Heather Warrick is a survivor who would’ve loved to be “voted off the island.” That’s because she hasn’t been toughing it out in places like Borneo or Fiji. She has been physically challenged for 15 years in the realm of cancer.

Unfortunately, the 40-year-old Warrick’s reality isn’t just a TV show. But she is happy to say she’s a survivor who has never had to feel like a castaway, thanks to her family, her friends, and the American Cancer Society.

“It changed me from a pessimist to an optimist,” Warrick says about ACS, where she volunteered since she was first diagnosed in 1994 and has worked full-time as health programs manager since 2001. “Even I didn’t know about the free programs and services we provide. Patients are amazed by what we do.”

The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer. All of its numerous services are free of charge. Cancer is defined in ACS material as “a large group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells.” The organization disseminates an abundance of informational material, including a packet entitled “Where To Turn For Support Through Your Cancer Journey.” In California, cancer kills more children from birth to age 14 than any other disease,” according to “California Facts & Figures, 2009” printed by ACS.

Warrick’s mother, Nancy Coulter, carries such information with her, including brochures about the Cancer Society’s local support groups, educational classes, and the organization’s 24-hour telephone line. “We’re an incredible resource,” says Coulter, who got involved with ACS when her daughter was diagnosed, and continues to take an active role in the office and with the patients in the field. “It’s a second home for me, really. Twice I went to Sacramento with the legislative ambassadors who lobbied for funding for uninsured and underinsured patients, for screenings. We’ve made a difference.”

Coulter, a 40-year Canyon Country resident, brings a huge level of skill and experience to the organization from her past. In addition to holding such positions as school librarian, music instructor and graphic artist, she has a lengthy resumé of volunteerism, from SCV Leadership Council to Girl Scouts, and Boys and Girls Club Festival of Trees. This community has taken notice and awarded her the American Red Cross SCV Hometown Hero honor, the Longaberger Woman of Service award, and she is currently the SCV Woman of the Year.

The American Cancer Society is the main recipient of Coulter’s efforts now. This year she chaired the first SCV Chamber of Commerce Health and Wellness Fair. “I poured my heart and soul into it,” says Coulter. “The purpose was to provide the SCV with an overview of what health and wellness services and programs are available right here in our community. We had hoped to have 40-50 vendors and ended up with 92! I wanted to provide as many free screenings as I could and began finding services/programs based on that. We had bone density, blood pressure, glucose, dementia, vision, hearing and chiropractic, to name a few.”

The news of Warrick’s breast cancer, and her subsequent nine recurrences, have impacted many lives, including Heather’s parents, Cameron and Nancy. Her siblings have been a constant support, and they all live in the area: her twin sister, Dawn, and her husband, Al, and their four children; and Heather’s brother Scott, and his wife, Debbie, and their son. But no one has experienced more detours than Warrick’s husband, Chad, who was dating her when she received the devastating news the first time. They were both 24 years old.

“Two thoughts immediately hit me,” says Heather. “I am going to die, and there goes my boyfriend.”

Nothing could be further from the truth, however. Not only has Heather survived cancer of the breast, lymph nodes, cervical spine, bones, lumbar spine, hip joints, thighbones, brain and the back of her eye, Chad is a total trooper.

He said, “We are going to beat this and then get on with our lives.” Instead of heading for the hills, he proposed to Heather on her first day of chemotherapy. They have been married more than 13 years now. Their “kids” are three pugs, Gus, Archie and Farley.

The couple has suffered through multiple chemotherapies, a mastectomy, radiation, and symptoms like losses in memory, balance and eyesight. But Heather continues to work full-time, and has learned to “manage” her cancer. Her favorite phrase is “Hope and hopelessness are both a choice; why not choose hope?”

Unfortunately, Heather Warrick’s journey has been a reality check instead of a reality show. Yet, her picture should’ve flashed on TV to accompany the words of “Survivor” host Jeff Probst at the Emmy Awards last month: “The adventure you’re living is the one you get, so go for it!”