In FOCUS - Cherie Highfield

Cherie Highfield. A Hometown warrior. A Hero to those close to her. A mentor for others to rely on. A Story of Faith, Courage, and Hope. Some people walk through difficult seasons quietly, carrying burdens that others may never fully see. And then there are those whose strength becomes an inspiration to everyone fortunate enough to know their story. Cherie is one of those women. She has faced breast cancer not once, but twice. Each diagnosis brought its own fears, questions, uncertainty, and challenges. Yet through both journeys, she discovered a strength that came not only from within herself, but from the people and the faith that surrounded her. Her scars tell a story – but so does that big ole’ smile of hers.

Cherie grew up in Hookstown, PA and graduated from South Side High School. Soon afterwards she began working as a teller at Hancock County Savings Bank. (Back when it was still Hancock County Federal.) In July of 1985, her future sister-in-law introduced her to this guy named Barry that came through the drive thru to get some quarters to wash his truck. Surprisingly, he didn’t even bank there. Cherie really liked his truck  . . . a raised Chevy short bed . . . and he really liked her car. . . a white Cougar with stripes.  A couple days later, Barry called the bank to ask her out. The rest is history as they say. They were engaged that December. Now, almost 40 years later, she still works at the bank as a Mortgage Escrow Clerk and together her and Barry raised a son named Bryan, that they couldn’t be more proud of.

Forty years. Life has a way of slipping quietly through your fingers. One moment, you’re young, laughing with friends, making memories, and believing there will always be plenty of time. Cherie treasures the closeness of the kids that she grew up with on her street. How they would play outside from morning until after dark. And then, somehow, you look up and 40 years have passed. It seems impossible that so much time could have gone by since those days when your biggest worries were tomorrow’s test, Friday night’s plans, and where life might take you. Never imagining how quickly those carefree days would become memories. But when we look back, we realize just how much those years gave us ~ friendships, families, laughter, heartaches, lessons, and countless moments that helped shape who we became. How that ‘rooted’ foundation would give you strength to walk through some dark and difficult days.

Having lost her sister Cindy to breast cancer, Cherie faithfully went for her yearly mammogram checks. In November of 2016, after a routine mammogram, the doctor called to tell Cherie she had Breast cancer. She had the recommended surgery and treatments. When she received her first diagnosis, life changed in an instant. There were undoubtedly moments of fear and uncertainty, but there was also faith—a belief that God was with her every step of the way. She leaned on prayer when she didn't have the words. She leaned on her family when she needed strength. She leaned on friends who offered encouragement, love, and support when she needed it most.

And then, after facing cancer once, she had to face it again. In 2018 she was diagnosed with Breast cancer. A different kind of breast cancer, but still a cancer diagnosis. Through it all, surgery – radiation – chemo, she was determined to look at life with the perspective that the glass was half full. Her positive spirit and strong determination are still an inspiration. She never even missed a scheduled day of work. (Sidenote: Cherie has worked at Hancock County Savings Bank for 44 years.) She knows without a doubt that she did not walk through those difficult days alone. God, prayer, family, and friends carried her through. Cherie gets choked up a little when she talks about how wonderful Barry and Bryan, her family, coworkers and management were. How kind they were, from offering their support, to bringing meals, and packing goodie bags with magazines, and crackers, etc. for the chemo days.  She was surrounded by people who would walk beside her. Through treatments, difficult days, uncertainty, and moments of fear, she held tightly to her faith. She prayed. Her family prayed. Her friends prayed. And together, they helped carry her through.

Twice, cancer tested her. Twice, she chose courage. Today, she looks back on those experiences with a deep sense of gratitude. Not because the journey was easy—it wasn't—but because of what those difficult years revealed to her about faith, love, friendship, and the incredible strength of the human spirit. Cherie says, “No matter what hand you’re dealt, family and faith will get you through.”

She knows that her story is not simply one of surviving breast cancer. It is a story of being surrounded by love when she needed it most. It is a story of faith that held steady through uncertainty. And it is a story of a woman who learned that sometimes strength comes from allowing others to stand beside you. Her journey is a reminder that strength doesn't always mean facing something alone. Sometimes, strength is having the courage to reach for God's hand, accept the prayers of others, lean on your family, and allow your friends to carry a little of the weight. I asked Cherie what she would say to a woman who has just heard the words, “You have breast cancer”. She said, “Stay positive. Cry whenever you need to. Keep your faith. It’s all overwhelming. Take one day at a time.”

She has faced breast cancer twice, but cancer does not define her. Her faith does. Her love for her family does. The friendships she has cherished and the lives she has touched do. And perhaps the greatest part of her story is the gratitude she carries today—for every prayer whispered on her behalf, every hand held, every encouraging word, every hug, and every person who refused to let her walk through the darkness alone.

Her story is one of courage, but above all, it is a story of faith, love, and hope. Her story is one of survival—but it is also one of hope. And perhaps that is the greatest gift she can give to others facing their own battles: the reminder that even in the darkest moments, there can still be light ahead. For every woman who has heard those frightening words, for every family member who has stood beside someone they love, and for every person who has ever wondered if they are strong enough to face what comes next—her story says: Keep fighting! Keep hoping! Keep living! Because sometimes the most powerful stories are written by those who refused to give up!

Today, Cherie looks back on her journey with a heart filled with gratitude. Her story isn't simply about surviving breast cancer twice. It is about faith that held her, people who stood beside her, and a determination that refused to give up. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we honor women like her: women who fight, women who endure, women who inspire, and women who remind us that even in the darkest seasons, there can still be hope. Cherie is a survivor. She is a fighter. She is a woman of faith. And she is, without a doubt, a Hometown Warrior! Thank you, Cherie, for sharing your journey. May your story remind us all to be proactive, to encourage one another, to cherish the people who walk beside us—and to never underestimate the power of faith, prayer, love, and hope.