Angie’s Story

Site created on January 2, 2023


Angie was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and on November 7th they found a 4 inch mass in her left lung.  It has metastasized to the nodes lining around her left lung and into one of her rib bones. She has been experiencing quite a bit of pain in her legs/ankles and in her left shoulder for sometime now. It has gotten to the point that she is unable to work and has been home bound outside of doctor visits for a few months now. We met with Dr. McKean at Averea Cancer Institute in Sioux Falls, SD and they set her up with her first chemo treatment within a few days… all this happened during the BIG blizzard last week in Sioux Falls!! Angie is home now resting while the chemo works itself through. She will be going back to Sioux Falls every 3 weeks for 4 cycles and then she will have a scan to see if the cancer is shrinking… so please pray that all goes to Angie’s advantage! Angie is truly an amazing woman with a huge heart and she not only is physically strong enough to keep her family in line and kick her sister’s hinnies, but she’s also the most driven. Whatever needed to be done, even when it seemed impossible she accomplished it. So when I tell you she is taking this on with the best attitude possible, please know that her strength and determination are going to give this cancer a run for its money! Add in the support of so many people that have been placed in her life and then top it off with her faith in our amazing Father in Heaven… How can she not be ok?! Through all of this we have prayed and prayed and while we pray for healing we also worship and thank God for holding her through this. Angie grew up knowing, believing, and feeling God’s presence and one thing for sure is that we have seen God’s hands in this. Please continue prayers and also words of encouragement through cards, flowers, Bible quotes, inspirational quotes, or just simply your stories of her and reminders  of what life has blessed her with. All of that has had such a HUGE impact and had meant so much to her, so please keep them coming through this journey of hers!

Newest Update

Journal entry by Julie Swanger

I know this is a bit late but the family wanted to make sure everyone was notified before it went out to public. 

Angie passed away Sunday, May 21st surrounded by her family. Our hearts are so heavy and the grief is heavy for she was such a huge part of our family and always there to help in any situation. She had a huge heart of gold and a strong motivation to help wherever needed!! She loved family, loved to laugh, loved her friends, loved being apart of the communities she lived, road trips, listening and giving advice and let’s not forget SOFTBALL!! She loved softball and ALL the adventures that brought!! 

There was only one time Angie asked “why me, what did I do?” I told her that I had no idea but what I felt was revealed to me was that she was Gods child, she was strong, that he had a plan for her, and that her purpose was gonna be used for His glory. She said she wanted that and for people to see & know God through her. She wanted to be a testimony of who He is! And from that day forward I never heard her ask why again. We would do random “head checks”, basically I always wanted to know what she was feeling, where her head was and where was God in the moment. She always would tell me about the peace she felt… even in times she was in such pain or if she had unsettling set backs, she would say I can’t explain the peace but she knew she would be ok. I watched my sister push through so much ugliness this cancer tried taking from her… there were moments that I have no idea how she did it, but she did. She took each day as it came and she rolled with the punches as if it didn’t even bother her. Her focus was so direct and she never got angry about her situation. Even when she’d hurt so bad that she couldn’t stand it. (And there were alot of those times!) I watched this peace in her and it just amazed me… beyond a doubt God was ruling over her life. We prayed and others prayed. She welcomed and loved ALL the prayers! She was greatly moved by it all… as a mater of fact one night there in the hospital, she was sleeping (yes she was a sleep talker) and in her sleep she was giving a speech telling everyone how she appreciated everything and she thanked everyone for all they did for her.  I sat in the chair listening and smiling and the next morning told her what she said and she laughed. But she truly was so grateful, beyond measures!!!  The last 2 weeks in the hospital was so unexpected. We had no idea she would never come home again. Burgesses Hospital staff was simply amazing, her nurses, techs, cleaning crew, kitchen staff ALL did everything to make her feel so comforted the whole stay. Many had tears in their eyes when she passed because they all just adored Angie and her witty personality!! She was telling the case worker at the hospital about her peace and how she couldn’t explain it, she said “I don’t know, why but Gods given me a purpose and as long as He continues to give me strength im gonna fight until it is time to rest.” 

In our last “head check” was Friday morning before she passed. She shared her fear, she shared her thoughts, we talked a few things out and then I asked, “where is God right now?” She said, “ I really can’t ask him for anything more. He has blessed me with so much. He has always been here and given me so much.”

This spoke volumes to my heart… my sister loved the Lord all her life. Her faith was instilled in her all her life…. She wasn’t very good at talking openly with people telling them of Jesus but if you knew her enough you knew her faith was strong and she truly wanted people to see that with this cancer in her. It wasn’t her strength alone but the strength of the God she choose to follow. It was by the blood of Jesus she was able to come to God and hold him so tightly and receive that strength needed. And when God breathed His final Words for her here on earth… she knew it was time and with her family around her, knowing they’d be ok, she went to Him to her home in heaven. Where she could barely walk here on earth, she is now walking, running, dancing in heaven! It is a joyous moment for her but we are left with grief and a void in our hearts, but God does not stop there, remember god had a purpose for Angie… Angie’s purpose will continue… God will use it to refine and grow us closer to Him, just as he did for Angie!!! 

A friend texted me this… 

It is good when God brings us THROUGH suffering, but even better when we find him IN our suffering. God brought Angie through her suffering, and in her suffering she was able to draw closer to him and He will do the same for us!   So please honor my sisters life by praising the God she so strongly had faith in and loved! Lean into Him and let Him draw close to you! 

Again thank you all so much… we love you wholeheartedly and are grateful for you all!


Also final fact: 

Cancer did not win… God did!!! 

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