Media room

September 29, 2005

Libertyville Woman Earns National Award for Perseverance

Disability advocate Marsha Koelliker credits gradual return to workas key factor in reclaiming her life and career

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. — Marsha Koelliker is a disability advocate by profession, charged with protecting the rights of Illinois residents with disabilities. In her personal life, she has just been recognized with a national award for serving as a role model for persons with disabilities who struggle to reclaim their lives.

Koelliker, 55, has twice fought battles with cancer. The second round began in January 2003 and resulted in an 18-month disability leave before returning full time to her job as public policy director of Equip for Equality, a non-profit group that advocates for the rights of people with disabilities. During that time, she struggled with severe gastrointestinal complications resulting from the extensive surgery performed to remove the cancer.

Koelliker never wavered in her determination to return to advocacy on behalf of the people with disabilities in Illinois . She credits that outward focus, reinforced by a gradual return to work as her condition permitted, as a key factor in avoiding despair and maintaining confidence that she would win her own battle against physical limitations.

“During that period I worked from home to the extent that I could be productive,” Koelliker said. “I did a lot of teleconferencing with my office, and it was really important to me because it kept me connected, kept me up to date with what was going on. For me, it demonstrated that you can overcome things and get your life back.”

Koelliker said staying connected to her career was vital because it gave her an opportunity to focus on something other than herself. “Most of my day was consumed with dealing with the consequences of my illness. You just feel like you have no life at all, so for a few hours a day, participating in a teleconference, trying to decide on a next step on a project, I didn't think about myself or what I had to do for myself. It was an extreme emotional relief to be able to focus on something outside yourself and your needs.”

For Koelliker, the benefits of a limited, gradual return to work outweighed the grueling effort it required.

“In the beginning it was a real struggle,” she said. “I had been flat on my back for a long period, not allowed to even sit up. When I first went back, I had trouble keeping up.” Still, she never entertained thoughts of not returning to her career. “In the course of my work, I have encountered so many people who had to overcome so much more than I did.”

In recognition of her courage and determination, Koelliker has earned the Perseverance Award from the WillReturn Council® of Assurant Employee Benefits. The Perseverance Award recognizes no more than 12 persons annually for demonstrating proactivity, resilience, will power and conscientiousness in their recovery from a disabling injury or illness. Individuals are honored for their determination to overcome disabilities and get their lives back on track after an accident or disease suddenly challenges their way of living.

Koelliker credited family, friends, co-workers, her disability insurer and her faith with providing the support she needed to reclaim her life. Her husband, David, played a key role as her caretaker – dressing her wounds and providing other nursing care, while taking on 100 percent of their household duties.

She also credited the financial support provided by Assurant Employee Benefits that allowed her to gradually increase her workload over time, until she felt ready to return to work full time.

Ever the advocate, Koelliker urged employers in Illinois and elsewhere to learn from her example in terms of how they deal with employees who become temporarily or permanently disabled.

“I really want to emphasize to employers that they can make a huge difference by making sure the person knows that you want them back, that there is a place for them and to keep them connected the best you can,” Koelliker said. “Use technology to help people be productive outside the office. Anything you can give that person to do can have a positive impact.”

Finally, Koelliker thanked her medical team for the key role they played in her treatment and recovery, including “some wonderful nurses and technicians” as well as physicians Josh Tunca and Richard Nelson.

“Now I'm fine. I've seen all my doctors within the past few months, and there is no cancer and everything is working.”