It’s one of those things you think will never happen to you and you’re never truly prepared for the news to hit. Mrs. Sherrie Kimble, Hoover High School’s dive coach, experienced this news in 2015 when she found out she had cancer.

“I received a shocking diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia [CLL],” Kimble said. “This came as a surprise, as CLL typically aff ects men exposed to Agent Orange or individuals over 70 years old. The doctors advised that CLL might not impact my health significantly until later in life. They recommended focusing on a healthy diet to help manage the condition. Heeding their advice, I made significant changes to my eating habits, becoming more conscious of how food affects the body.”

According to the National Cancer Institute: “Chronic lymphocytic leukemia [CLL] is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes [a type of white blood cell]. CLL is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that usually gets worse slowly. CLL is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults.”

However, Kimble’s battle with cancer didn’t end there.

“Four years after my CLL diagnosis, I faced another health challenge: two different types of breast cancer,” she said. “When my doctor delivered this news, my immediate response was, ‘I do not have time for this.’ As someone who had always led a very active life, the prospect of another serious illness seemed overwhelming and inconvenient.”

While Kimble was devastated by the news she decided she had to face this trial and found ways to put her health first.

“I underwent chemotherapy treatments and a mastectomy to combat the breast cancer,” she said. “During my treatments in 2020, I noticed that most people in the infusion room weren’t eating healthy snacks or drinking water. In contrast, I made sure to drink at least a gallon of water daily and brought healthy snacks, which I believe helped me push through the illness more effectively.”

Kimble was remarkable and kept a positive viewpoint but there were a few shocks in her journey.

“With the breast cancer, I didn’t mind wearing the baseball caps and the bandanas, but it’s kind of shocking to lose your hair,” she said.

Cancer is hard for anyone who has it, but you have to find that coping mechanism to help you stay positive.

“Throughout all of my treatments, I was able to continue coaching at the Hall of Fame Diving Academy and high school diving,” Kimble said. “This role provided me with something to look forward to daily, offering a sense of normalcy and purpose amidst the chaos of my health challenges. Coaching became a lifeline, helping me stay grounded and focused on the positive aspects of life.”

Kimble’s battle with cancer was not a battle she fought alone, her divers also experienced her trial first hand and it inspired many of them.

Hoover Alum Kylie Clugston was impressed by how much Kimble fought through to be with her team.

“My coach balanced her role as a coach with her health a lot better than most people would’ve been able to,” she said. “She would show up to every practice she could and when she wasn’t there she was still checking in on our progress. There was never a time when [Kimble] was able to be there and did not show up. Some of these times, she was feeling under the weather but her  attitude and passion for the sport did not change.”

Junior Kayla Boylan also expressed her appreciation for her coach and what Kimble’s cancer battle taught her.

“The most important lesson that I learned from knowing my coach beat cancer not once but twice was that you cannot let anything knock you down,” she said. “She had to fight every day to beat an illness that is a monster and if she can do then I can do one more dive on a hard day. Get back on the board after I smack and come to practice the day after a bad meet.”

Though it seemed like everything was in the clear and getting better, Kimble received another setback in her cancer journey.

“Just as I was beginning to recover from breast cancer treatment, my health took an unexpected turn,” Kimble said. “In September 2022, seemingly out of nowhere, my CLL went ‘crazy’ on me. This sudden progression caught both me and my medical team off guard. The severity of the CLL fl are-up resulted in a six-day hospitalization, during which I required blood transfusions due to my rapidly deteriorating condition. Following this critical episode, I had to undergo another six months of chemotherapy treatments, followed by a year-long regimen of oral chemotherapy medication.”

With a challenge like this, you need to have a support system. Kimble’s family and friends were crucial in her recovery but she was surrounded by others that helped her battle.

“Throughout this challenging journey, my faith in God played a crucial role in maintaining my strength and hope,” Kimble said.

“The unwavering support from my church [Community Christian Church in North Canton] was invaluable. The prayers of my minister and the dedicated prayer team provided me with spiritual comfort and resilience during the most diffi cult times. Their constant encouragement and faith helped me face each hurdle with renewed determination and optimism.”

Kimble also spoke about how being in nature also helped her during her treatments.

“I did a lot of outside stuff ,” she said. “Not any heavy lifting obviously but a lot of flowering.”

Kimble was able to complete her treatment for CLL and completed a huge goal for herself.

“After completing the intensive treatment plan for CLL, I returned to a new job at Digital Operations Group,” she said.

“This marked a significant milestone in my journey, as I was able to resume my professional responsibilities and fully reintegrate into my work environment.”

Kimble’s story is a great example of taking the cards you’re dealt head-on and doing your best. Ups and downs are expected but how you respond is what’s crucial to be able to move forward.Not only has she learned a lot for herself she has also inspired her athletes and hopefully the readers of this article.

Kimble reflects on her cancer journey and what she learned from her experiences.

“This journey has been challenging but it has also demonstrated the power of perseverance, proper medical care, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and the strength derived from faith and community support,” she said. “These experiences have allowed me to reclaim the active lifestyle I’ve always cherished, with a renewed appreciation for health, resilience and the importance of spiritual connections.”

For more information, visit the National Cancer Institute’s website: https://www.cancer.gov.