AOMS Donations

Sue Slowinski (Slo’s Pub in Arbor Vitae) presented a big check to our executive director Lolly Rose during the Golf Spectacular 2017.  The generous proceeds check is to benefit AOMS programs and was raised at Slo’s Pub’s fundraising events held during 2017.

Healing Angels Retreats 2017

Healing Angels retreats are designed for cancer survivors. Our goals is to help guide these survivors along the path of healing to a “normal” life style. These rejuvenating two-day retreats provide a healing atmosphere of love, hope, understanding, learning and pampering for cancer survivors. Healing Angels is held at the Wilderness Lodge in Wisconsin Dells.

June 2-4, 2017

We had 10 attendees along with three former retreat participants who served as facilitators at the event to lend their insight to the group.
Everyone agrees that this retreat builds new friendships and resources that are immeasurable.
We also accepted a donation from a family that held a fundraiser to benefit AOMS.

 

The October 20-22, 2017 retreat includes

Bottom row (l-r): Michelle, Jean, Mary Q, Mary, Denise

Top row (l-r): Shanna Stein (yoga), Jennifer, Stephanie, Judy, Karen Siegmeier (board member/coordinator), Lisa Lammert (Mayo nutritionist), Kitty Sookochoff (facilitator)

Highlights of the weekend included

  • feeling pampered at the Sundara visit,
  • learning about facts/myths surrounding nutrition and cancer with Lisa,
  • 4 optional yoga sessions with Shanna which were attended by most,
  • guided discussions on unexpected gifts and lessons from being diagnosed with cancer and how to carry this newly found knowledge forward as we navigate life as a survivor.

 

Kids Camps

Camps for kids experiencing cancer through a loved one…

These outstanding camps were designed with the hope that they would address the needs of young people affected by cancer through loved ones (parent, sibling or grandparent) or who have experienced the loss of a loved one through cancer. The retreats provide young people the opportunity to meet others like themselves in a well-supervised atmosphere of love and acceptance knowing that their pain is understood. Our camps are cost-free to the including transportation on coach buses. Parents/Guardians are asked to transport their child(ren) to designated pick-up locations throughout the state. 

Winter Camp Angel (ages 7-12) was held January 27-29, 2017. Our winter Camp Angel brought us forty-one incredible young campers.

This energetic group of campers were welcomed by our campsite Co-Directors, Dick & Amy Lemke. The camper groups (Bunnies, Foxes, Bears and Wolves) and their counselors stayed in  awesome northwoods cabins complete with fireplaces. Together they enjoyed hot chocolate, snacks and games galore in a warm and cozy atmosphere of fun and friendship.

Our winter wonderland weekend included a special visit from Wildwood Wildlife and the campers got to meet and greet many wildlife furry friends up close and personal including a skunk which always creates curiosity and smiles. We are very grateful to Wildwood Wildlife for this presentation along with our other amazing educational presenters: Dave Sixel (Martial Arts) and Laura Lockwood (meteorologist). Our Saturday day of fun was filled with many activity opportunities which included: snowmobile rides, ice bowling, sledding, climbing wall, snow shoeing and a variety of unique and fun crafts along with cookie decorating, face painting, nail painting and hair braiding.

We are extremely blessed and thankful for our exceptional team of counselors: Emily Kovach-Erickson, Myles Lemke, Tyrel Miller, Yash Patel, Alayna Perry, Brigette Ryan, Brendan Thompson and Cali Sanborn.

A huge thank you to our Angel volunteer family (we simply could not do it without them): Dick & Amy Lemke, Dr. Sarah Hess, Dr. Sara Loch, Jon Perry, Michelle Perry, Mike Wolf,  Eric Schoeneck, Sue Lemke, Mary & Otto Schoeneck, Deana & John Bigley, Joe & Joy Smoger, Wendi Ell and Jennifer Klingen,

A  big round of applause goes out to our Angel snowmobile team of volunteers: Gary Groff, Kathy Groff, Jim Herold, Carla Klein, Roger Klein and Jim Rybarczyk for providing a day of fun and exciting rides for our campers.

