Reply to Jean Spencer

1. Sarah Shelton commented on March 5th, 2009 at 8:54 pm

   I am Jean Spencer’s oldest daughter (the one that was 6 years old). I remember everything about that night we discovered mama’s cancer… we had an old wood stove in an little building attached to the back the of our trailor where we used to live in Lambsburg, Va. Daddy was working third shift and it was so cold that night. Me and my sister (Ashley.. she was 3 at the time), just had taken baths and mom says for us to stay in the living she was going to load up the wood stove one more time for the night. She heads out the front the door for with a flash-light and then all heard was her screaming ” Sarah, Sarah”. I ran outside and mom was laying on her stomach in our gravel walkway right off the front porch step. “I can’t get up. I think I broke my leg” was the next to sentences I heard as I walked out on the front porch. She told me not to cry that I had to brave because Ashley was right behind me in the doorway. She was crying, though. My aunt and uncle lived over the hill from us, and mom said for me to call Ginger (my aunt who is a nurse) and tell her what had happened. Well her phone was busy every time I tried to call, so finally I got a hold of my aunt Penny ( who lived about 1/2 a mile down the road). She called 911 and came stright over. The next thing I remember was the ambulance sirens and see the red lights flash through the trees. I went to my aunt Ginger’s house that night and Ashley went with my aunt Penny. I will never forget that feeling of just wanting my mama. Everything was so rushed once the ambulance got there… I didn’t get to say bye or I love you, nothing. I was so scared. Over the years that scene of that night has almost haunted me and the more I thought about being six and having to learn how to wash and dry clothes, dishes, sweeping and mopping, vacuuming, being tossed between aunts and uncles houses because daddy had to work and mom was so sick from chemo… I just got so angry at God. I didn’t understand why. I turned to drugs. I had my little boy right after high-school and spent his first year with him before I let the devil take control. My mama and daddy stepped in where I walked out and took care of him. I was smoking crystal meth and marijuana, taking pills and drinking everyday for 2 almost 3 years. Then one day my mama breaks down and says my little boy was by his bed everynight praying that God would keep his mommy safe and bring her home. All I could think about was how I used get by the beside every night and beg God to keep my mama safe and make her better so she could just come home. So God helped me to stop. God sent me my husband, my 2 year old step son, my (now 5 yrs old) son, a job, and an apartment. But most of all he gave me this peace and joy and humilty. I don’t have to be afraid anymore. My aunt and mama used to remind me all the time, that worrying is sin. I know why it is now because God says to just “trust in him”.. to just have enough faith as a mustard seed (the smallest seed in the world) and we can move mountains! I thank God not for my having to go through being sick with cancer but for what God did while my mom was sick with cancer. I believe he knew that I would learn (still learning) a lot about having faith in him, love, hope that everything will always work out for the good to those that love him and called by his name, joy that only he give, and peace that passes all understanding. I am sure that’s not the only reason mom went through cancer, but that was just my personal view! I thank God for my family. There is not and will never be another day that goes by that I won’t thank God for my family and for everything that I KNOW he brought me through and out of. I know I would not still be alive if was not for God having mercy on me. I am just so thankful!

   Reply to Sarah Shelton

Thank you for sharing your story, Jean. Yours is our first, so that makes it special for several reasons…

Your story inspires us. We love to be reminded that miracles still happen in oncology centers.

Reply to Janet

Reply to glenda souther

1. editor commented on March 5th, 2009 at 11:55 am

   Hi Glenda,
   There’s a bar (above right) on this page that says “Janet on the Web.” Underneath that bar it says “CD’s & Books.” If you click on that, the link will take you to Janet’s website where you can purchase the CD.
   –website editor

   Reply to editor

I am the daughter of a mother who fought a very courageous battle with Acute Myleogenous Leukemia, she fought it for over a year, and went to be with the Lord on Sept. 24, 2007.
God was so merciful to her, he came to her in 2 visions while she was fighting the cancer battle and he told her that everything would be fine and she was going to be okay, she said that when he came to her that everything became quiet and she could only her him.
Our family has a very good foundation in believing in God, and we knew that he was holding my mom in his hand and would take care of her and our family.
The one scripture that I would keep thinking of is That God is our rock and our salvation and in our times of troubles he will be with us.
The one key advice I could give people who are battling this awful disease is that they are the ones in control of their care and treatments, that they not let others tell them what they should be doing, but that the one experiencing the cancer tells their health care professionals what they want and how they feel about the options that they have been presented with. Those who are diagnosed with the cancer know that they do not have to settle on the first opinion, to get as many opinions as they feel they need till all their questions and uncertainties are settled and they have a clear mind to battle this demon of cancer head on and with all the strength they have.
People dealing with cancer need to remember that if they do not want to get treatment on day or whatever that they have the right to tell their doctors they do not want the treatment today and will get it later, if they fill like they just are too tired or do not fill like it, when they have thought over with what type of cancer they have and the stages of it.
People dealing with cancer need to keep focused on trying to get into remission and need to have people around them that are fighting with them mentally and spiritually, because any negative people around them will only drag them down even more, the more positive people in their lives the better it will be for them when they are feeling bad or just down in the dumps.
Just keep praying and take one day at a time and do what you want to do each day. Accomplish the things you want done, so that if the cancer cannot be cured that you have done things in life you always wanted to do. If the cancer cannot be cured, remember it is not God’s fault, it is just the plan of life that has been set forth for us.
Always talk to your family on what you want done in the end, what you are feeling currently and never hold bad emotions in always vent them out because it will help them feel better and give them a better view on their circumstances.
The last advice: YOU ARE THE BOSS OF YOUR HEALTH CARE AND WHATEVER YOU FEEL IS THE RIGHT CHOICE GO WITH IT AND DO NOT LET THE DOCTORS TALK YOU OUT OF WHAT YOU FEEL IS RIGHT AND WHAT YOU HAVE PRAYED OVER, BECAUSE GOD IS THE TRUE PHYSICIAN AND KEEP LOOKING UP TO HIM AND PRAYING TO HIM.

