You can read the first part of this story here.

Elizabeth Denis who is the activity director at Collinsville Rehab facility is currently fighting breast cancer.  She had a double mastectomy last month and is doing well.  She is currently taking chemotherapy every three weeks.  Over the course of her therapy of chemo she becomes very sick but her determination to return to the residents here at Collinsville is sometimes unbelievable.  Her destination is truly the residents at this facility.  She has trimmed her hair, short as it is coming out in hand full’s.  She wears a cute little winter hat as to keep her head warm.

Elizabeth will require chemotherapy for at least a year and then follow up with radiation.  She always has a positive attitude even at her darkest day.  She always has a smile even when she wants to cry.  Elizabeth and her fiancé’ Robert Pitia have known each other for over a year.  They plan to wed on April 2, 2011 at the Collinsville Rehab home.

Jifi Jacob, past administrator of the Collinsville home and currently the administrator of Swansea Rehab Home, has graciously been asked and accepted to stand up for the couple.  The residents are excited for Elizabeth and Robert as they bring a piece of their life into the home of the residents who resides at Collinsville Rehab.

Jifi Jacob and Elizabeth Denis

My name is Elizabeth Denis.  I am the activity director from Collinsville Health Care.  I was hired in on June 30, 2008.  The end of November of this year I was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer.  On December 9, 2010 I plan to have a double mastectomy.

I hopes for a successful recovery wouldn’t have taken place with out the encouragement of my administrator Jifi Jacob.  I approached Jifi to inform him what was happening and asked him if he wanted me to step down in my position.  As after the surgery I will need radiation and chemotherapy.  After many tears Jifi stated, “absolutely not.”  We are family here and you are part of this family and we will fight the breast cancer together.

Jifi has printed me multiple pieces of information from the internet in hopes to answer my many questions.  To me it is amazing for a man to have the respect, concern, and the heart to be so involved with his employees, it gives me goose bumps.  I have never met anyone like him before and I doubt that I ever will.  He is very special to me and to everyone here.  I know I will lose my hair, but we have been playing with different kinds of scarfs and hats here at the facility.

I don’t have a special one yet but it will depend on my mood that day as to which one I wear.  If things don’t work out, I will feel through my accomplishments of teaching our children at the Lutheran Schools about God and turning to long term care where I met all my friends, I feel that in my life I have done enough.  I have confidence in God, that lets me stand strong and face every challenge he gives me.  Jifi and my friends at Collinsville Rehab, thank you for your support.

The pink Christmas tree at the facility is in remembrance of all breast cancer survivors.

[Follow-up Post]