WHEN NURSES PLAY FAVORITES

This story of a father’s battle against Stage 3 Colon Cancer is almost as unique as the man himself:

“You have cancer” are 3 words you never imagine you’ll hear. But when Charles Kochel, a longtime pillar of his Northwest Arkansas community, woke up from a routine colonoscopy last September, he was greeted with this terrifying reality.

But what makes his journey special begins with who uttered those life-changing words. The nurse of Charles’s G.I. doctor & colorectal surgeon is no stranger to finding malignant masses in younger patients. But on this day, Brooke’s patient was more than a 50-year-old healthy man and father of two. This patient was her husband and the father of her daughters.

THE LUCKY ONES

You may say how lucky he’s married to someone with the exact expertise he needs, but Brooke & Charles would beg to differ. Stage 3 Colon Cancer doesn’t share the same realm as Four-Leaf Clovers or Pots of Gold. In fact, they’ve joked that even if they found treasure at the end of a rainbow, it probably wouldn’t be enough. But as bills begin to pile, with no end to treatment yet in site, this little Tribe of Four can still sense some Meaning in the Madness. And if anyone can, this sweet family will find Beauty in the Struggle, Beauty in the Ashes. Already Charles has published a book during treatment, “More: A Spiritual Guide to Mindful Living”.

**('More' was recently released and will be shipping soon. To own a copy find it here: http://kochelhill.com/ )

A SHINING HOUSE UPON A HILL

I recently had the chance again to visit Kochel Hill, a special place where many have gathered in celebration over the years and all have felt welcome. But this time I bared witness to their stories, fears, laughter, and pain. While many months of chemo has left Charles weak, frail & unable to work much of the time, his spirit is fighting mad & seemingly invincible. He’ll take that positive attitude into surgery on March 25th, then stay in the hospital as Brooke’s team & trusted colleagues at Washington Regional Medical Center cut this cancer from their lives. Two more surgeries follow, and further treatment plans will soon unfold, but in time, a full recovery is the ONLY acceptable ending to this chapter.

THE SUN ALSO RISES (so dream BIG!)

Before his diagnosis, Charles had just returned from Africa after launching his global e-commerce agency & accepting an invitation from the South African government. After kicking Cancer, perhaps you’ll catch him winning a Nobel Prize for opening up trade to a continent in need.

Brooke will continue the fight against Colon Cancer long after her family’s fight is over. She’d remind you the new recommended age for your first colonoscopy is now 45, so what are you waiting for?

Their firstborn, Sage-Pilar (15), is working on her nonprofit BikeWell, bringing NWA’s passion for bikes to African girls for transportation to clean water & school. She also sits on the teen board for Dress for Success and plans on helping local women enter the job market with confidence!

Rumi (12) will continue her middle school journey at Bentonville’s Thaden School and simply get to be a kid again. Preferably a violin-playing kid!

Please consider donating to give Charles peace of mind as he fights and heals, knowing his family’s livelihood is safe. They’ll be back to supporting their community and making the world a better place in no time flat!

Now GIVE and SHARE!!! And come back often for updates…

Love,

Amanda Apple

Development Director, NWA Women’s Shelter

***Medical expenses account for 62% of all bankruptcies in America. Of those, 72% had health insurance. Not the Kochel’s. Not on our watch!