SONGS: EYE OF THE TIGER, Amazing Grace, Angels in the Room, Mercy Walked In

Thank you for letting me share my ideas.

Jessica

Reply to Jessica Moore

This is my story. I hope that someone somewhere can get something out of it. Weeks or even months before I wa diagnosed with breast cancer, I prayed to God and asked Him to take care of it all. He knew that we couldn’t afford any big bills and what ever his will was is what I wanted done. That was my earnest prayer for a while. I knew something wasn’t right but I never once dreamed of it being breast cancer. All the time I prayed about it and after I found out I had breast cancer, I never once worried about any of it. My look at it was what ever is to be will be. I tried my best to comfort others around me about it all. I have kept my sense of humor through it all. Just ask anybody around me. I know cancer is a serious thing but I also know that God took care of it all for me. I had four rounds of chemo before surgery and four more after surgery. My hair come out but so what. It’s only hair, it will grow back. While taking chemo I never once got sick. I went when I wanted to go and did whatever I wanted to do thwanks be to God. He got me through eery bit of it and I am so thankful. I don’t know His purpose for me but I know He has a plan for me and whatever His will is will be fine with me. I have found through all of this thast if you can have a sense of humor it helps so much and goes a long way. When I was going through all fo this, there was a song on the radio. I don’t know who sung it but I think the title is “Took It All Away” or something like that. It was about if God took everything away i would still praise Him for all He has done. And I would! The last part of me chemo treatment I got out and mowed my yard and used the weed-eater. I watched and didn’t over do it. I just took my time and rested a lot. But I felt good and wanted to do something. I love the outdoors. I have been cancer free for six months now, and if would be God’s will for the cancer to come back, then I will deal with it again. I have no worries about it all and people find that so hard to believe. The devil will try to make me doubt but I say “get behind me Satan, God is in control”. Even now people will ask me how I am doing and when I tell them I am doing great (which I am) they look at me leke I am supposed to be sick and drooping around. SORRY!!! God gave me life and I choose to live it for Him. I want to be a help to everyone everywhere. I would like to tell my story everywhere so maybe someone could get a blessing out of it. There are so many details that I couldn’t put in here. People believe me, your positive outlook on things does make a big difference in your life. If anyone would like to talk to me about my story or tell me about theirs, I would love to hear from them. I am just a simple person with a simple life, just simply trying to live my life for God. God bless each and every one of you for doing this and may you always be on the air. Your radio programs are a blessing to more people than you will ever know.

THANK YOU,

NANCY BRYANT

Reply to Amy Bryant

My diagnosis of breast cancer came a few months prior to my 32nd birthday. I am now an 18 year survivor. There were 3 things that were essential to my journey:

Trust – Putting my wholehearted trust in God was a foundational
cornerstone for me. I didn’t know what was ahead for me, and it was out of my control, but I knew that God would be with me through it all and I rested in His comfort.

Prayer – I prayed daily, several times a day. I asked God to remove my
fear and to help me to be strong through this experience. (I ended up
comforting my co-workers.)

Focus – For me, a daily “faith” rally kept me focused and kept my spirit lifted. My song of encouragement was “Power in the Blood” by the Statler Brothers.

God showed me through this journey that losing a breast had nothing to do with defining the person that I am. My wholehearted trust in God did define whose I am and I was blessed to experience the spiritual intimacy of His peace, His joy, and His contentment, as I had never known, while in the midst of the fire.

Reply to Brenda Preston

It has been almost 2yrs. that my husband die of Leukemia they give him a week when they found it was very hard but God is so good he is getting me and our daughter though it we had adopted her when she was just 2yr. old he wanted so much to see her grow up but GOD had other plans we have face many things. But GOD has got us though so much. He was so strong he new he was going home to be with his LORD and all his family that was already there so when you think you can’t go on stand still and GOD will get you though. I listen to you all every morning so many songs have helped Hello after good Bye was one Joshua Song was Please keep us in your prayer I still just wish he would just come home Love your show

Reply to Kathy Jo Bentley

I was diagnosed with bronchitis which had turned into pneumonia in 2006. After the x-ray revealed a spot on my lung, I was sent to a pulmonologist who confirmed that I had a huge mass on my right lung and spots on the liver. The pulmonologist had done a bronchoscopy which was inconclusive, however, he said from what he did see, he was 99% sure the diagnosis was advanced.

