Knightly News

A scientist. A grandmother. An artist. A straight shooter. A caregiver. Sarah Pulliam, Shelly McDonald, Karen Koprowski-Stout, Shannon Pesson and Danna Sabolik are strong, determined and compassionate women. They are independent and fierce. While it doesn’t define them, they are also cancer survivors.

October is traditionally a month in which we hear about breast cancer; however, these women wanted to raise awareness about more. A recent Homecoming Spirit Week challenge morphed into a fundraiser for Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge as faculty elected to wear the color representing a cancer that has impacted them. The faculty, staff and students got on board and made donations. The women also wanted to share their stories with the hope of helping others like them.

“It taught me don’t wait to take the trip.” Sarah Pulliam, Upper School Science Teacher

When Upper School science teacher Sarah Pulliam noticed a sore in her mouth that wouldn’t heal for months, she took action. She saw her doctor, her dentist and eventually demanded that she be referred to a specialist. “A voice in my head said something’s wrong,” she says. “You need to advocate for your health.” Fortunately, Pulliam was a strong advocate for herself and urges others to do the same.

Once she received a cancer diagnosis, there was one thing on her mind. “I thought about my kids,” says Pulliam with the determination of a mother protecting a nest. Pulliam underwent surgery and daily radiation treatments. It was difficult and compounded by the fact that she couldn’t smell or taste. She remembers one of her lowest frustrations occurring when she ordered McDonald’s French fries and couldn’t enjoy them.

Being a science teacher provided Pulliam an inside perspective on the health crisis. “You know what’s going on on the cellular level,” she says regarding what it was like to process her diagnosis and treatment plan. Throughout the experience, she even tapped into her journey to offer students real examples of what they were learning in the classroom.

Pulliam, who is an avid former mountain biker and loves to travel, got through her experience with mental toughness and a reliance on faith. “When the bike hits the sand, it slows you down,” she says. “You speed up if you see a sandy patch and you have some momentum. It gets you to the other side. You gotta’ keep pushing. You gotta’ keep pedaling hard.” She says you also have to learn that it’s ok to not be ok. “We can’t always answer every question scientifically,” she says. “We don’t know so you have to be ok with mystery.”

“I was so aware of God speaking to me through others.” Shelly McDonald, Upper School Administrative Assistant

In early fall of 2019, Shelly McDonald discovered a lump in her breast that didn’t seem right. With a family history of breast cancer, she decided to have it checked out just in case. By October, she had a mammogram performed. When the technician left the room for a second opinion, McDonald knew it was cancer. “My faith in God is very strong and I simply sat there and began to speak to Him,” she says. “I told God I was ready to do battle and prayed for His grace for the journey and His healing touch.”

Within days, McDonald was advised to see a breast cancer surgeon. After initial attempts to contact a physician were unsuccessful, she received a referral from her original physician’s office. With that referral came another message. McDonald says she knew the scheduler was not supposed to quote scripture to patients, but “to my utter amazement she did. She quoted scripture about not being anxious. ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.’” Philippians 4:6

McDonald made an appointment with the specialist and surgery was scheduled for November. “A few days later I was pronounced cancer free,” she says. “How many people can say it only took 25 days from diagnosis to being cancer free?” McDonald says there is one reason why she wants to share such a personal experience. “My desire is to tell young women and older girls the benefits of self-exam,” she says. “During my current journey I have met other breast cancer patients as young as in their early 20s. It is not ‘an old lady disease.’” This mother and grandmother also readily shares her passion for survivorship. “I AM A SURVIVOR! I am thankful to God in whom my future lies each and every day!”

“There are beautiful moments when I get sick because something shifts in my brain and all my brain can do is live in the moment.” Karen Koprowski-Stout, Upper School Art

Karen Koprowski-Stout has had numerous bouts with cancer, including colon, ovarian, endometrial and kidney cancer. She has Lynch Syndrome, which is a genetic predisposition to cancer. “I get a good two to three years before something comes up,” she says. “So that’s just life.” As an artist, Koprowski-Stout finds the beauty in everything, including her experiences with cancer. “In the worst of times, there’s always something good. Usually lots of things,” she says pointing out that she has a sense of gratitude and peace living in the moment. One example of the good that can arise from something difficult came in the form of her mother telling her own story to a stranger at the airport. After the conversation, the man urged Koprowski-Stout’s mom to look into her health concerns. That man’s name was Dr. Henry Lynch, the physician who discovered Lynch Syndrome.

