Maude Logsdon... A Remembrance
It has been nine years since Maude Logsdon lost her fight with breast cancer. I know this because her father, Tom, told me when I visited their home in Shawneetown, Ill., recently. Nancy Logsdon, Maude's mother, called me to tell me about a young woman named Deanann Clayton (who happens to be Maude's cousin) who was heading-up The Maude Squad in honor of her daughter.
The Maude Squad was the support group Maude formed to march en masse at the Komen Evansville Race for the Cure. Deanann – Dee to her friends – had started running the team about five years ago and has done so ever since. It seems Maude made a big difference in her life as she did with so many others.
Maude taught her by simply living life on her own terms after her diagnosis with breast cancer at age 25. She had a bucket list a mile long and then some. "Life's tough, but I'm tougher," and "Dance like nobody's watching and live like there's no tomorrow," became her mantras. Dee took Maude's advice to heart and turned her life around using the lessons she learned from Maude until her death in September from kidney cancer at 33… the same age Maude passed.
This is a collection of images from the four years Maude allowed me to document her life as a cattle rancher, daughter and role model. Looking through these many images has given me another chance to get to know Maude, as well as renewing my belief in the human spirit.
Maude chases down a wayward steer after it had escaped its pasture the night before.
Since coming home from Grinnell College, Maude took over the cattle operation on the family farm. Tom Logsdon, Maude's dad, ran the grain operation on the farm.
Chores on the Logsdon family farm run the gambit from fixing a flat tire to ordering cattle feed.
Maude Logsdon shows off her bedroom to her veterinarian after the farm cats and dogs got their shots. She had just moved into the 1850s-era farm house that was rumored to have been commandeered by a Confederate general in the Civil War.
Maude Logsdon holds down a newborn calf for castration while holding onto a big stick to hold off his resentful mother.
After their baths, Alyssa, 6, and Candace, 5, snuggle up to mom, Amanda Lindsay, during Maude Logsdon's visit. Maude realizes she will probably never marry or have children of her own so she dotes on her best friend's daughters whenever she can, even taking them trick-or-treating and for overnights.
Maude Logsdon poses on the spot she would be buried in what turned out to be another two years down the road. Maude took on breast cancer head-on and didn't give up her fight until her last breath.
Maude Logsdon was back at the oncology center for chemotherapy treatments in 1999. She had originally been diagnosed with breast cancer at 25 and had a single mastectomy performed. Four years later, cancer had returned to her liver and bones.
A cross-section of Maude's heart is visible on the monitor during her CAT scans at Midwest Radiologic Imaging in Evansville. The battle with cancer has taken a toll on her body, but her spirit has been her best weapon against the disease.
The 60 mile drive to see her doctor, not to mention the numerous tests, are taking their toll on Maude. Her biggest problem with it is the time it takes away from her running her cattle operation.
No news is usually good news as Maude receives congratulations after her tests came back with little to no change from her last visit.
The Shawneetown Coal Days Parade offers Maude Logsdon and her Race for the Cure team, The Maude Squad, a chance to get their name out in the community to help raise money and awareness of breast cancer.
Having her own home offers Maude a place to live her life like she wants to without having to deal with other people's rules.
A big Pittsburgh Steelers fan, Maude was put out that her team got knocked out of the playoffs before her Super Bowl party. That didn't stop her from having over guests including, from left, Emily and Hannah Logsdon, Elizabeth Scates and her dad, Tom Logsdon, far right.
The Maude Squad gets tatted-up with pink ribbons the morning before the Race for the Cure.
The camaraderie of "survivors" at the Race for the Cure is evident as Maude's sash buttons and pins are examined. Maude's favorite button states simply, "Cancer sucks."
Firefighters, EMTs and law enforcement officials salute the participants of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure at Eastland Mall.
Nancy Logsdon, not a big fan of the color pink once-upon-a-time, has since become comfortable enough to don not only pink, but a pink wig to support her daughter, Maude.
Maude's love of nature and Native American culture is on display in her Shawneetown, Ill., pre-Civil War home. When Maude moved into the home, she discovered the logs had been plastered over and proceeded to tear it all down for the original rustic look.
Maude Logsdon can only laugh as she tries to draw her new crossbow. One of the things Maude had always wanted was to become a hunter, so she became one. She got a double-bearded turkey on her first trip out. As her strength began to fade, she couldn't draw a standard bow anymore and had to go to the crossbow.
Maude Logsdon's mom, Nancy, left, tries to persuade Maude to stay for a dinner of spaghetti and Rice Krispies treats Wednesday evening, but one of Maude's friends had already made her dinner and was delivering it to her home a little while later.
Maude has a collection of colorful ball caps she wears since fighting her cancer with chemotherapy. This one sports her Grinnell College academic roots.
"I feel terrible," Maude Logsdon said while resting in her parents' back porch swing after spending the day with her father, the veterinarian and 134 cows.
Maude Logsdon walks with a fellow breast cancer survivor on her way to the Race for the Cure. Maude's team, The Maude Squad, was formed to raise awareness for the disease. Her first race was disheartening for Maude since she didn't take part fully. Ever since, she vowed to never walk alone again.
Maude Logsdon takes the stage at Race for the Cure as her sister, Lucy, reads a poem she wrote about her little sister. It was to be Maude's last appearance at the race.
Maude Logsdon lost her battle with cancer Sept. 29, 2003. Her motto of "Life's tough, but I'm tougher," sustained her and her loved ones until the end.