Today I want to introduce a new friend that I've met online. Her name is Heather and she wanted to be able to tell her story about her battle with cancer. She's been through but she's strong and knows that God is on her side!!!
Please take a moment to read her story and lend her your support:
My
Battle with Mesothelioma Cancer
I
have always been an optimist – my cup has always been half full! People who
know me have always accused me of seeing the world through rose-colored
glasses. It is fortunate for me that I do have that trait because on November
21, 2005, at the age of 36, I heard three words that changed my life, “You Have
Cancer”. My only child was three and a half months old at the time. What was
one of the most joyful times in my life had suddenly turned into a nightmare.
I
was diagnosed with a deadly cancer called pleural mesothelioma. I received a referral to the worlds leading
specialist in that disease. That specialist was able to give me hope that I
could beat this disease. With that hope, my optimism, and my strong desire to
raise my only child, I put on my rose colored glasses and did what I had to do
to.
In
2006, surgery to remove the tumor and my lung was scheduled for Groundhogs day.
When I found out the date of the surgery, I nicknamed the tumor Punxsutawney
Phil. After a successful surgery, we renamed Groundhog Day. From that time
forward, we have called it Lungleavin Day since that is the day that my lung
left me. Every year on the first weekend in February, we have a party to
celebrate Lungleavin Day. It is a celebration of life and hope, of conquering
fear, and of the good that can come from a bad situation.
Cancer
is a double-edged sword. It is the worst thing that can happen, but, on the
other hand, it can change your life for the better. Most people who have gone
through it will tell you that. My life changed for the better. I am not sure
exactly why: maybe because I chose not to be a victim or maybe because it gave
me purpose. I came out of it with a determination to help other people who have
been diagnosed with mesothelioma. I have vowed to give hope to those people
because that is the first thing they lose upon being diagnosed.
Because
of my cancer, I now have many new friends. Among others, I am honored to count
many people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and their wives,
husbands, sons, and daughters as friends. These people are amazing. They are
some of the strongest, most passionate people I have ever met. These people are
mesothelioma warriors. Together, we are committed to bringing awareness to the
public about this little known disease.
I
did not give up! I did not curse God and cry out “WHY ME GOD!” I chose not to
wallow in self-pity and give up. By putting on my rose-colored glasses and
facing my cancer with hope, I survived. As a result, I vow to continue to work
to give hope to those who need it after a mesothelioma cancer diagnosis and to raise awareness of this deadly disease.
1 comments:
This is a horrible cancer! Not that there are any 'good' ones but this is one that is particularly nasty. Has she heard about dichloroacetate? (google it) Supposed to really help with this type of cancer
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