Survivors: Mother and Daughter Faced Cancer Together at Ingalls

With busy work and family schedules, most moms and daughters welcome any opportunity to catch up over lunch.

Cindy Ivin of Dyer, Ind., and Judy Trnka of Tinley Park are no different, especially when time permits.

But in 2013 and early 2014, the loving pair enjoyed each other’s company a lot more than usual when they shared lunch several times near Trnka’s home.

Their meeting spot wasn’t a favorite restaurant though. It was the Ingalls Infusion Center in Tinley Park, where for a period of time, both were undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

Daughter Cindy, 47, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer the day before Thanksgiving, 2013; mom Judy, 73, found out she had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma the year before.

“I was at work when I got the call,” Ivin, a licensed cosmetologist, recalls, “which worked out great because I didn’t fall apart at work.”

In fact, not only did she keep it together, the effervescent wife and mother of two teen boys hosted Thanksgiving dinner the very next day without a hitch.

When Ivin finally broke the news to her family, Trnka who been bravely fighting her own battle with cancer, gave her daughter some motherly advice: Make an appointment with Dr. Kozloff.

“There was never any question which doctor Cindy would see,” Trnka explained. That’s because Mark Kozloff, M.D., hematologist/oncologist and Medical Director of Ingalls Cancer Care, is not only a leading cancer expert, he’s a trusted and beloved “family member” who’s overseen Trnka’s cancer care since her diagnosis in 2012. He’s also spent time with her family at Trnka’s frequent appointments.

“Dr. Kozloff really is like family,” Ivin explains. “He’s been there for both of us.”

“Their situation wasn’t easy,” Dr. Kozloff admits. “Having two family members undergoing cancer treatment at the same time is a challenge for everyone. But these two ladies remained positive throughout.”

In fact, it was Dr. Kozloff who convinced Ivin and her family to take a planned “dream trip” to Hawaii with Judy in 2014. He even gave them the name of a doctor on the island – just in case.

“Dr. Kozloff is a wonderful human being,” Trnka adds. “Cindy and I absolutely love him and can’t say enough good things about him – and the nurses at the Infusion Center too. The entire team is wonderful.”

Following chemotherapy, Ivin underwent a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery. Today, she is in remission.

Trnka, who recently experienced a relapse of her cancer, has enrolled in a clinical trial at Ingalls at Dr. Kozloff’s urging. (The trial involves the investigational drug ABT 199 and has been shown to be highly effective in treating patients with refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma like Judy’s.) Today, she’s in remission too.

The mother-daughter pair remain as close as ever and have newfound admiration for the courage and grace each displayed during one of the most trying times of their lives.

“Cindy has walked through this with such strength,” Trnka says, “She always remained positive and a great mom to her boys.”

“My mom really is my hero,” Ivin chimes in. “She was there for me every step of the way. We gave each other strength.”

And though neither ever wanted to face cancer, facing it together helped make each of their journeys just a little bit easier.