I was scheduled for a “hard core” sample test where they take lung tissue for analysis, and the scans revealed the spot on the lung and liver as well. While lying on the table having the cat-scans, my Dr. asked the technician if he had moved the adjustments on the cameras? The tech replied no and I heard my Dr and tech in conversation as they discussed what they were seeing. My Dr. came out to me and said, ” I think I have good news. I don’t see the spot on the lung that was there a few minutes ago to take the sample.” He also said, “You must have said your prayers this morning” in a laughing manner. I replied, “Dr. I have asked thousands of people around the state to be in prayer for me.”

My husband is the Director of Missions in Chesterfield, SC and the pastors had already had prayer with us and had asked the churches in the area to be praying. During the weeks between tests, and recovering from pneumonia, I did alot of praying and asking God for guidance and healing if that was his will for me. I was only 54 at the time and wondered why and how this could be happening at this point in my life. I had just moved to the area and had started teaching at my school. I did not understand.

During praying and reading my scriptures, I came to peace with the fact that if it was God’s will, he would heal me through treatment or perhaps through taking home to be with Him. I sat and planned my service in the event he called me home before I was able to endure treatment.. I also asked that whatever the outcome was, that it would bring glory and honor to Him. WOW! The power of prayer did not have the meaning to me as it did on this particular day when the Dr. said, “I don’t see the spot on your lung to take the biopsy.” I had believed in prayer, but I don’t think I was prepared for God to allow me to see it so vividly.

After the Dr. told me this, he said that we would proceed with the biopsy on the liver. I do not have a medical background and did not understand what I was watching on the screen. As the dye for the cat-scan went through my veins for the liver to show up on the screen, I saw it go dark and thought this to be normal. Well, again I heard the Dr. ask, “Did you see that?” The technician said, “Yes, I did!” My Dr. came out and said he wanted to do more scans because the spots disappeared!!!

To make my story short, I had eight (8) more scans and all 8 were CLEAR! Of course the Dr. tried to explain some medical jargon, but I proceeded to tell them I knew what had happened. God had healed me before their eyes and had allowed me to see His mighty hand at work.

It has been two years now and the only thing to be seen is “three scars” on my liver. (My husband calls it God’s calling card).

I now sing the song, “Great is thy Faithfulness, O God Our Father, Morning By Morning, New Mercies I See” with a different attitude and devotion. Another song that has meant alot to me was, “In The Presence of Jehovah” by the Martins.

I think sometime we take prayer so casually, that we fail to see God answering prayer everyday. As I said earlier, God may give healing through Drs. and medical treatment, but He may also give ultimate healing by calling us home. I do look forward to that day, however, I also know that I have a job to do here for Him and that is to tell others what He has done for me.

Thank you for this opportunity, and I hope it is not too long. This is not the whole story, but briefly it tells how God was true to His word. And yes, you may share this over the air or with Janet.

Faye Dickard

Reply to Faye C. Dickard

My name is Sherry Scott, I am 38 years old. In 1994 I was diagnosed with Non- Hodgkin Lymphoma. I thought what was I to do, I had only been married for 3 years and we had a little girl only 1 1/2 years old. I was in the hospital for over a week having biopsies done. As a Christian I knew I could only turn to the only and only physical that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I never ask why I had been given this deadly disease. We attend Copeland Baptist Church and during that week we were having our fall revival.. I asked my doctors if I could leave and go to revival and come back to the hospital when it was over. I was told yes, and so every night my husband took me to church. The first night I got down on my knees at an old fashioned altar and ask God to give me the grace to go through what I was facing. Every day God was there with me. When I was taking the chemotherapy treatments I would be so sick that I couldn’t even hold my head up but God was there holding it for me because I was only sick that on the days I had to take them. My hair came out and that was a hard part, because as a woman we want to look our best, I had my pity party for a moment and realized that it would come back, and that I was so lucky to still be here. My family, friends, and my church family were so supportive. They were always there for me praying for my health and my husband and our daughter. I looked so forward to going to church to hear God’s word and to hear the wonderful songs our choir would sing. There are so many songs that touched my heart during that time, but there is one that remains dear to me it’s “God on the Mountain”. God is there for us on the mountain and He is there for us when were in the valley. I was in the valley but He brought me to the top of the mountain. I took 7 treatments of chemotherapy and 4 weeks of radiation. When I finished my radiation in April of 1995 God gave me the strength to walk in the March of Dimes walk for babies in March. I was so blessed to be able to walk that year, I wanted to be able to help others in some way, God gave me a second chance at life and I wanted to walk to give babies a chance a life. God has blessed me and my family in so many was, after my cancer doctors told us we would never be able to have any more children, I told them if God wanted me to have another child all the medicine in the world couldn’t stop my God. Four years later in 1998 Kayla Grace was born. My God is able to do all. Every day I am reminded when I look in the mirror and see the scars of where I have been in my life and where God has brought me from. When I am asked to, or given the opportunity to give my testimony I jump at it I am so grateful of what the Lord has done for me and I want others to know what God can do, but most of all let them know that He died for them and that if there not saved they can be, and they too can receive eternal life and experience God’s amazing grace.

