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“It’s cancer.”
The words form a tiny sentence but the impact can be enormous — especially when it’s heard over and over again in the same family.
Billy Fowler of Asher said he’s heard the words many times throughout the years but none affected him as deeply as when he heard them from his mother —Barbara — and wife — Teresa — a couple years apart.
“I got the call about my mom and it tore me up,” he said. “And I had to be the one to tell the kids about Teresa. They are the two women I love most in this world.”
Fowler said it “took the wind out” of him when he learned that his wife, who “never drank or smoked and ate well and exercised” was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in August 2009.
His mother was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer three years ago. His mother-in-law died of brain cancer shortly after his youngest daughter, Charity, was born and another family member died from cancer three months after that.
“Being a close family is kind of a curse because when one hurts, we all hurt,” he said. “Nothing brings
something to your attention until it happens to you, then it becomes a priority.”
Fowler said he believes three things have helped his family through the diagnoses, treatments and survivor checkups — faith in God, strong relationships and sports.
Barbara (Spears) Fowler taught her children to love one another, to love God and to love others, Billy Fowler said. She also showed them how to put forth “110 percent” in everything they do.
Barbara’s high school basketball coach said he saw the type of woman she would become years before anyone would consider her an adult.
“I became the coach at Asher in 1959 and Barbara was a sophomore,” Murl Bowen said. “Girls played half court then and there were no jump shots. She was a tremendous handler and shot well. And when the going got tough, she got her best.”
Bowen said he coached Barbara for three years but at times, it seemed she was the one doing the teaching.
“I wasn’t a good coach, I just had a good player,” he said. “She made me a good coach and I really think she made me a better person.”
Bowen said whether he was “getting on to her” or praising her, Barbara “never said a word.”
“We’d give her the ball and get out of her way,” he said. “She never missed a practice, never missed a game. Even as a teenager, she worked so hard, never complained, never bragged. You couldn’t tell a difference if she scored 20 or nothing.”
Bowen said he considers it an honor he had the opportunity to coach her and feels blessed she and her husband are two of his best friends.
“They are good people all around,” he said. “We’re all real close. She’s a very fine woman, a great Christian and one of my best friends. I appreciate her more as a person now. Back then, I respected her as an athlete. We have a lot of great memories together.”
Bowen said because the two families are so close, he also knows Teresa Fowler and although she married into the family, he sees a lot of the same qualities in her as he does in Barbara.
“Barbara’s been through a lot; Teresa’s been through a lot but Teresa’s the toughest woman I’ve ever seen,” he said. “She’s a good coach, a real good coach. She knows her stuff.”
Teresa is a math teacher and coaches girls basketball at Liberty Academy. She has won several championships, Billy Fowler said, adding that while sports are very important to his family, something else made him fall in love with Teresa.
“What I’ve always liked about my wife is she’s pretty inside as much as outside,” he said. “With Teresa, it’s sports, family, go-go-go and God.”
Teresa, 44, learned she had breast cancer during a routine exam. She was directed to return in six months but by the time she did, the cancer had reached Stage 3, Billy Fowler said.
She underwent a double mastectomy, followed by ongoing reconstructive surgery but she didn’t give up on teaching, coaching, her family or God.
“She never missed a game or a practice,” Billy Fowler said. “No matter how sick she got, she still gave 110 percent. No matter how much problems come our way, we’re godly people and we stick together. We’re blessed because I know a lot of people don’t have that.”
Although the Fowlers don’t have health insurance, they were able to pay for the surgeries out of pocket and because of what they experienced, they have tried to help others, as well.
Billy and Teresa Fowler’s daughter, Charity, who recently signed with OBU as a result of her own basketball skills, sold T-shirts for breast cancer awareness and donated the money earned, Fowler said.
He said he truly believes sports played a very large role in helping his mother and wife overcome cancer.
“Mom’s cancer is in remission and I think it’s because of a generational 110 percent,” he said. “I know it helped with my mom’s mentality fighting cancer. I have the best mom and best wife.”
Fowler said he has advice for others who might one day be affected by cancer in their families too.
“Be supportive of the different groups,” he said. “Don’t wait until tragedy hits your family to get involved. And always trust the Lord.”
———
Johnna Ray may be reached by calling 214-3934.
