In May I will be celebrating twenty-five years cancer free. If I could, I would turn a cartwheel in my backyard. I am so grateful to the Lord for the wonderful gift of this life he has given me. Below is an updated version of words I wrote years ago, because that one pin on my first walk is what I still often think about.
At
my first relay, we were given sashes, and on them, we attached that year’s
Relay for Life survivor pin, which you can see on my sash. As I trekked around the track with my one pin on
my first survivor lap, I searched for other survivors who had multiple pins. I
wanted to find another woman who lived a significant length of time beyond her
diagnosis. When I spotted a metal laden sash, it thrilled my heart. It gave me so
much hope.
You
see, when I was diagnosed, I had young children, only six and eight years old.
Oh, how I wanted to be with them as they grew, to celebrate birthdays, soccer
victories, and ballet recitals. I wanted to mend skinned knees and help console
broken hearts. I wanted to be there for graduations and college decisions and dare I even hope to see
grandchildren. My husband's daughter when we married and our oldest was just beginning her married life and her
profession, and I didn’t want to miss anything the future held for her.
I
also sensed a call from the Lord to be a writer. But I hadn’t really even
gotten started, and I knew it would take time.
It
all seemed a lot to pray for, me with my one pin on my first survivor lap.
But
I did pray. And many others prayed for me. As most survivors will attest, I
learned to value every day as precious.
The
next year at Relay for Life, I added another pin on my sash, and the next year,
another. Then I was given a sturdier sash to hold my pins.
And today, by the grace of God, here I am, a twenty-five-year survivor. When I again make my lap at Relay for Life this Friday, my sash will be heavy with pins.
 |
| Photo credit Michael Prochaska, Oconee Enterprise |
In the picture above from a newspaper article in 2019, you can see my pin laden sash at a Relay for Life Event where I was speaking.
As an update, our oldest daughter went on to earn a doctorate and help many as a physical therapist. I have seen grandchildren be born, grow up and had the privilege and joy of attending football games, ballet recitals, and graduations. Our youngest children are now in their thirties, well established in their careers. I praise God, I celebrated when my son played goalkeeper at the state soccer playoffs in high school and when our youngest daughter performed in her senior ballet recital. I watched the fireworks with joy when our son graduated from the University of Georgia, and I cheered when our youngest daughter earned her master’s degree also from UGA.
And as far as my writing—since my diagnosis, I have seven books in print, soon to be eight in the fall, others on my computer. I’ve contributed to twelve book anthologies, written over one thousand blog posts, countless articles, and devotions, and even had a screenplay under option.
I
am thankful I was one of the very first people in this area to benefit from
sentinel node mapping developed at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, which was
huge in helping me not to suffer from complications from the big surgery I
underwent. Some of you may remember John Wayne was the spokesperson for the
American Cancer Society for many years.
So,
if you’ve just been diagnosed, remember my pin-laden sash. Nothing is impossible.
I’ve been through some scary times in the intervening years, but God has been
with me. I realize there are others who have prayed just as much and are in a
real battle. I have a precious friend there now. Let’s draw courage from the
Lord, and let’s encourage one another.
I
want to give a huge shout out to @athensbreastclinic, Dr. Cody Gunn who was my
surgeon, and @themoorecenter, Dr. James Moore who was my plastic surgeon at the
time. I will always be grateful for the outstanding medical care I received
from these two extraordinary doctors as well as their staff. Thank you from not
only me, but my entire family.
And
as we make our survivor laps, whether we have many years under our belt or only
one, let’s have hope for the future, and
let’s celebrate.
If you have not already donated to the American Cancer Society, you may go HERE which will take you to my American Cancer Society fund. Thanks, from me and all those who may benefit from this life-saving research.
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).