I would love to share my story.

God bless you,
Sherry Scott

Reply to Sherry Scott

My name is Clara Gurkin. I live in Burlington,N.C. I began my journey in 1999. Hearing the word “cancer” can be devastating. My Mother had gone through cancer at the same age. The lump was removed and I took a series of radiation. Seven years later I had cancer again in the other breast. I went through the same procedures. Eleven months later I had a re-occurrence. This time the cancer had spread into the chest wall. My first thought was — not again! This time I had to have a mastcectomy, 6 months of chemotherapy and 3 weeks of radiation (twice a day). I am 3 years past this ordeal. Only by the grace of God did I get through this. I never asked “why me “. God was with me through theses valleys. It taught me patience. You have to learn to turn to turn it all to God and let Him be in control. It was not easy. God put people in my life to help me. During my chemo there were times I was not able to go to church services, but my church family would have altar prayer for me. I know these prayers are what helped me through this. God does answer prayers!

At work, someone made a comment that I didn’t act like I was sick. I didn’ t let it get me down, because I knew God was with me. I’m glad that I didn’t have to go through this alone. I give God the glory that I am alive today. We are given trials for a reason. For this I have a closer relationship with my Lord. Whatever you face today, just trust that God will give you the grace to see it through.

Reply to Clara Gurkin

My name is Arlan Weaver and I am the proud father of two lovely daughters who are now in their twenties. But in January 2000 I thought that I was going to lose my oldest daughter, Kendria.

Kendria was diagnosed with Childhood Malignant Ovarian Cancer; she had just turned 13 years old two months earlier. She had a mass in her abdominal region that was the size of a football; films showed it from hip to hip and front to back. It was a difficult time to see my little girl going through the surgeries and the necessary chemo treatments; her being in pain and I couldn’t do a thing to help.

But God is stronger than I am and he sent some wonderful people her way to help strengthen her in ways that I could not. My little girl of 13 years turned to Southern Gospel music in order to seek God’s strength. Her all time favorite singer was Vestal Goodman; but she lived on Bill Gaither Gospel music and all of those who where with him. She came to a point of being able to remember hundreds of songs; she isn’t a singer and she doesn’t have the voice to be one, but I would listen to anything she wants to sing to me because God allowed her to be here in order to be able to sing to me. I praise God and thank Him for that miracle.

During that time we were actually blessed to personally meet Guy Penrod, the Gaithers, Mark Lawry, the Easters, Vestal Goodman, and even Janet Paschal.

We met several of them at a concert in Dayton, Ohio where Guy Penrod saw Kendria down by the stage; wearing a dew rag, she lost all of her long beautiful hair but refused to wear a wig. She was singing word for word with Mr. Penrod and he said he had to meet her. It seemed to make her whole ordeal worth it.

Later that year she received another blessing. With a last minute cancellation, we were able to go on the Bill Gaither Gospel Alaska Cruise, where we met so many people. 2000 was a very rough year for our family; after returning from the cruise my wife of 15 yrs. left and we ended up divorce. There were more surgeries and tests and I know that the loss of her mother caused her more mental anguish. Children of divorce always feel it is their fault; well she felt it was her and the cancer that drove her mother away. But God has seen us through and we have continued in His love and grace. My one piece of advice I would give is to parents. I know how much I wanted to be there in the room when certain procedures were done but then Kendria would look to me to have the medical technicians stop if she hurt, was scared, or discomforted. Parents; leave the room, let the professionals do their job for your child, then you go back in and comfort them. You be their comforter, with Christ, don’t be seen by your child as having been part of their pain.

Thank you to all God’s servants in Southern Gospel music.

Arlan Weaver

Reply to Arlan Weaver

Let me preface my story with a little background. At the time of my diagnosis, our teenage son was in a place where we could not reach him. He was on drugs , had turned away from God, church, his family and was on a downhill slide. I would have done anything to bring him back to us. Little did I know that “anything” turned out to be my Breast Cancer diagnosis on March 15, 2006. It didn’t happen overnight, but he slowly started to turn his life around. He tells me now (3 years later) that my Cancer was a blessing and that it probably saved his life. God does move in mysterious ways, doesn’t he.

