For most of her life, Jody Eckert has been the person helping others navigate difficult challenges.
As a physical therapist and chair of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, she has spent nearly two decades preparing future healthcare professionals for careers of service.
But when Jody was diagnosed with breast cancer, she found herself facing something she couldn’t solve on her own.
“I was shocked,” Jody said. “I take good care of myself. I had no family history or risk factors. For a while, there was just shock and disbelief.”
She immediately began researching her diagnosis and treatment options.
“I wanted to know everything,” she said. “Looking back, it was my way of trying to gain control of the situation.”
Over time, Jody realized that in order to gain control, she would need to trust others with her care.
After a year-long cancer journey, today Jody is healthy and cancer-free. She’s sharing her story to raise awareness for the compassionate care she received and to inspire support for others who will face a cancer diagnosis in the future.
Finding Strength in Others
In the weeks following her diagnosis, Jody built a care team she believed in. She sought expert medical guidance, connected with other women who had experienced breast cancer and leaned into her faith and family for support.
Hearing from survivors who were now thriving gave her confidence there could be life beyond cancer.
“That gave me a lot of hope,” she said.
At home, Jody’s husband, Rob, and their children, Emmy and Bobby, became her greatest source of strength.
“We were all in it together,” said Jody. “It felt like Team Eckert was going to do this. And we did.”
Her diagnosis challenged Jody in ways she never expected.
“I’ve always been pretty self-sufficient. Cancer made me vulnerable. It taught me that I needed other people.”
Care Close to Home
While many patients facing cancer travel long distances for treatment, Jody was able to access the care she needed close to home.
“I felt incredibly blessed that everything I needed was right here,” she said.
Receiving care at the Sanford Cancer Center in Bismarck allowed Jody to remain close to family, friends and the community she has called home her entire life.
It also deepened her appreciation for the importance of local cancer care.“It’s so important to keep these resources here in Bismarck. We’re the capital city, and we provide this support to a lot of the surrounding communities.”
More Than Medical Care
When asked about her cancer journey, Jody does not immediately talk about chemotherapy or treatment. Instead, she talks about the people.
“A big reason why I wanted to share my story is because I felt such gratitude for everyone at the cancer center,” she said.
As a researcher and educator, Jody appreciated the calm approach of her oncologist/hematologist, Aaron Luebke MD, as well as his willingness to explain the facts behind her treatment plan.
“He consistently provided the facts, but he did it with such a calm demeanor,” Jody said. “I just fully trusted him.”
She found that same reassurance throughout her care team. Her nurse, Paige, answered countless questions, never seemed rushed and always made Jody feel like a priority. One week, Paige quietly slipped a card featuring Saint Agatha, the patron saint of breast cancer, into Jody’s appointment paperwork.
“I found it at a time when I really needed it,” Jody said.
For much of her treatment, Jody was forced to pull back from many of the activities and connections she loved. She worked from home, protected her immune system and kept her world small. Yet she looked forward to her weekly visits to the infusion center.
“The nurses cared,” she said. “They found ways to show it.”
One particularly difficult day, Jody was overwhelmed and exhausted. An infusion nurse named Sheila noticed she was struggling and stopped what she was doing.
“She said, ‘Let’s just take a moment, and I’m going to pray over you,’” Jody recalled. “It was exactly what I needed in that moment from someone I trusted.”To Jody, the people who cared for her provided far more than medical expertise.
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I needed people I could trust. What I didn’t know was that I needed people to love me. And I felt loved.
Looking back, Jody hopes others understand what support for local cancer care truly makes possible.“I want people to know that’s what they’re giving their money to,” she said. “A team of people who are doing more than just their job. They’re caring for patients with their whole hearts.”
Moving Forward in Hope
Today, Jody is back to doing what she loves. She’s teaching students, spending time with family, traveling and cheering on Emmy and Bobby at musical performances and sporting events.
She’s also giving back as a Livestrong instructor, helping fellow cancer survivors regain confidence and strength after treatment.
Through it all, hope remains her guiding force.
“Hope moves me forward. I really believe in all of the research that’s come out in the last five years. There’s hope in the statistics that are out there for women with breast cancer, especially if detected early.”
While fear still appears from time to time, Jody has learned where she wants to focus her attention.
“The fear doesn’t completely go away,” she said. “But hope is the place to stay. If you stay in a place of fear, you’re not going to find happiness there. Today, Jody chooses hope. She is grateful for the family who stood beside her, the caregivers who walked alongside her and the community that made it possible to receive exceptional cancer care close to home.
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