Jodie Neuman enjoyed a nice, peaceful life with her husband, Lennie, and son, Brandt, spending time together at home and taking fun, out-of-town trips to see family and friends. As Brandt got older, he moved to Kansas City with his soon-to-be wife, and in 2023, Jodie retired from a long career in real estate, ready to enjoy a stress‑free retirement with her husband.
But in August of 2024, a routine visit to the doctor for a checkup changed everything. Though she felt fine, tests revealed something was wrong – a biopsy confirmed that she had Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer.
“It was like being given a death sentence – that’s what it felt like,” said Jodie.
Cancer had never touched her family before, so this was unexpected territory for them. She said sharing this devastating news with her loved ones was one of the most difficult parts of this process.
“Sharing it with my dad was probably the worst part, my daddy is 97 and he’s such a good person, and I don’t want him to have to watch his child die,” said Jodie. “Having to tell this to my parents was hard, of course they were devastated, but they’re here for me every day.”
Jodie also had enormous support from her husband, son, siblings, friends, and more, but there was still a heavy weight that came with this new reality that made her feel isolated.
She needed space to be vulnerable, speak freely, and be understood by people who could relate to her, and fortunately, she found her place.
Help and hope for Jodie
A family friend told Jodie about United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) partner agency, St. Louis Jewish Community Center (The J), and their holistic approach to helping people with mental and physical wellness. They offer extensive fitness, recreation, cultural, and educational programs for people of all ages, one of which is their Hamsa Wellness Strength Over Cancer program.
This program is designed specifically for people with cancer diagnoses. The goal is to help participants build muscle, support their overall health, and care for their mental well-being during cancer treatment and beyond. From the very beginning, Jodie knew this program would make a positive impact on her path to recovery.
With her husband by her side, her first few training classes were a perfect mix of relief, fun, exercise, and renewed strength.
“We had so much fun!” said Jodie. “We had two trainers who were so happy and energetic lead this exercise class with all of us who had cancer or were relatives of people who had cancer. It was an hour of fun, laughing, and also talking with each other before and after class.”
After the first session, she gained the confidence to attend the classes on her own where she met three other women who were cancer survivors.
With this program, Jodie found more than just a means to gain physical strength, she got to build community with women who had beaten cancer, were surviving and thriving, and encouraged her that she could do the same.
“That really helped me because I was with people every day who were several years out from where I am right now and they were cancer free,” said Jodie. “Meeting these people were probably my biggest saving grace for giving me hope, more than anything in the world.”
Over time, Jodie felt significantly more physically and mentally stronger, giving her body the support it needed to endure what was ahead.
Staying active gave her something to hold onto, something that reminded her that she still had control, still had power, and still had a future. For Jodie, this program wasn’t just about exercise, it was survivorship. It gave her strength, connection, and most importantly – hope.
Jodie’s fight isn’t over yet; she is still undergoing chemotherapy.
Beyond gaining strength and community, her trials and tribulations over the past year and a half have given her perspective. Adversity is an opportunity for growth.
“I’ve become a nicer person and I’m so much more thankful for people than I’ve ever been,” said Jodie. “I’m so much happier every day for what I have and each day that I get. I’ve just noticed myself changing, I appreciate things so much more, so maybe something good came out of this.”
Take action now:
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