A Stone's Throw

South Dakotan Meagan Zerr speaks from experience when she advocates for suicide prevention. What started as anxiety led to depression, alcoholism, and eventual attempts at taking her own life. In this episode, Meagan, now 30, shares her journey to "rock bottom" and back again in the midst of two cancer battles. She also shares how her title as Mrs. South Dakota 2022 gives her a platform to share her experience and help others who battle loneliness and suicidal thoughts. 

Cameron Schwichtenberg shares his journey of living a life with Type 1 Diabetes. Having lived for decades with diabetes, Cameron, a longtime interior designer, is now switching careers as the disease is slowly taking away his eyesight. Cameron walks us through his journey as he shares how life with diabetes has changed over the years as technology improves, how his family has influenced his mindset, and how he is approaching a new career path.

In 2016, Jennifer Fernjack unknowingly had a tumor slowly growing inside of her head. Thanks to a couple of hunches, she underwent tests that led to her diagnosis and surgery. Years later, with half of the tumor still residing inside her body, Jennifer leaned on her sense of gratitude and wrote a book titled, "Greater Than: The Power and Strength of Emotional Grit" that was published in 2021. In this interview, Jennifer shares her story, how it has impacted others, and shares her reasons why having a brain tumor can be a positive thing. 

Battling one trauma is difficult enough, but Shawna Berg's journey has included a cancer diagnosis sandwiched between two significant car accidents. Shawna shares her story, including how her traumas have affected her relationships with others.

In April 2012, Nicole Pierson noticed something odd about how her 5-year-old son, Gavin, was viewing objects. A medical evaluation concluded that Gavin was suffering from a brain tumor the size of a peach. Gavin endured nearly half a dozen craniotomies, bouts of chemotherapy and drugs to battle a tumor he named "Joe Bully." Today the tumor remains but is currently under control. Nicole shares how nearly losing her son and an uncertain future affects her and her family.

Nate Rolloff share the story of his 4-year-old son, Elliot, who was diagnosed with a form of spina bifida before he was born. Elliot faces a lifetime of special care and challenges with resolve and determination as Nate shares his perceptions from a father's point of view.