We gratefully acknowledge Camp Manitowish YMCA in Boulder Junction, WI and its fabulous staff for all their help in making this a memorable weekend.

Angel Adventures (ages 16-18) was held February 10-13, 2017 at Camp Luther in Three Lakes. 14 wonderful campers participated in tubing, broom ball, cross country skiing and so much more. Thanks to Nikki and Andy King and Kathy Mathie for leading the group and Tommy Geraty for being the bus chaperone. It was an honor to get to know these remarkable kids.

Summer Camp Angel (ages 7-12) was held July 7-9, 2017. A group of fifty-six awesome young campers joined us for our summer Camp Angel experience.

Campsite Co-Directors, Dick & Amy Lemke greeted this enthusiastic group of campers. The camper groups (Bunnies, Foxes, Bears and Wolves) resided in unique lodging: Tree House, Ark, Fort and Tower.

Our fun-filled weekend included a pirate trip adventure on the Strauss Family’s incredible Pirate Ship in Eagle River with Captains Steve and Steve-O Strauss at the helm. We are beyond grateful to the Strauss’s for providing this always fun expedition. Our deepest thanks go out to the northwoods Harley Riders for their exciting annual visit, Dave Sixel with his hands-on Martial Arts learning demo and DJ Dan Scafaro for leading our traditional dance. Highlights of the many Saturday fun-filled activity offerings included exciting water craft rides, swimming, boat rides and a variety of crafts.

A huge round of applause to our amazing team of counselors: Cali Sanborn, Mackenzie Pipes, Annabelle Sanborn, Nikki Graziano, Hadley Krus, Meg Matthews, Alex Graziano, Yash Patel, Kenney Zettelmeier, Tyrel Milller, Justin Jarrell, Casey Ruplinger and Noah Weber.

Hats off to our Angel volunteer family: Dick & Amy Lemke, Vijay Aswani, MD, Katie Weister, Kerri Weister, Jeff Weister, Brad Gerdes, Suzanne Lemke, Teri Mayer, Jon Perry, Mary Ryskoski, Theresa Ryskoski Mary & Otto Schoeneck, Deana & John Bigley, Tommy Geraty, Randy Ryskoski, Dave Hughes, Vincent Ryskoski and Liam Montezon. A very special thanks to Nancy and Tom Schuller for their unending help. We gratefully acknowledge Camp Luther in Three Lakes and its fabulous staff for helping make this a memorable weekend.

Camp Teen Angel (ages 13-15) was held July 14-17, 2018. We had 27 delightful campers and a fabulous time. We would like to thank the Eagle River Pirates for a swashbuckling time on the pirate ship and we saddled up at Holiday Acres for good ride and even took a spin on a go-cart.

High ropes challenge, hikes, games, new friends and even a dance rounded out our camp. Thanks to our awesome counselors: Kathy Mathie, Kyle Schmidt, Michael Gonzales, Joel DePons, Chloe Springer, Magen Zettelmeier, Kim Gums and Alyssa Brugger and the great staff at Camp Manito-Wish YMCA in Boulder Junction.
Our adventure continued at Angel Adventures Extreme (ages 16-18) August 4-7, 2017. Fourteen fearless campers explored the Keweenaw along with their valiant counselors: Kathy Mathie, Dawn & Anthony Hartung, Kyle Schmidt, Magen Zettelmeier and Sarah Beilke braved the copper mine, rappelled a mine shaft, kayaked Lake Superior and hiked and played in the beauty of the Keweenaw. Thanks to the staff at KBC and Camp Luther for leading our adventure.

Camps for kids with cancer and their families…

Camp Hozhoni is a weekend camp for children age 18 and younger living with cancer (or in remission), and their families. Camp Hozhoni brings families closer together and builds personal strength. In a camp-like environment, parents and children gather with caring professionals and volunteers for a weekend of workshops, family/group activities and great fun. Children are able to participate in hands-on activities to develop creativity, physical endurance, mental challenges, and team building while the adults gain mutual support and understanding of childhood cancer family issues through support groups. Foremost, it provides opportunities to share feelings, experiences, and hopes with other families.