I was diagnosed on Wednesday, March 15, 2006. I know God had a hand in my diagnosis being on a Wednesday, because we have Bible Study on Wednesday nights. When I got home, I called one of my Christian sisters and she prayed with me. I was pretty numb at this point, but since it was Wednesday, I decided to go to Bible Study at church. When my pastor saw my face he knew the news was not good. We went into the Wednesday night room and before Bible Study began, the elders and deacons laid hands on me and prayed for me. I had never felt God’s presence as I did that night. I was truly being held in his arms while they prayed. After the prayer and many tears, I felt a peace that passes all understanding. I knew, that night, that whatever the outcome of my illness, God was in control and would never let go.

That’s not to say that this journey was easy or enjoyable, because it wasn’t, but I knew, no matter what, God would not leave me. I was at the church one day talking with one of our pastors and he said something that helped me through the tough days. I Thessalonians 5:8 says: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” He told me to remember that the Bible says IN EVERYTHING give thanks, not FOR EVERYTHING. I had heard this scripture all my life, but I guess I never really HEARD it. There were days when just the sight and smell of food made me sick, not that I could taste it anyway. There were days when I hardly had the strength to get out of bed, but this scripture always came to mind. Isaiah 43:2 was another scripture that helped me. “When though passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.”

I would be lying if I said I didn’t ask God why, but his still small voice always reassured me that he was there. I had and still have a wonderful church family that sent cards and prayers my way. I don’t know how anyone can get through something like cancer without God, family and friends. It must be a lonely existence.

Praise you in this storm, by Casting Crowns, came out around the time of my diagnosis. The first time I heard it, I was in the car on the way to work. I cried when I heard it, because I knew, at that moment, that song was sent just for me. The words to the chorus are as follows:

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

After I heard it a few times, I began to sing it with conviction. I will praise you in this storm. I will praise you in this storm. I will praise you in this storm. On the days when Satan tried to tempt me to give up and blame God, I sang it. When my body was so tired and weak, I sang it. When I finished Chemo and began to get better, I sang it. It really helped me to put things in perspective. We were never promised a rose garden. God never said it would be easy. After all, look what his only son had to suffer for us. In comparison, my cancer was nothing.

I thank God for my life every day. I actually thanked him for my cancer at a prayer vigil we had at church. As I stated earlier, I believe it took this cancer to save my son and I would do it all over again if I had to. I’ve always heard that things happen for a reason and that God has a plan for all of us. I truly believe that I got cancer so that my precious son would return to God. I’m happy to say that he goes to church every Sunday, he doesn’t hang out with the people that contributed to his drug habit and he is a pleasure to be around. Only God can make someone make such a drastic change and I am truly grateful to him.

I’m not sure if this is what you are looking for as far as stories go, but I just wanted to send it in on the chance that it might help someone.

Thank you.

Donna Hoffman

Reply to Donna Hoffman

My story has a happy ending; however, the beginning was very scary. On November 13, 2008, I went in for my yearly mammogram. A couple weeks later, I had a follow-up appointment with my gynocologist regarding another health issue. While there, I asked him if he had the results of my mammogram as I had never heard anything. The nurse found my paperwork and that’s when I was told that I had to go in for a second mammogram because they had found a suspicious area of calcium. The Women’s Center had called my doctor’s office the day I had my first mammogram and advised him that I needed a second mammogram; however, my doctor wasn’t told that he had to “order” the second mammogram. So, the second mammogram had never been scheduled. The nurse immediately got on the phone and a second mammogram was scheduled for the next day. My doctor tried to comfort me by telling me that most areas of calcium in the breast are just that – deposits of calcium. He said the ones you have to be concerned with are those called clusters which look like grains of salt and of no particular shape.

So, I went the next morning and had the other mammogram done. I asked the tech to show me what they were concerned with. It was about the size of my thumb. I saw a second spot about the same size and asked her about it. She said it, too, was a calcium deposit, but they were very different. The one I pointed out was just that — a deposit of calcium. They one they were concerned with was a cluster of calcium deposits. Sure enough, when I looked closer at the screen, it looked like grains of salt and very irregular in shape. I was going back to the dressing room and she told me to have a seat that the radiologist would let me know the results. She came back in about 5 minutes and told me they would be scheduling me for a biopsy.

I held it together until I got to the waiting room, and by that time, I was beginning to lose it. I cried off and on all day. I just hoped all those tears were in vain. I prayed and prayed that the results of the biopsy were benign. I just didn’t know if I could go through cancer. I know I wasn’t the first person facing breast cancer and I wouldn’t have been the last, but I just didn’t know.

When I went in for the biopsy, the nurses and even the doctor indicated that they were “certain” it was breast cancer. Needless to say, I was a basketcase. I cried. I prayed. And I cried some more. The next 5 days were the longest days of my life. But, to get to the happy part, I got a call on the 5th day telling me that my biopsy results were benign. My prayers had been answered. I give God all the praise.

Through all of this ordeal, my testimony song was and still is “THANKFUL” by Josh Groban. This song helped me keep my life in control each day. I knew if I had breast cancer, I still had a lot to be “thankful” for. As it turned out, I didn’t have breast cancer, so I really did have a lot to be “thankful” for.. Again, I give God all the praise.

