Greg Amschler: A solid support for his wife

�I�m just the driver.�

This is how Greg Amschler describes his role in life with his wife, Kim. Wherever she wants to go, he is happy to take her there, he says.

Sometimes that road can lead to places they never expected. During a routine self-breast exam in 2004, Kim found a lump. A mammogram confirmed the lump, and a biopsy revealed ductal carcinoma, a cancerous tumor in Kim�s breast.

Upon finding out, Greg recalls he thought, �Oh crap. What are we going to do now?�

Greg supported Kim as she went through radiation twice per day for five days at St. Louis Cancer and Breast Institute. He was positive they were able to get it right away, and remembers thinking, �Maybe we got this.�

In 2009, during a follow-up visit, the unimaginable happened: Kim�s cancer returned. After a lumpectomy, Kim was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma.

�We thought we had it, but it came back,� Greg says. �It�s not a good feeling when someone tells you that your wife has cancer. Life comes at you like a big truck and mows you over flat. I asked, �Why us? How could this happen?��

Kim began chemotherapy in addition to radiation, and also had a double mastectomy with reconstructive surgery. Greg was paramount in helping Kim recover from the mastectomy.

�He�s been my rock, my absolute rock,� Kim says of Greg. �He�s been my rock through the laughter, tears and pain.�

When they received news in 2011 there was no evidence of cancer, they were elated.

�We had it licked. She had good margins, we were in good shape,� Greg says.

Unfortunately, their cancer story would not end there. On Sept. 20, 2018, after a PET scan, they learned Kim has an inoperable tumor on her collarbone, as well as spots on her spine, hip and liver.

�It�s terminal. Three to five years,� Greg says of Kim�s prognosis. �It�s like your whole world is crashing down. You�re going to lose your best friend, and you wonder what you did in the world to get this.�

When asked where they go from here, Greg says, �It�s time to work on that bucket list.�

As for Kim � she is determined she will prove the doctors wrong. Her advice for other families struggling through cancer?

�Keep their family and friends close, and their faith closer,� she says.

Greg says patience is the key.

�There�s a whole gamut of thoughts on your mind,� Greg says. �Be very focused on the patient, because it�s all about them. Have a good family and friend base to rely on.