Second Chance

Life’s journey takes us in many directions, and we never really know where or how it will end. It may be happy and enjoyable, or at times, disappointing, difficult and challenging. But, if we let God be our guide, it will be a good trip.

In July 2006, my day began by going to the clinic for my annual mammogram. My day ended with a “possible cancer” diagnosis. No one is ever prepared to hear those words, and I certainly was not. It changed my life and started me on a journey filled with many challenges and a deepening of faith. My life would never be the same again.

Worry could accomplish nothing. Saint Pio said “Worry is a lack of trust in God.” I have a plaque on my nightstand that says “Before you go to bed at night give your troubles to God, He will be up all night anyway.” How true. He is always there for us. I thank God for blessing me with the strength and faith to deal with all the difficulties and challenges of a Stage IV cancer diagnosis. It took some time to acquire this faith and trust. While I was praying and asking for total healing, I felt no matter what happened, I would be able to accept it.

I believe that cancer and cancer treatments are not between doctor and patient, but between doctor, patient and God. Leaving God out of the equation is like building a house without a foundation. A house without a good foundation will have nothing but problems and will collapse. God is the foundation that gave me strength to fight the disease, and faith to face the difficult days ahead.

Hearing the diagnosis “Cancer” is difficult enough. When the doctor adds “Stage IV”, it’s devastating. Second Chance is the remarkable story of faith in the middle of a Stage IV cancer diagnosis and of God’s goodness and blessing.

As I discovered, a battle with State IV cancer is a marathon, not a sprint. The good fight requires courage, perseverance, and most of all faith. Despair and hopelessness are as near as physical pain and self-pity. But prayer and faith can turn that marathon into a tolerable and faith building experience. A Stage IV cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence.

Having a good attitude and placing trust in God helped me to deal with the challenges that were present every day. It wasn’t always easy and there were days of asking God “Why me?” But I learned to accept these challenges and look forward to the time when this would be a part of my past life. I believed that eventually I would feel better and life would get back to normal.

So many thoughts ran through my mind when I was first facing cancer, and the possibility of death. I found that it was necessary to wrap my arms around the situation and understand what was happening to me. I had to come to a point of acceptance. There was no quick fix, no wishing the reality of it away. I had no control over what would happen in the future. The only thing I could control was the present and I had to decide if I would live each day in hope and in a positive manner, or live it in despair and misery. I chose to live in the belief that God would take care of me and heal me.

Follow my journey from Stage IV breast cancer in 2006, with cancer also in my bones and lymph tissue, to surgery, to chemo, to radiation, near-death illness, and ultimately healing. Today, through the healing power of God, I am cancer free.

I’ve been there, lived it, and survived. It is my hope that my story will help others to have courage and trust in God to see them through difficult times.