EDMOND — Edmond’s Olympic gold medalist spoke at the community health forum at Memorial High School Saturday.

Shannon Miller joined Brian Attebery, owner of Results Fitness and Nutrition Center, speaking with Memorial students and parents and Edmond residents during the annual community service project, a health forum to help raise breast cancer awareness in Oklahoma.

America’s most decorated gymnast, Miller is a recent cancer survivor and shared her story with the audience to emphasize the importance of breast cancer awareness for the Swine Week beneficiary Oklahoma Project Woman, a nonprofit dedicated to breast health education and prevention.

The forum also helped the students toward their Swine Week fundraising goal of $350,000.

A personal trainer and former Mr. Oklahoma, Attebery joined Miller as they shared their personal pledges to health and fitness and their commitment to helping others.

“My insecurities as a young boy led me to a fitness lifestyle and eventually winning the title of Mr. Oklahoma 2001 and opening Results Fitness,” Attebery said of his devotion to fitness.

“From Miss America to everyday people, I have learned that through consistent hard work, you can achieve anything you put your mind to,” Attebery said.

Miller said she was excited to be back in the community where she grew up.

“I’m excited to be back in Oklahoma, and to speak at the Swine Week Health Forum,” Miller said.

“It’s important for all women to make their health a priority, and I hope that by sharing my cancer story I’m able to help others going through their own journey.”

Miller said the baseball-size tumor was found and removed before she even knew it was malignant.

“I originally thought surgery was all I needed,” Miller said, “but it was when the pathology came back that I found out I had to go through chemotherapy.

Miller said in some ways it was good it happened in that order before she could process what was happening.

“The most difficult part for me was the fear of the unknown going into therapy, although with the chemotherapy I felt a little bit more in control,” Miller said.

Miller said facing chemotherapy was similar to training for the Olympics.

“It is all about goal setting and having a plan,” Miller said.

Getting dressed was a goal set for one day.

With a 15-month-old child, taking a five-minute walk with him was another goal. Her son is now 28 months old.

“One day my goal was to return five emails and spend some time with my son, Rocco,” Miller said. “I was constantly moving forward and keeping going.

“The old adage that ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ is true,” Miller said.

Miller said while training for the Olympics she broke her elbow and doing so made her a stronger, more well-rounded athlete.

“I try to look at the negatives and turn them into positives,” Miller said.

Miller said she asked herself how could she help others going through the same thing.

“I started blogging and created a video,” Miller said. “I decided if I can raise an awareness for breast cancer, help one person by encouraging them to go to a doctor or get screenings and exams then I have accomplished something.”

Her nine weeks of chemotherapy included an intense regimen to prepare herself mentally and physically, Miller said.

“My primary source of strength is my faith,” Miller said. “You ask those questions: Why me? Why now?

“I try to cling to my faith. God doesn’t give me anything I can’t handle. I try to look at the bigger picture.

“If God brings me to it, he will bring me through it.”

Miller said she would share with others, “No matter what keep fighting.”

“Just keep a positive attitude,” Miller said. “You will have those days you cry, yell and get under the covers. You will have those days.

“One of my friends told me, this is just like being on a balance beam. You fall down, but every time you do just keep getting back up.”

Miller said to gather your support system around you.

“My mother is also a cancer survivor since 2008,” she said. “She understood it and was able to talk with me as a survivor.

“Learn to lean on your support system: doctor, nurses, family and friends,” she added. “You have to have a support system.  “I think the most important thing ... is make your health a priority,” Miller said. “Early detection can absolutely save your life.”



FOR MORE information about the Swine Week events, including ways to donate, visit www.swineweek.org or email Edmond Memorial Student Council sponsor Josh DeLozier at josh.delozier@edmondschools.net. For more information about Oklahoma Project Woman, visit www.oklahomaprojectwoman.org.