Woman still facing surgery has faith all will be well
When I turned 40 in December of 2014, I knew the next year would be fun and full of surprises. I had just started a job that was a gift from above and everything was going great.
My family was thriving, and I could only see sunshine ahead. I could never have imagined what surprises lay ahead, but I jumped into 2015 with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.
Then just a few months later, I was confronted with a surprise no one wants to receive. I discovered a lump under my arm so I called my physician and made an appointment for a check-up. I knew it would be a fatty tumor or swollen gland from a previous infection. I spoke with family members and knew there was no breast cancer in my family at all as far as they knew, so there were no worries. I arrived at my appointment prepared to face a trivial annoyance of some kind and very quickly my world began to change.
At my examination the physician was very concerned, and scheduled a mammogram. The discovery of a small lump in my breast then led to an ultrasound biopsy … waiting on my doctor to call seemed like an eternity and as each minute passed I clung to the hope that “no news was good news.” Then as I was driving home one evening, the call came and my hopes that no news was good news were dashed. I did have cancer and needed to receive treatment immediately.
My doctor was very compassionate and concerned. She answered all the questions I had at that time, and continues to do so. I couldn’t have had a better start on my journey than I received in Texarkana. There were so many questions swirling through my addled brain as I started down this perilous pathway. What do I do next? Where do I go? What if this and what if that? What about my kids, my husband … in the blink of an eye my world was being colored very differently …
Ultimately the decisions were mine, and I chose to go to Baylor for my treatment for a number of reasons, but primarily because that was the door that opened for me and I believe an answer to prayer. From the first moment I stepped through that door, the pegs have fallen into place and my treatment was outlined for me.
I have had a few bumps in the road, and the chemo wasn’t always easy, but with the help of God, family, and friends I know that each tomorrow brings me closer to the end of this journey and the sunshine of a new tomorrow.
As I write this, I am facing surgery, and I know that all will be well. I have learned so much, and I am thankful for each and every person who has helped me through. I am so blessed with family, friends, employees, and an employer who has been a blessing every step of the way.
I am just looking forward to the day when my children’s prayer is, “Thank you God for taking away mama’s cancer,” and not “Please dear God take mama’s cancer away.”