been wonderful. My grandson was with me right after I was diagnosed and he came out in some funny stuff and made all of us laugh. He took a very solemn moment and brought laughter to it – and I will always be thankful for that. Sean has been a wonderful part of my life!”
Spending time with family at home is what brings Nancy joy when she isn’t working. She and husband Bob have been married for 32 years. Although sons Casey and Cory are grown, they still live in the area, so she is able to spend lots of time with them. “I like to read, and Bob loves sports (which I loath!) Our life is very mellow these days. We are active in the church and are marriage mentors to couples getting ready for that big step. I also sing in a contemporary group at church as well. Our church has always been really important to us – and has been there when we needed them, so we are happy to be able to give back a bit! I know that my faith has helped me to get through my breast cancer and led me to being so passionate about the work I am blessed to do!”