East Central Reporter

When Ashmore resident Darla Grigg was diagnosed with anal cancer in October 2023, she faced a challenging decision regarding her treatment options. Her local doctor informed her that there would be a nearly two-month wait to begin treatment close to home. Seeking immediate care, Darla reached out to Sarah Bush Lincoln, who promptly began her treatment plan.

“I already had been bleeding for a few months, and I did not want to wait any longer. I called Sarah Bush Lincoln, and they got me in right away,” Darla said. “They got the ball rolling with my care plan.”

The urgency of cancer care became evident as her treatment commenced during the Thanksgiving week instead of after the holiday as initially planned. “Initially, treatment was going to start after Thanksgiving, but they decided to start the week of Thanksgiving because I [had] had the bleeding for five months at that point,” she said.

Sarah Bush Lincoln oncologists Seong Cho, MD, and Abdur Shakir, MD, prescribed radiation and chemotherapy starting that week. The staff at SBL Regional Cancer Center showed their dedication by working on Thanksgiving to treat Darla.

"Dr. Cho drove from Champaign on Thanksgiving to treat me,” Darla shared. “Even his nurse, who had planned to hunt with her son and husband, came in to care for me. I was blown away by how accommodating they were.”

Darla managed well initially but fell ill on Thanksgiving afternoon. Dr. Shakir's honesty about potential side effects helped prepare her for what was ahead. “He did not sugarcoat anything, and he told me what would happen,” Darla said, “and the symptoms appeared just like he explained they would.”

Despite being forewarned about the side effects, managing them proved difficult for Darla both emotionally and physically. “I told myself that I had to think that those things wouldn’t happen,” she reflected. “I told myself I wouldn’t lose my hair, but I did. I told myself that I wouldn’t get depressed, but I did.”

By Christmas 2023, Darla continued with treatments amidst illness but was nearing the end of chemotherapy and radiation sessions. Her treatment concluded in January 2024.

“During my treatment, I was not interested in the holidays. I just wanted to get through it,” she recalled. Now healthy again this year, she looked forward to spending holidays with loved ones.

Motivated by her journey through cancer treatment, Darla intends to volunteer at SBL Regional Cancer Center offering support and comfort to other patients undergoing similar experiences.

“The only way I know how to pay back my gift is to pay forward my story and personal experience,” she expressed.