Finding hope during the most trying times
This summer has been a time of trial to say the least. My mom’s diagnosis of breast cancer came with zero warning. After almost a year of failed attempts to get a mammogram through a community program, she finally got a call with an appointment.
She had totally forgotten about it. She was uninsured and routine health screenings were not part of her care. The mammogram resulted inconclusive and it was followed by an ultrasound and a biopsy that confirmed her diagnosis. It was cancer.
She never felt a lump or ill. She simply found out about a resource that could help and she decided to be proactive and take advantage of it.
If you have met my mother, you know that I am not lying when I say that she is such a special human being with a huge heart. Her life has been devoted to helping others. She is also the pillar of our family that she raised all on her own. She didn’t deserve to go through this, just as many other great women don’t deserve to face such a difficult trial in their lives.
In the midst of the storm, we had hope. Hope that had been built over decades and only God can provide. We rest assured that regardless of the outcomes, we were going to be OK.
This experience made me think of the many people who face distressing illnesses like this one and who feel a complete sense of hopelessness. Sometimes it’s not even an illness, but a difficult situation such as hunger, a marriage falling apart, unemployment or one of the many other issues that bring fear into our lives.
For us, having hope meant that we won more than half of the battle. Knowing that we were surrounded by our community of faith and that we have a God that listens to our prayers was very comforting and gave us strength to continue forward.
This article is dedicated to all of you who are going through a challenging time and are struggling to find hope. Fear, hate and despair may try to overcome you. Discouraging thoughts and disbelief are working hard to build a nest in your head, but don’t let them. You are not alone.
Yuma is filled with many communities of faith and while it may be challenging to see beyond the immediate feelings and thoughts of going through a difficult circumstance, you can find hope. All you need to do is reach out.
You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to fit a certain style. All you need to do is reach out, even if you don’t feel like it. There are many studies that demonstrate that faith and attending religious services reduces stress and increases the length of life.
It’s never too late. If you are going through a difficult time, this is the perfect time for you to reach out. Hope is where you least expect it, and it is waiting for you.
Diana Maldonado is a benefits analyst at Yuma Regional Medical Center. She can be reached at dmaldonado@ yumaregional.org.