Reply to cricket

This is not a survival story, but it is a praise story. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. She passed away Jan 22, 2009.

She fought very hard and took every chemo available, but none worked. The cancer spread to her lymph nodes and to her brain.

But what I want to tell you is a story of love and praise. She became worse before Christmas. One of the things she wanted desperately was to get to sing in the Christmas Cantata at church. And by the grace of God, He made her well enough for that one weekend. Her birthday was 2 days after Christmas which she was really sick. She had turned 77. Two days later she had to go into the hospital. She was released on Jan 5th to Hospice. She lived in WV and I live in NC. I had helped my sisters stay with her in the hospital and I had to go back to work.. While I was a work on the 5th, I had emailed Russ Taff (who was one of mom’s favorite singers). I told him the situation and asked if he could just maybe call her and pray with her. I thought that would make her feel special. After all the things she has done for me my entire life, I wanted to do something for her. I know that Janet knows Russ and I thought she would like to hear this story. The very next day on the 6th, he called my mom and talked with her and then he sent her a DVD and 2 CD’s. I can’t tell enough how much I appreciated that. He was so gracious to do that. Tori emailed me that day and told me that he talked to her. At her wake, she wanted a celebration service and that’s exactly what we had. My niece and I prepared a slide show and played a David Phelps song and 2 Russ Taff songs and a song that mom had sang a verse on with the church choir when they made a CD a few years back. I want Janet to know that I’m so glad that she has come through this and even though my mom has gone home to be with the Lord, I praise Him for her life and her commitment to God throughout her whole life. I thank Him for letting her rest the night before she died and letting her come home peacefully without pain those last few hours. She was there when I took my first breath and I was there when she took her last. And Janet, she loved listening to you sing too and if I would’ve thought, I would’ve emailed you too J.

Keep up this ministry Janet, there is hope in life and in death.

Love and Prayers

Alicia Corns

Reply to Alicia Corns

I have truly been blessed through my illness. I have now been cancer free 3 years. Due to a false diagnosis, my

Tumor grew in my breast a year before cancer was mentioned. When it was removed it was large enough to place my cancer in a border line stage2/stage3. Due to my age and the stage of the cancer, I received the strongest chemo and radiation treatment given to breast cancer patients.

When the doctors diagnosed my cancer, my thoughts turned to all that I had taught in Sunday School for the past 20 years.

I started teaching adults as a teenager. During those years I taught lessons about God’s peace, his comfort, his love, his truth, our sufferings, our trials, our prayers, having faith, miracles and many more subjects. It was a concern of mine that maybe I could not walk my teaching. So I set out to be the Christian witness God would want me to be through my cancer treatment. He said I could ask and receive so I prayed daily for my needs as well as those around me. Phillipians 4:13

Has been a favorite verse of mine for years and it stays on my mind. Psalms 121:1 kept reminding where to find my help.

I had a supportive Christian family, Christian work family, and church family. I scheduled my chemo treatments on Monday and Tuesday so that just maybe I would be able to attend church on Sunday. Sometimes I packed crackers to take with me to settle my stomach but I made it everytime. God allowed me to keep teaching Sunday School ( I got someone to fill in on 2 occasions incase I was to sick to make it) and assistant with the organ playing as usual. Looking back on it now, I don’t know how I could have done it without the church services and my Christian families. I went everyday I could to work and to be around my work family even if someone else had to drive me. Chemo brain is a REAL thing and you begin to notice that you can’t do some things as well as you used to. My work family didn’t mind fixing the mixed up things they would notice I did. They also took the stairs for me when I was weak and just wanted to sit at my desk.

Husbands have it rough sometimes. My husband was not sure how to react. He seemed a little scared of me; not wanting me to do something I shouldn’t. He rode the rollercoaster of sickness with me. We never knew how I would feel on what day and my blood count would drop and make me sick in a matter of minutes. If I was tired (which was most of the time) or sick ,my husband had to pick up extra duties at home and to top that off we have two children.

The children were 7 and 11 at the time I was diagnosed. We all know children are different and their reactions to a parent with cancer are also different. My oldest is a keep it all inside child. The only thing we could tell ever bothered him was my hair loss. I had to be very careful about wearing wigs when others were around because Matt didn’t like his mom being bald.( Note: Hair loss was never a big deal to me. When you wake up as tired as when you went to sleep, it was nice just to throw on your hair. Plus I had complete strangers in stores tell me they loved my hair.) It still brings tears to my eyes when I think about my tender hearted 7 year old tucking me in when I went to bed before him. He did it just like I would do him.

Pull the covers up under my chin, give me a peck on the cheek, and tell me he loved me. He had a difficult time being away from me. My husband and I would wake up in the morning and he was asleep on the floor beside our bed. God blessed me to be able to take care of them each morning.. Sick or not I got up at 6:00, fixed them breakfast (sometimes just cereal),and made sure they were ready for school. Their Grandpa would drive them. I tried to keep their lives as normal as possible.