Koprowski-Stout vividly recalls the moments of crying and mourning during one of her own health setbacks and then being filled with a peace that she describes as a warm embrace. In those moments, she knows she can do it, and despite the challenges, she moves forward undeterred. She remembers the first time she needed time off to recover and the profound feeling of having permission to rest and recover. Even though she had long valued self-care, it was the first time this lifelong staffer had allowed herself to stop and take a breath. She’s found a sense of freedom from her diagnosis. “It prioritizes things for you,” she says. “I’m more relaxed and not anxious about something else. I’m more in touch with my spiritual side.”

There is pain, emotion and difficulty, but there is peace, confidence and strength. Koprowski-Stout shares her cancer story to help others. “You can survive cancer,” she says. “After having surgery so many times I have insight. I know what to expect and can help others with expectations.”

“I don’t have time to sweat the small stuff.” Shannon Pesson, Lower School

Shannon Pesson is cancer free twenty years after physicians found a mass the size of a grapefruit in her chest. Following her Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis, she underwent four months of chemotherapy and 24 days of radiation. “Radiation was the worst,” she says. “It’s a mind game.”

With faith, family and friends, Pesson was supported throughout that mind game. She says she is here to tell the tale today because of her village. She recalls friends and family helping with her daughter and offering so much food that she had to “knock my food train back.” She also remembers knowing that she had one assignment. “My job was to get well,” she says. She walked four miles a day during chemo and watched what she ate. She took care of herself while also allowing others to assist. Pesson also leaned heavily on her faith. “I have a strong faith with God and that pulls me through a lot of things,” she says.

This straight shooter now takes time to enjoy life. A teacher for 32 years, she loves her profession and the students she teaches. “I was born to teach,” she says reflecting on her many family members who are also educators. Having relocated to Baton Rouge from New Orleans in 2013, she enjoys family time and values friendships. “Live it and love it,” she says. “You never know.”

“Everything happens for a reason.” Danna Sabolik, Upper School Attendance Coordinator

When Danna Sabolik went for a routine mammogram in 2017, she was not expecting anything out of the ordinary. “I did everything preventive,” she says of her healthy lifestyle. “I couldn’t feel it. It was a complete shock.” Sabolik began her breast cancer battle just two years after caring for her then 15-year-old daughter as she battled ovarian cancer. “I knew I could make it because I saw her fight,” she says of the experience. Sabolik is strong-willed and tough. In fact, because there was so much happening with her family at the time of her diagnosis, she didn’t tell any of them until the surgery was scheduled. Even today she wouldn’t alter that decision given the circumstances and her desire to care for and protect her family.

After nearly five years, Sabolik’s life has changed as a result of her cancer journey. She’s learned to accept help from others, whereas before that was a challenge. She’s also learned to live in the moment. “It’s very hard to plan anything ahead because you don’t know what’s going to happen the next day,” she says. After teaching second and fourth graders, she left the classroom and eventually joined the Episcopal family as a substitute. The substitute position offered her the flexibility she needed during her recovery.

Sabolik is also grateful. “You appreciate the day to day and it kind of makes you live,” she says. When she reflects on the reason for her cancer diagnosis, she has a quick answer. “To teach me to slow down and appreciate every day and enjoy life.”

It takes bravery and confidence to share a story as personal as a cancer journey with an entire community. It also takes compassion and empathy. These survivors want others to know that it’s important to take care of yourself and be aware of what is happening with your body. They encourage others to pay attention and prioritize regular health checkups.

Join us in celebrating the survivors among us and in supporting those who are facing health struggles. Share a message with these strong women or share your story in the comments section below.

Cancer resources in the Greater Baton Rouge area include:

Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge

American Cancer Society in Louisiana

Louisiana Cancer Prevention & Control Programs

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2024-2025 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.