By STEVEN MURREY
Managing Editor
smurrey@cherryroad.com

For former Elwood resident Christy Fischer, the past 18 years have been a testament to her resilience, optimism, and unshakable will to live.

Diagnosed in 2006 with stage IV lung cancer at the age of 38, Fischer was given a grim prognosis. Doctors told her she only had four months to live.

“Once that was over—I mean the second they told me—I decided I was going to beat this disease, and I was going to live,” said Fischer. “And since then, that’s what I’ve been doing.”

Over 18 years later, Fischer has kept her promise to herself. She is not only living but thriving. Born and raised in Elwood, where her parents still reside in her childhood home, Fischer has been a natural leader from a young age. She served as class president in high school and was crowned homecoming queen. She went on to attend St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., where she was an athlete before graduating and returning to Elwood.

After her initial diagnosis, Fischer underwent five years of chemotherapy and went into remission. But her journey with cancer was far from over. The disease returned—once, then again, and then a third time. In 2018, she was diagnosed for a fourth time and has been undergoing treatment ever since.

Despite the relentless nature of her illness, Fischer never allowed it to define her.

“I always knew it would come back because you’re never cured. It never goes away,” she said. “It’s a disease that you’ll always have for the rest of your life. I just stay on top of it. And I’m always my own advocate. If the doctor says we’re going to do this or that, I’m on top of it and move the ball along.”

She met her husband, Rich, shortly after graduating college while attending a parade in Indianapolis. Rich, who was traveling with the Coast Guard’s Presidential Honor Guard, was marching in the parade, and the two chatted afterward. They carried on their relationship through long-distance phone calls for four months, and six months later, the couple was married.

“So, we knew each other for 10 months total, living in two different states,” said Fischer. “And we’ve been married for 33 years.”

Due to Rich’s service, the couple traveled from New Orleans to Memphis, then to Traverse City before settling in Kansas City. Christy established her career with Applebee’s Restaurants, where she worked at headquarters as a project manager, responsible for major initiatives such as their Veterans Day free meals, among others.

Last summer, Fischer was awarded the esteemed Will Ross Medal by the American Lung Association for her outstanding accomplishments and impact in advancing the organization’s mission. The award, established in 1952 in honor of Will Ross, a former tuberculosis patient and one of the ALA’s most dedicated volunteers, is presented annually to individuals who demonstrate outstanding commitment and achievement in the fight against lung disease.

“Fischer’s involvement with the American Lung Association began as a response to her own battle with lung cancer,” a press release from the ALA states. “Determined to turn her personal experience into a force for good, Fischer immersed herself in volunteering, becoming a beacon of hope and advocacy for others facing similar challenges. She has shared her story to raise awareness in videos and at events, helped recruit businesses to join the Lung Love campaign, and traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for lung cancer research funding and healthcare protections.”

“When somebody has cancer, people instantly have compassion for that person,” said Fischer, explaining what drove her to get involved with the ALA. “Everybody’s like that with every single cancer—except lung cancer. When you have lung cancer, the first thing people ask is, ‘Were you a smoker?’”

That reaction motivated Fischer, who never smoked in her life, to speak up and change the way people think about lung cancer.

“I didn’t grow up in a smoking household where I was exposed to secondhand smoke,” she continued. “I decided I’m going to get involved with the American Lung Association because I need to do something about this. I need to increase people’s awareness of this disease. Anybody can get it. Our saying is, ‘If you have lungs, you can get lung cancer.’”

“It was important to me to share that story with people—how anybody can get this. It’s not just a smoker’s disease, and anybody of any age can get it. It’s not just 80-year-old men who smoked five packs of cigarettes a day.”

Fischer went on to say she never spent time wondering why she got the disease or feeling sorry for herself.

“I knew the second I got diagnosed that there was no way God was going to end my life,” Fischer stated emphatically. “I knew… I knew that He had something more in store for me. And I just lived on that thought—that’s what has always driven me. He has chosen me for a reason.”

“I never once said, ‘Why me?’ And I still don’t. I know that this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Fischer’s illness and work with the ALA have provided her with a unique opportunity to meet others facing similar challenges.

“That’s been very rewarding, not only to share my story with them and let them know that there’s hope but also to help them in their journey—where they need to go to get help for their type of cancer.”

Fischer isn’t just approached by those with lung cancer. She is regularly connected with cancer patients of every kind, as friends, colleagues, and acquaintances often ask her to speak with their recently diagnosed loved ones. Whenever she is asked, Fischer takes these opportunities to speak with strangers.

“I just provide them with that hope and tell them not to sit around thinking their life is over. I tell them to think about what they’re going to do next. You’ve got to keep moving forward.”

Fischer also stressed the importance of a support system. Her workplace was very supportive, with coworkers coming to her home to sing Christmas carols and gifting her an iPod to listen to music during treatments.

“I never missed one day of work,” recalled Fischer. “I would just get up. Everybody would have understood if I stayed in bed, but I wasn’t going to let this get the best of me.”

“I never called it a battle; it’s just part of my life. It’s not a battle. I always try to say, ‘I’m winning against this.’ The words I use around it are really important. I never capitalized the word ‘cancer’ because I don’t think it deserves a capital C. It’s not important enough for that.”

Now retired, Fischer has more time to volunteer, and she loves to stay busy. She has served as the chair for the Lung Force Gala in Kansas City since 2017 and spends a lot of time sharing her story with the media and on podcasts.

“I just had my first out-of-country interview about my story with a gentleman from Berlin, so I’m going to be published in a magazine there. I do podcasts with the American Lung Association and go on different speaking events with them. Anything they ask me to do, I say yes. There’s always an opportunity for me to spread awareness, educate people, and raise money.”

Fischer is also a member of her local American Legion Auxiliary and says it’s important to support veterans.

“We do a lot of fundraising where we get to support our community and our veterans.”

When asked what advice she’d give to someone in a similar situation, her answer was simple:

“Live your life.”

“Do not allow this to get in your head. Do not let it take any of your joy or your happiness. Don’t change your plans because of it. Live your life! If you want to eat the cake, eat the cake! If you want the new pair of boots, get the new pair of boots. Just live your life! Do not let it take any part of your living away from you.”