I haven’t mentioned the doctors that God blessed me with. My surgeon prayed with me before surgery.. My doctor had the the God given knowledge to treat me. Two hour chemo treatments gave me and the nurses a chance to talk about our churches and our faith.

I have listed only a few of a list of many blessings God granted in the days I was sick. Going for checkups doesn’t get any easier. There is always a fear that the cancer could come back. I don’t ever want to forget what God has done for me. He healed me and I want to be a help and encourager in my Christian walk.

Your sister in Christ,

Sharon Burton

Reply to "Sharon Bunton"

I listen to Joy FM from Parkersburg, WV. Here is my story:

I had a swollen lymph node under my right jaw. I thought it was infection from a bad tooth. When the tooth was pulled, 2 more lymph nodes swelled along my collar bone. On Aug 28, 2007 I had the first lymph node removed and it tested positive for Large Diffuse B-Cell lymphoma which is a form of non-hodgkins.

I started chemotherapy on Sept 27, 07 and had chemo every 21 days for 6 treatments. My church family was awesome in their support of me, cleaning my house, praying, sending cards and emails. When I was diagnosed, I cried for 3 days. I told my husband I could not sit in my house and feel sorry for myself and we needed to go somewhere. It was Labor day weekend and I wrapped a scarf around my neck put on my helmet and we took off on our goldwing for Gatlinburg, TN. Riding in the open air, traveling through the mountains, I looked up at the beautiful blue sky and God said,” Delores, I created these Great Smokey mountains, do you doubt I can care for you? ”

This was the beginning of the lesson God had for me. I had taken a small book entitled, “The 23 Psalm, Living Reliantly” by J.Allen Blair. It was a 14 week bible study and I read it in 4 days. From this book, I learned nothing was going to happen to me that God didn’t want to happen and there was a reason for my cancer. I began to view my disease as something God was controlling and I was just along for the ride.

I can’t pretend it was fun, or that I would volunteer to do it again. The mouth sores were terrible but manageable. The bone pain from new platelets trying to grow was a shock until I learned what my body was trying to do, and again manageable with pain pills. The nausea was minor compared to the mouth and bones. I continued to work and go to church during the whole process. I have worked in a nursing home for 26 years and the residents loved feeling my bald head. No wigs for me, only hats and they checked weekly for new hair growth. I had neuropathy in my fingers and toes and when I tried to run to keep a resident from falling out of her wheel chair, I could not pick up my legs. I also could no longer sing in the choir. The chemo affected my vocal chords.

I volunteered for a clinical study at OSU in Columbus, Ohio at the James Cancer Center and my doctors and nurses were great. Because of this study, they will follow me for the rest of my life.

I pray that I was a great witness to all who saw me during this time. I still continually tell my story to encourage others who may be facing the whole cancer regimen and share the belief that no matter what is happening in our lives, God is in control and nothing takes Him by surprise.

As of today, I am cancer free for one year, have no residual side effects from the chemotherapy, sing in my church choir and rejoice every day that I have a God who loves me.

Delores Barth
Waterford, OH

Reply to Doug & Delores

I was diagnosed with breast cancer on 3/29/05. It hit hard, but I knew that the Lord would help me through whatever I faced. The Lord placed my hand on the knot that I found in my breast when I rolled over in bed on Sunday morning and as I pulled the cover up on me, my hand was placed on the knot on my breast. As I went through chemo, I knew that I could do this and Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me, helped me through the journey. In July of 2006, my cancer returned in my lymph nodes. The Lord placed Christian doctors in my life to help me through this all the way. The Lord sent signs to me along the way that assured me everything would be okay. I am now cancer free and give all the praise to the Lord.

Be sure to tell everyone that they must do self breast checks and have yearly mammograms.

Reply to Patsy Flynn

I learned back in 2005 that I had skin cancer and of all places it had to be. it was on my nose. I didnt have medical insurance and couldnt get on medicaid up in PA because they said my husband made too much money. Mind you he only was bringing home $400.00 or $450.00 a week and our rent was $800.00 a month. Plus we had other bills as well. Anyhow because it wasn’t treated right away it got worse. When we moved to NC to take care of my mom I applied for Medicaid and was approved, so right away I got the cancer taken care of. What was so hard about it is the stares I got having my nose bandaged up for 6 weeks or more. I still get people that stare at my nose even though it is healed up as I now have a scar as they had to take a skin graft from my neck and put it on my nose. Anyhow people need to fight the system to get on medicaid if they cant afford insurance because my nose wouldnt have gotten so bad if PA had let me get on medicaid.