Summer Camp Hozhoni is held at the Lions Camp in Rosholt, WI and activities include games, family projects, wagon rides, campfires, water activities and more.

Winter Camp Hozhoni is held in February at Camp Luther in Three Lakes, WI. Families enjoy tubing and snowmobile rides and many other cool winter outdoor and indoor activities and take advantage of the Wisconsin winter wonderland.

Winter Camp Hozhoni took place February 24-26, 2017. Six families braved a snowstorm on Friday night to reach us at Camp Luther in Three Lakes. Better weather on Saturday allowed us to do activities that included tubing and snowmobile rides and all kinds of outdoor fun plus crafting and fellowship and a dance. Thanks to the snowmobile club and the high school students from Eagle River who helped out and all the people, too many to list, who made this a great weekend for our families. It was truly a labor of love.

Superheroes were everywhere at Summer Camp Hozhoni September 8-10, 2017. Our theme was Hozhoni Heroes and with everyone in capes it was an INCREDIBLE sight. Thanks to Crafters for a Cause, Jane Chapel and Linda Dick, for making 169 capes for our crew. 21 SUPER Families and 44 DYNAMIC volunteers enjoyed the MARVELous weekend festivities. Thanks to all of our WONDERful volunteers for making this happen. Special thanks to Kevin Kloehn and Don Brittnacher for taking pictures and to Chris Kloehn for putting together slideshow that captured the FABULOUS memories of our weekend.

Angel Care 2017

Angel Care, is a very special “take-care-of-yourself” retreat for cancer caregivers. It creates well-being for those who do, or have, provided unwavering care for persons living with cancer so caregivers can thrive in their lives and work.

Angel Care Workshops bring these wonderful caregivers together and provide them with an emotional and spiritual opportunity to heal. Burnout and stress are sometimes confused with exhaustion, overload and grief. A vacation will only refresh a burned-out caregiver for a brief time, after which the feelings may set in again. Angel Care provides more than a quick fix.

Angel Care is held at the Wintergreen Hotel and Conference Center, Wisconsin Dells. Our facilitator is Anita Domnitz, RN, MS, ND

Complimentary lodging is provided Thursday and Friday. Lunch and Dinner are provided on Friday. Nutritious Breakfast for Caregivers is provided on Friday and Saturday. Beverages will be provided during the conference. One guest is welcome to share lodging, however, the Angel Care workshop is designed for caregiver participation only.

The actual session is 9-5 Friday and 9-12:30 on Saturday. Because of the early start on Friday morning, rooms at the Wintergreen Hotel are available on Thursday evening.

Participants of the February 23-25, 2017 AC Retreat named themselves “Soul Sunshine Survivors” and were group #31.
Back row L-R: Tiffany Urban, John Wagner, Sherry Abbott, Kathryn Simpson
Front row L-R: Jennifer Huelsman, Nita, Rosie Guel, Emilio Mendez

The Nov 16-18, 2017 particpants named themselves: “The Best Group Ever-Plugged & Unplugged” and were group 32.
Back row: Tiffany, Mary, Jim, Dawn, Deborah.
Front row: Cassandra, Sheena, Moi, KC.

 

Camp Angel July 2017

In July 2017 we bid a very fond farewell to our Camp Angel Doctor of 8 years, Dr. Vijay Aswani. He will be truly missed by all of us. We send along our love and gratitude as he pursues his career in Buffalo, New York.

Pictured are Lolly and Dr. Vijay with a special “we will miss you” cake.

AOMS Presentations

Wisconsin School Counselor Conference- Madison Monona Terrace
Feb. 22-23

Feb. 22-23 The Wisconsin School Counselors Association conference  At Monona Terrace in Madison

Feb 25 Marshfield Clinic-Women’s Day of Caring in Merrill, WI
Amanda  Boreen R.N., B.S.N.

March 31 ACS/ Kohl’s Conference for Community Health Care Workers- Italian Community Center Milwaukee

April 8 Marshfield Clinic Women’s Day of Caring Minocqua Center

Marshfield Clinic Women’s Day of Caring Minocqua (April 8)

Shellie Donovan R.N.,B.S.N.

