Janis never imagined that a small town in Oregon would become the backdrop for one of the most profound chapters of her life. But McMinnville had been quietly calling to her since 2003, when her son Jeff moved here for work. Over the years, she visited often—drawn in by the charm of the community, the laughter of her granddaughters, and the rhythm of small-town life.

After 40 years in K–12 public education in St. Paul, MN, Janis retired. She was ready for something new—something warmer, something softer than the snow and ice she’d known for decades. Fort Collins, Colorado, where her daughter lived, was lovely. But her heart kept drifting back to McMinnville. In late 2017, she made the leap.

She arrived eager to connect, to contribute, to belong. She joined Soroptimist International, found joy in volunteering with Friends of the Library, and 99 GAL Friends. She immersed herself in the arts, in books, in baking and gardening.

Life was full. Life was good. Until it wasn’t.

It was COVID, and she had put off her routine mammogram in 2020. COVID added a layer of uncertainty, but Janis didn’t worry when notice came after her 2021 mammography that more images were needed. Cancer had never touched her family, until it did.  Her sister was diagnosed two years earlier, a picture of health. It didn’t make sense.

Soon, Janis heard the words herself: lobular breast cancer. A type that hides deep within the breast tissue, often invisible on standard scans. It was quiet. Subtle. But it was there.

In November, the team at Willamette Valley Medical Center and Willamette’s H.R Hoover, MD Cancer Center became her lifeline. Dr. Sandeep Kumar, general surgeon, performed her surgery to remove the cancer. Janis felt safe in his care—his skill, his calm, his kindness. Then radiation. From the radiation team to her oncologist, Dr. Catherine O’Brien, Janis felt seen, heard, and cared for. Dr. O’Brien didn’t just treat her—she listened. She made space for Janis’s fears, her questions, her hope.

Janis speaks of her care team with deep gratitude. “They were experts,” she says, “but more than that—they were kind. You could feel it. They were committed to their work. They liked each other. They walked alongside their patients with strength and a smile.”

When the final radiation treatment ended, Janis stood in front of the bell. She hesitated. It felt awkward, ringing a bell to mark the end of something so heavy. But as the sound echoed through the hall and the center, she felt it—relief, joy, a quiet triumph.

She was on her way back to health. Back to life.

Today, Janis is thankful she chose McMinnville—not just for its beauty, but for the people who held her up. The depth of care, when she needed it most was right here in McMinnville, the place she calls home.