Chippewa Falls Newspaper

Woman's sister, mother get breast cancer in 2-month span

It’s the call a sister never wants to get.

In September 2010, Tennille O’Connor, a registered nurse and cardiac rehab team leader at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls, learned that her then 32-year-old sister Carrie Malicki was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer — one of the most aggressive forms of the disease.

As O’Connor’s family was adjusting to the news, just six weeks later their mother, Peg Traeder, then 56, also was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I didn’t even have cancer but I felt like, ‘I can’t take this anymore,’” O’Connor said of the double blow. “My mom was still dealing with her daughter having breast cancer. It was hard to get her to process her own (situation). She couldn’t grasp the idea. It’s exhausting and overwhelming.”

People who know O’Connor, who lives in Chippewa Falls, know that she doesn’t fight lying down. She wasn’t about to let breast cancer devastate her family.

Once she knew her mother and sister would beat the disease that affects one in eight women according to American Cancer Society, they all agreed to be spokespersons to educate and help fight against breast cancer.

For three days next month (Aug. 19-21), O’Connor, Malicki of Chippewa Falls, Traeder of Oxford, O’Connor’s sister-in-law Krista Donaldson of Stoughton, Mich., and two of Malicki’s friends, Patty Kabus and Sarah Sjolander, will walk 60 miles during the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure event in the Twin Cities.

O’Connor said she wants to educate other women about the intricacies of breast cancer because there was no family history of the disease in her family until her sister and mother were diagnosed less than a year ago.

“The family history starts and ends here,” O’Connor said. “I don’t want my daughter to have to deal with this. The risk is high for us now.”

O’Connor is right. According to the American Cancer Society, women with a family history of breast cancer, especially in a first-degree relative like a mother, sister or daughter, are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. And the risk is even higher if more than one first-degree relative develops breast cancer and the risk increases the younger the relative is at the time of diagnosis.

Malicki is finished with chemotherapy and is cancer free. Traeder had a double mastectomy and is cancer free. O’Connor, at the age of 35, will get a mammogram every year because of the risk. Neither of them can be confident that it won’t return, so they continue to fight together.

Reds stay alive at District tournament | Superior Telegram ...

EAU CLAIRE -- The Superior Reds stayed alive in District play with a 15-5 win over South Wood County Friday evening at Carson Park.

The Reds began the day with a 12-4 loss to Eau Claire.

The Reds play Eau Claire again at 1 p.m. Friday in the semifinals. The winner advances to the championship game at 4 p.m. Friday against Chippewa Falls, which defeated Eau Claire 11-3 Thursday night.

In the loss to Eau Claire, Superior had six hits, a two-run single by Rob Dembroski, a double and RBI single by Kellen McCoshen, a triple by Spencer Severson and singles by Spencer Koskie and Taylor Olson.

Ryan Myhre suffered the loss on the mound, allowing nine runs in seven innings on 13 hits, nine strikeouts and three walks.

Eau Claire had 16 hits, led by Jake Jenneman, who was 4-for-6 with three RBIs. Jake Sparger also knocked in three runs with two hits and Sam Hurt hit a solo home run and singled twice.

Mitch DeGrasse was the winning pitcher, allowing six hits with six strikeouts and six walks in 6 1/3 innings.

Jordan McDonald was the winning pitcher for the Reds against SWC. He allowed eight hits and struck out six.

At the plate Superior had 13 hits.

Spencer Severson was 2-for-4 with five RBIs, which included a three-run home run. Taylor Olson doubled three times and had three RBIs; Zach Magdzas had two RBI singles; McDonald had double and RBI; Koskie singled twice; McCoshen singled once and had two RBIs and Dembroski and Sam Schiff singled.

Frank Vruwink was 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the SWC Cardinals, who opened the tournament with a 14-3 loss in seven innings to Chippewa Falls.

American Legion District Tournament

At Carson Park – Eau Claire

Thursday, July 21

Chippewa Falls 14, South Wood County 3, 7 innings

Eau Claire 12, Superior Reds 4

Superior Reds 15, South Wood County 5, 8 innings

Chippewa Falls 11, Eau Claire 3

Friday, July 22

Superior Reds vs. Eau Claire, 1 p.m.

Championship Game

Chippewa Falls vs. TBD, 4 p.m.

Saturday, July 23

Championship Game

(If necessary)

Chippewa Falls vs. TBD, 1 p.m.

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