May 20 Kathy’s House Benefit, Milwaukee

June 4 Second annual SWONS Seminar (Southeastern Wisconsin Oncology Nurses Seminar) Serb Hall, Milwaukee

SWONS- Registration table- Serb Hall Milwaukee (June 4)

August 12 The Lamb MKE- Families Forward Community Health Fair
Contact,  Nora Deberry- Johnson, Milwaukee

August 17 10th Annual Celebration of Life-James Beck Cancer Center, Rhinelander

October 21 Women’s Day of Caring- Weston Center, Amanda Boreen
R.N.,B.S.N.

St. Germain Radar Run

February 2017

Jim Anderson, Mark Hiller and Amy Greenberg representing the St. Germain Radar Run presented a donation check from the event to Lolly for Angel On My Shoulder.

The St. Vincent Children’s Hospital Child Life Team – Green Bay

Angel On My Shoulder,

Thank you so much for the gift bags for the children filled with activities, toys, encouragement and support to our patients and their families.

We are excited to share them with the children of St. Vincent Children’s Hospital.

-The St. Vincent Children’s Hospital Child Life Team – Green Bay.

Linda McCreery, Angel Messenger, delivered Uplifting gift bags to volunteers of Fox Valley Hematology & Oncology in Spring of 2017 for their oncology patients.

Left to right:  Mary, Sue, Marcie, Linda and Jean Monson, Volunteer Leader

AOMS – Pink the Rink

In January of 2017,  the Concordia University Wisconsin Hockey programs once again sponsored “Pink the Rink” with monies raised from this charity game (Concordia VS St. Norbert’s College) donated to Angel On My Shoulder.

Jason Wise, Head Coach Men’s Hockey of Concordia coordinated this incredible event. Pictured is the participating Concordia Men’s Hockey team and coaches.

Angel On My Shoulder – Testimonials

CAMPS

  • My daughters attended camp while I was in the midst of Chemo. It was an experience they still talk about with often.  It became a bright memory, rather than just another day that “Mom has cancer”. Thanks for taking the pressure off of them and us during that time.  – Tracy

 

  • My daughter attended camp and had an amazing time. Thank you for the BIG smile you have brought to her face. – Lynda

 

  • Thank you very much for making Camp Angel such a fun experience. I loved being in the water and the Pirate Ship and everything. Thank you to all the counselors for everything.  I love Camp Angel. I can’t wait until next year. – Michaela (Camper)

 

  • Thank you for the wonderful experience you gave our children. They had an amazing time at camp and met new friends that have been going through the same thing as them. Thank you for giving them a fun weekend away from their worries about their father’s cancer. We truly appreciate it.  – Mike and Jodi (parents)

 

  • To have your Camps available for kids is such a blessing. Our daughter enjoyed meeting new friends and having a fun time.  Memories that will last forever. Thank you. – Weslee

 

  • Ella said that camp was “awesome”. She said she would go again in a heartbeat. She mentioned that she met another girl whose mom was being treated for brain cancer and it was nice to talk to someone who new how she felt. We appreciate it.  Thanks. – Terry

 

  • What a wonderful camp for kids impacted by cancer . . . sometimes I don’t think that I even fully understand why my boys are thinking about Mom (me) having cancer, going through Chemo and having a bald head.  I know it’s hard at times when I just don’t have any energy to do much.  It was so nice for them to get out and have some fun.  – With gratitude, Darci

HEALING ANGELS

  • I attended Healing Angels with facilitated by Nancy and Tom Schuller.  It was a turning point for me.  I was the first of my friends to have cancer so no one knew how to “act” around me and many friendships distanced because of it.  I wanted to help others not to feel this same way.  Going to the Healing Angels retreat helped me realize that all the feelings I was having were normal.  Hearing this allowed me to gain back my sense of “being” and find an outlet to share information that is pertinent the survivor. – Tracy

 

