By CHERIL VERNON

PALESTINE — By CHERIL VERNON

Community Editor

Elkhart resident Mimi Birch had every reason to be happy in June when she qualified for the five-state Region 9 Dressage Championship, the Prix St. George. Working with horses most of her life, she runs a dressage facility called Blue Moon Farms where she trains horses and their riders as well as competing regionally.

But when a routine mammogram led to a diagnosis of breast cancer, Burch, who has a active, healthy lifestyle and no family history of breast cancer, was left in shock at the life-changing news.

“You can only imagine my reaction — disbelief, shock, anger and finally acceptance of the fight I had ahead of me,” Burch said.

The breast cancer statistics are staggering. This year alone 192,370 women will be diagnosed with cancer and 40,170 of those women will die.

“We all need to be more aware. If you find it early, you can stop it,” Burch said. “If you find it you must be prepared for the fight of your life — the fight FOR your life.”

The routine mammogram was done at Magnolia Medical Plaza with digital mammography under the direction of Dr. Smitson. The lump was so small that it could not have been detected by a self-breast exam.

Following the diagnosis, Dr. Ray Brunson performed the punch biopsy at Palestine Regional Medical Center. Surgeon Dr. Robert Falconer, who helped her with her specific “game plan” to fight her cancer, did the lumpectomy. She underwent seven weeks of radiation at Palestine Cancer Center under the care of Dr. Hyman and Dr. Wilder. She also used alternative therapy including chiropractic care from Dr. Zac Leslie.

“I was so lucky to have all of my treatment locally,” Burch said. “This alleviated much of the stress and complications of daily travel elsewhere. Because treatment was here in town I could easily continue with my daily schedule of riding, teaching and household responsibilities.”

During this emotionally challenging time, Burch leaned on prayer, as well as her family, friends and students for support. This included her husband, Dr. Larry Burch; two grown children, son Josh and his wife Carly, daughter Cara and their 13-year-old son, Zack, as well as her parents.

“It is so important to have people there for you for support,” Burch said. “You need those phone calls, those cards in the mail, the pat on the back or the prayer for you because it’s a battle every day and there are no guarantees.”

Burch was very serious setting up her game plan against cancer.

“It so important to know your choices, to know your particular variety of cancer, to have faith and confidence in your plan and the professionals that are helping you,” Burch said.

While going though her cancer treatment, Burch decided not to stop training for the Region 9 Championship.

“I decided my goal was to keep my life normal — do all my treatments here in town and keep riding and teaching,” Burch said. “I needed to stay focused because it’s easy to fall into depression. I needed something to get me up in the morning and keep me going.”

Her training for her competition with her 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood Omen did just that.

“My horse didn’t get quite the conditioning he needed, but to know my horse was waiting on me and I couldn’t let him down, that kept me going,” Burch said. “My goal going in the competition was realistic — I just wanted to make it through, because life isn’t a Disney movie and I knew I wasn’t in the best shape. I had no intentions of winning.”

A week after finishing her radiation therapy, Burch competed in the Region 9 Championship Oct. 28-Nov. 1 at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy. The competition included contestants from five states — Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

But when the scores came through, Burch amazingly was named the winner.

“It was a very emotional experience. I bursted into tears,” Burch said. “The amount of daily dedication to detail, time in the saddle and perseverance in times of injury and pain to take a horse to that level of competition is overwhelming. To have been in the company of 13 very talented professionals and horses competing for the gold at the Prix St. George was humbling. To have the God given talent, both myself and Omen, and to have been able to perform to the level necessary given the circumstances was nothing short of miraculous — that's why I burst into tears!

“It was such a personal goal to be there to stay on course and not let cancer take over my life,” Burch continued.

But for Burch, telling her story about her victory over breast cancer is to help other women.

“If my story makes even two women go get their routine mammogram, it’s worth it to tell my story,” Burch said.