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Portrait: Mariam Kuensting gives her all for cancer patients
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By Angie Hutschreider
News Tribune
Mariam Kuensting has been called a “cancer patient's biggest ally.”
Kuensting, who never had cancer, has dedicated most of her professional and personal life over the last 30 plus years to educating, supporting and caring for cancer patients.
In 1977, a mere three days after her wedding, Kuensting's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and thus began her unrelenting passion for cancer care.
There have been 11 women in her family diagnosed with breast cancer, all but one since 1977, and several this year alone. So her desire to form the Community Breast Cancer House was a personal one.
The house, in the planning stages for five years before its grand opening in October 2006, offers breast cancer patients and their families “a calm place in the hectic world where they are fighting breast cancer. It is place where people can support and care for you,” she said.
Kuensting worked at Jefferson City Medical Group for 24 years helping care for cancer patients, especially those with breast cancer. Now in her new position at St. Mary's Health Center, she helps with cancer procedures in the operating room.
Many who know Kuensting have said she “relates to her patients as though she has felt the fear of cancer herself.”
Kuensting says that comes from “knowing it (cancer) personally through the many family members who have had breast cancer. People I have loved are affected by it, I have gone through every step with my family members and just knowing the fear and trauma it causes helps me relate to others who are going through their treatment and beyond.”
Her care and concern reach beyond the walls of the hospital and even beyond the walls of the Breast Cancer House. “Through word of mouth people know they can call me,” she said. “I do get that occasional call asking me what to do or what some test result means.”
Earlier this year, Kuensting was honored, not once but twice for her efforts in the community. She was named the 2007 American Red Cross Medical Heart of a Hero and also was a 2007 Zonta Women of Achievement honoree.
These are honors that humble Kuensting, who says she is just reaching out to offer a caring and helpful hand to those who need it.
“What I am doing is a labor of love and to be recognized was totally unbelievable and unexpected.
“I have patterned my life after my mother's, in that you give without expecting something in return,” Kuensting said. “She was a great believer in paying it forward.”
Kuensting and many others put in varying hours at the house, taking a shift when it is needed. Other times she and others are there working on projects, fundraisers and just trying to ensure that when someone reaches out, there is a person there to get in touch with them as soon as possible. “Some weeks you have three or four women calling who have just been diagnosed. They need and want someone to talk to outside of a medical setting,” she said. “Thank God other weeks you have none.”
Kuensting said she would love to see the day when the word cancer is just a memory to society. But no matter how far off that day may be, she said there is hope, and she is filled with it.
“I believe that a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. The journey may not be easy but there is hope and there are people who will help you make the journey.”
Kuensting, who never had cancer, has dedicated most of her professional and personal life over the last 30 plus years to educating, supporting and caring for cancer patients.
In 1977, a mere three days after her wedding, Kuensting's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and thus began her unrelenting passion for cancer care.
There have been 11 women in her family diagnosed with breast cancer, all but one since 1977, and several this year alone. So her desire to form the Community Breast Cancer House was a personal one.
The house, in the planning stages for five years before its grand opening in October 2006, offers breast cancer patients and their families “a calm place in the hectic world where they are fighting breast cancer. It is place where people can support and care for you,” she said.
Kuensting worked at Jefferson City Medical Group for 24 years helping care for cancer patients, especially those with breast cancer. Now in her new position at St. Mary's Health Center, she helps with cancer procedures in the operating room.
Many who know Kuensting have said she “relates to her patients as though she has felt the fear of cancer herself.”
Kuensting says that comes from “knowing it (cancer) personally through the many family members who have had breast cancer. People I have loved are affected by it, I have gone through every step with my family members and just knowing the fear and trauma it causes helps me relate to others who are going through their treatment and beyond.”
Her care and concern reach beyond the walls of the hospital and even beyond the walls of the Breast Cancer House. “Through word of mouth people know they can call me,” she said. “I do get that occasional call asking me what to do or what some test result means.”
Earlier this year, Kuensting was honored, not once but twice for her efforts in the community. She was named the 2007 American Red Cross Medical Heart of a Hero and also was a 2007 Zonta Women of Achievement honoree.
These are honors that humble Kuensting, who says she is just reaching out to offer a caring and helpful hand to those who need it.
“What I am doing is a labor of love and to be recognized was totally unbelievable and unexpected.
“I have patterned my life after my mother's, in that you give without expecting something in return,” Kuensting said. “She was a great believer in paying it forward.”
Kuensting and many others put in varying hours at the house, taking a shift when it is needed. Other times she and others are there working on projects, fundraisers and just trying to ensure that when someone reaches out, there is a person there to get in touch with them as soon as possible. “Some weeks you have three or four women calling who have just been diagnosed. They need and want someone to talk to outside of a medical setting,” she said. “Thank God other weeks you have none.”
Kuensting said she would love to see the day when the word cancer is just a memory to society. But no matter how far off that day may be, she said there is hope, and she is filled with it.
“I believe that a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. The journey may not be easy but there is hope and there are people who will help you make the journey.”
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