  • I am humbled by and cannot begin to thank you for the Healing Angels experience. Nancy and her amazing team went out of their way to connect with each and every one of us to create an amazing wellness weekend that felt great and will always be remembered.  We found strength together. It helped pick up the pieces of your life and put them back together again with more confidence as you step back into everyday life after having faced a life-threatening experience.  Angel On My Shoulder offers a “gift” to all affected by cancer and serves as a valuable resource to those who have been diagnosed to put the pieces back together again. – Sandra
  • Healing Angels was truly a wonderful experience that I will always remember. The interaction, concerns, feelings and the emotions that were expressed made you feel good and not alone.  Thank you to Vicki Potrykus with her Yoga. It helped me find more ways to relax. – Lee
  • It was an absolutely lovely weekend. I gained valuable knowledge as I continue to heal. Lisa’s presentation on nutrition will be used daily and so very helpful as were Vicki’s Yoga sessions. Healing Angels was an absolute treat and I didn’t want to leave ever. – Denise

 

  • I felt very special, like it was for all of us.  It’s wonderful to meet so many different people with different stories but with hearts the same.  Our leaders: Karen, Kitty, and Vicki were great. – Donna
  • Healing Angels far exceeded my expectations. It opened a door into myself and  realize that I have never shared my story before. I realized that I have more emotional healing to do.  There was a solidarity and bonding I hadn’t known previously. It was so reassuring to share with others who “get it”- who understand the fatigue, the “chemo brain” and all that goes with it.  The past year has been exhausting physically, emotionally and financially. To receive a gift such as this retreat is beyond what I would have ever imagined. I am so very grateful to Angel On My Shoulder, your donors and sponsors.  From the bottom of my heart- THANK YOU! – Robin

ANGEL CARE

  • Oh my gosh! What a wonderful retreat – I felt like I was in Heaven with Angels.  So very much needed! Thank You! – Sherry

 

  • I am so blessed to have found Angel Care . . . it was an emotional roller coaster but I need to know that I wasn’t alone and others are or have been on this journey. Thank you. – Jenny
  • I needed the support and outlet of Angel Care to release my emotions and feelings to people that could relate to it.  I felt accepted, comfortable, loved and welcomed.  Anita Domnitz was amazing – I feel uplifted and not alone.  God Bless my Angels! – Emilio
  • The Angel Care retreat is exactly what I needed, when I needed it. Our facilitator, Anita, is beyond amazing and our group bonded quickly.  I am eternally grateful to Angel On My Shoulder and all you do. – Tiffany
  • Angel Care was very, very awesome.  I cannot explain how much I needed it.  Anita was wonderful, knowledgeable, caring and loving.  It was a fantastic weekend – I will be telling many people who I know that are going through the same thing about it.  Thank you. – John
  • Angel Care was an amazing, eye-opening experience for me and the others. Anita Domnitz is an excellent leader.  Thanks to all. – James

Bruce Krier Angel Golf Spectacular

  • “We are proud to support Angel On My Shoulder’s mission. Our sponsorship is very personal and we encourage anyone who is seeing to make an impact to get involved”.  – Ben Hauser, CPA-Northland CPAs, who has been involved with Angel On My Shoulder in volunteer capacity since its inception.

Memorials

  • This donation is made in memory of Kenneth who passed away in May of 1967 at the age of twenty one.  His wife was pregnant at the time of his passing. In August of that year, Todd (Kenny’s son) was born and he would never know his dad. We wish that Todd would have had camps to attend like the ones offered through Angel On My Shoulder. He has spent his whole life trying to know more about his dad and what he was like. On the anniversary of Kenny’s passing, Todd did a 100 mile bike ride in honor of his dad. He asked close family and friends to also do something to honor his dad’s passing. After much research, we decided to donate to Angel On My Shoulder for this purpose. Thank you for all you do. – Bill & Nancy (Uncle & Aunt of Todd)

 

  • Please accept this donation in memory of Cheri who passed away from cancer treatment complications. She was an oncology nurse for over 30 years and dedicated her life to helping those with cancer. While going through her belongings, we found Angel On My Shoulder items and feel she must have supported your work. It is with her generosity in mind that we donate in support of your organization.  – Betty and Kathy