Jackie Stiles, Showing Up to the Game of Life

A Cure in Sight is joined by fellow OM patient, Jackie Stiles, WNBA basketball player who was diagnosed in December 2017 with ocular melanoma.

Jackie Stiles is one of the most renowned basketball players in the history of the women's game. From her roots in Claflin, Kansas, she led the country in scoring. Then to Southwest Missouri State University, she rewrote the NCAA women's basketball record books en route to leading the Lady Bears to the 2001 Final Four. Finally to a professional career in the WNBA, Jackie has inspired and impacted millions.

 

Here’s a sneak peek into her story:

 

“I noticed sometime in October that I was not seeing very well, especially at night. I had Lasik eye surgery done in 2003. I had always heard that after 10 years you sometimes need a touch up. While I was home for Thanksgiving, I asked my mom, who is a school nurse, to check my vision. My left eye was 20/40 and my right eye was 20/30. She told me I should probably go to the eye doctor. Then I noticed in practices that I had to really focus in order to catch a ball coming from across the court. My depth perception seemed off. This started to bother me.

 

I had not signed up for vision coverage on my insurance this year, so I thought maybe I would wait until the following year to go see the doctor.

 

I decided to flip a coin.

 

I know this sounds crazy but I have a system of flipping best two out of three when I cannot decide on something. It told me to go to the eye doctor.”

 

Tune in for the rest!

Head to www.jackiestiles.com to connect with Jackie directly. Stay tuned for her life documentary to release, August 30 on Amazon Prime; The Jackie Stiles Story.

A few highlights from Jackie’s interview:

3 things you can focus on as a new patient in this diagnosis:
1. Focus on what you can control amid all the uncertainty

2. Focus on loving others, and accepting love from others; and when possible, try to do something for someone else–the act of showing up with purpose to this diagnosis makes all the difference in how it feels to be on this journey.
3. Get back to your everyday life the best you can, despite the changes–don’t let this diagnosis take up more space than it deserves!
   
   Jackie’s daily questions to herself are “did I live? Did I love? Did I make a difference? 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Lookin’ For a Cure Arizona 5K Walk for Ocular Melanoma 

COMING UP September 24, 8 AM 

Register here and be sure to bring friends and family to walk with us! (Virtual option coming soon)

Eye Believe Survivorship Seminar in Nashville, Tennessee
October 14-15. REGISTER HERE! (Welcome reception for in person attendees on October 13, 6:00 PM)
(Virtual and in person options.)

Lookin’ For a Cure TEXAS 5K Walk for Ocular Melanoma 

NOVEMBER 5, 2022; 8 AM 

Register here and be sure to bring friends and family to walk with us! (Virtual option available)

Email contact@acureinsight.org for questions regarding the event!

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The Eye Believe Podcast is brought to you by Castle Biosciences. Castle Biosciences is a leading diagnostics company improving health through innovative tests that guide patient care. The Company aims to transform disease management by keeping people first: patients, clinicians, employees and investors. 

This podcast was hosted by Danet Peterson and produced by Agora Media.