Lymphoma could have made Valerie Eichenberger angry or bitter.

Instead, the former Delnor-Community Hospital nurse decided the best remedy was to remain active. Though she grieved a little for herself after getting diagnosed with chronic lymphomic leukemia and stage 4 lymphoma in June 2006, the mother of four soon picked herself up.

“My philosophy was every day is a good day,” she said. “When you’re hit with something like that, you stay positive. I told the children, ‘We’ll get through this.’ I tried to keep their lives as normal as possible.”

Eichenberger and her 16-year-old daughter, Annette, will take part in Chicago’s sixth annual Lymphomathon at Montrose Harbor on Sunday.
 Jharris 8/19/08 aug. 24
Even after a severe allergic reaction to treatment drug Rituxan nearly cost Eichenberger her life in July 2006, she remained positive and upbeat.
The West Chicago resident continued her job as a nurse practitioner for a month after her diagnosis. 

But eventually, lymphoma took its toll and she had to leave her job, but she joined the Delnor’s Patient Partnership Council, where she had input on providing better patient care. She also became a special consultant for other lymphoma patients at Delnor. She still made sure she attended as many of her children’s athletic events as she could while receiving chemotherapy treatments.

“I didn’t want my kids to be afraid,” said Eichenberger, who learned last May the lymphoma went into remission. “You can’t let fear stop you.”

Valerie said she plans to eventually return to nursing at Delnor or another area hospital.

“At the time, I thought my cancer diagnosis was the worst thing in the world,” Valerie said. “But in many ways, it’s been a blessing. I think it’s made me a better person and more empathetic.”

She also credits Delnor oncologist Dr. Robert Bayer and the staff at the Geneva hospital with helping her battle cancer.

“They’ve done great things in medicine and people in this community should be proud of them,” Eichenberger said. “They are actively involved in the research world.”