“It’s cancer.”
The words form a tiny sentence but the impact can be enormous — especially when it’s heard over and over again in the same family.
Billy Fowler of Asher said he’s heard the words many times throughout the years but none affected him as deeply as when he heard them from his mother —Barbara — and wife — Teresa — a couple years apart.
“I got the call about my mom and it tore me up,” he said. “And I had to be the one to tell the kids about Teresa. They are the two women I love most in this world.”
Fowler said it “took the wind out” of him when he learned that his wife, who “never drank or smoked and ate well and exercised” was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in August 2009.
His mother was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer three years ago. His mother-in-law died of brain cancer shortly after his youngest daughter, Charity, was born and another family member died from cancer three months after that.
“Being a close family is kind of a curse because when one hurts, we all hurt,” he said. “Nothing brings
something to your attention until it happens to you, then it becomes a priority.”
Fowler said he believes three things have helped his family through the diagnoses, treatments and survivor checkups — faith in God, strong relationships and sports.
Barbara (Spears) Fowler taught her children to love one another, to love God and to love others, Billy Fowler said. She also showed them how to put forth “110 percent” in everything they do.
Barbara’s high school basketball coach said he saw the type of woman she would become years before anyone would consider her an adult.
“I became the coach at Asher in 1959 and Barbara was a sophomore,” Murl Bowen said. “Girls played half court then and there were no jump shots. She was a tremendous handler and shot well. And when the going got tough, she got her best.”
Bowen said he coached Barbara for three years but at times, it seemed she was the one doing the teaching.
“I wasn’t a good coach, I just had a good player,” he said. “She made me a good coach and I really think she made me a better person.”
Bowen said whether he was “getting on to her” or praising her, Barbara “never said a word.”
“We’d give her the ball and get out of her way,” he said. “She never missed a practice, never missed a game. Even as a teenager, she worked so hard, never complained, never bragged. You couldn’t tell a difference if she scored 20 or nothing.”
Bowen said he considers it an honor he had the opportunity to coach her and feels blessed she and her husband are two of his best friends.
“They are good people all around,” he said. “We’re all real close. She’s a very fine woman, a great Christian and one of my best friends. I appreciate her more as a person now. Back then, I respected her as an athlete. We have a lot of great memories together.”
Bowen said because the two families are so close, he also knows Teresa Fowler and although she married into the family, he sees a lot of the same qualities in her as he does in Barbara.
“Barbara’s been through a lot; Teresa’s been through a lot but Teresa’s the toughest woman I’ve ever seen,” he said. “She’s a good coach, a real good coach. She knows her stuff.”
Teresa is a math teacher and coaches girls basketball at Liberty Academy. She has won several championships, Billy Fowler said, adding that while sports are very important to his family, something else made him fall in love with Teresa.
“What I’ve always liked about my wife is she’s pretty inside as much as outside,” he said. “With Teresa, it’s sports, family, go-go-go and God.”
Teresa, 44, learned she had breast cancer during a routine exam. She was directed to return in six months but by the time she did, the cancer had reached Stage 3, Billy Fowler said.
She underwent a double mastectomy, followed by ongoing reconstructive surgery but she didn’t give up on teaching, coaching, her family or God.
“She never missed a game or a practice,” Billy Fowler said. “No matter how sick she got, she still gave 110 percent. No matter how much problems come our way, we’re godly people and we stick together. We’re blessed because I know a lot of people don’t have that.”
Although the Fowlers don’t have health insurance, they were able to pay for the surgeries out of pocket and because of what they experienced, they have tried to help others, as well.
Billy and Teresa Fowler’s daughter, Charity, who recently signed with OBU as a result of her own basketball skills, sold T-shirts for breast cancer awareness and donated the money earned, Fowler said.
He said he truly believes sports played a very large role in helping his mother and wife overcome cancer.
“Mom’s cancer is in remission and I think it’s because of a generational 110 percent,” he said. “I know it helped with my mom’s mentality fighting cancer. I have the best mom and best wife.”
Fowler said he has advice for others who might one day be affected by cancer in their families too.
“Be supportive of the different groups,” he said. “Don’t wait until tragedy hits your family to get involved. And always trust the Lord.”
———
Johnna Ray may be reached by calling 214-3934.