My other case of cancer was my mom. That was even harder then mine as we found out she had lung cancer last year. It started out with her having Pneumonia and thats when they found the spot on her lung. It spread fast and she soon had cancer in her back, lymph nodes and her brain. She really wanted to go to her heavenly home but she kept hanging on because she thought that Michael English was coming to sing to her but he couldnt make it because of his concert schedule. However he called her 3 times while she was in hospice and the last time he called her he sang to her “I Bowed On My Knees and Cried Holy” and 5 days later she was gone. My daughter and I talked to him several times before she died and then after she was gone. He is a great person and singer. We want to go see him and The Gaither Vocal Band on April 25th but cant afford the tickets. She went home to be with The Lord August 10, 2008. Now shes in no pain and she can walk again. But it has been hard on my sister and I as we loved her very much and we miss her. I know I will see her again but i am worried about my baby sister. Even though shes not a baby anymore as shes in her 40’s. However her and her husband and also my husband and kids Need Prayer as they havent given their heart to The Lord yet.

Please tell Janet that I love her music and to keep on singing. I love JoyFM and would have never listened to you if it wasnt for mom. When we lived in PA I used to listen to you on the internet. I couldnt wait to move here so I could listen on the radio and go to concerts with my mom. Now that she is gone I havent been to many.
I am Praying for you all. Keep up the good work.

Oh and Daniel congrats on the new baby and please put some baby pics on the website. We would all love to see her.

Love and Prayers,
Lois

Reply to Lois

My cancer Story

I have not had cancer, but my mom did.

She was an amazing lady, who battled this thing for years. This May she would be in heaven for 6 years. Sure does not seem like it been that long.

The one thing I remember so much is her telling me that God would use this for a reason, what that is we did not know, but one day we will see what this all had to happen. It been all most 6 years and I still get notes – “I was thinking about your mom today, how strong she was, the faith she had…”

One day towards the end of her battle, her pastor came to see her, he wanted to pray with her, she told him I have a better idea, let me pray for you.

Even in all the pain she never questioned why.. it was for a reason.

My sister was about to have her first child, my mom’s goal was to be able to see this little one. That did not happen. But a few days before she died she knew it was going to happen, she told me she did get to see the baby, she saw the sonogram. The Lord made a way for her to see this child.

On my last mother’s day, she told me she would not be here much longer, and she wanted me to know she loved me. (tears)

The day she died was a miracle in itself. She went into a coma, the hospice nurse told us that was normal, and she would not come out of it, she would just die this way. That was not OK for my family. We prayed, and the Lord allowed her to come out of this coma. Everyone that heard this told us how their family members did not wake up.

We had one last day with her. We were able to talk to her, as if nothing had happened. Spent a few more hours with her.

When she won [sic] the battle, we all were hurt, but we knew where she was, there was peace in the room that night.

Reply to Penny Laws

HI THERE

MY NAME IS BILL. I AM A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR OF 10 YEARS. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER AFTER NOTICING BLEEDING FROM MY LEFT NIPPLE. I WENT TO THE DOCTOR, AND HE THOUGHT WAS JUST A CYST THAT BUSTED AND TOLD ME TO KEEP EYE ON IT. A MONTH LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

I RETURNED TO THE DOCTOR AND DEMANDED SOME TESTING. HE SENT ME FOR A MAMMOGRAM AND ULTRASOUND; WHILE I WAITED RESULTS,. I WAS SCARED AND RIGHT THERE IN THE HOSPITAL, WHILE WAITING ON RESULTS, I GOT ON MY KNEES AND ASKED GOD TO FORGIVE ME AND I ACCEPTED HIM AS MY PERSONAL SAVIOR. I GOT THE RESULTS AND TOOK THEM TO A SURGEON WHO RECOMMENDED A BIOPSY, WHICH WAS DONE A WEEK LATER ON A WEDNESDAY. ON FRIDAY, THE DOCTOR HERSELF CALLED ME AND SAID SHE NEEDED TO SEE ME IN HER OFFICE. I KNEW THEN THAT IT WAS NOT GOOD. I WENT TO HER OFFICE AND SHE TOLD ME I HAD STAGE 1 BREAST CANCER AND SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO DO A MASTECTOMY. IT WAS SCHEDULED THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY AND I WAS TOLD SHE DID NOT THINK IT HAD SPREAD BUT WOULD NOT KNOW TILL TESTING OF TUMOR AND LYMPH NODES. WELL I WENT FOR SURGERY, WOKE UP IN RECOVERY, SHE TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING WENT FINE AND SHE WOULD HAVE RESULTS IN A WEEK. THAT WAS THE WORST WEEK OF MY LIFE, AND I KNOW WITHOUT GOD I COULD NOT HAVE MADE IT. WELL, THE WEEK WENT BY, I WENT IN FOR FOLLOWUP AND I WAS TOLD THEY GOT IT ALL AND IT HAD NOT SPREAD, BUT FOR 5 YEARS I WOULD BE ON TAMOXIFEN CITRATE AND WOULD HAVE TO HAVE MAMMOGRAMS AND TESTING. WELL, IT HAS BEEN 10 YEARS AND I’M STILL CANCER FREE. I KNOW YOU DON’T HEAR A LOT OF MEN HAVING IT. BACK THEN IN ‘99 IT WAS 1 IN 1000. I BELIEVE THAT WAS GOD’S WAY OF TELLING ME TO WAKE UP AND DO WHAT WAS RIGHT. I STILL THANK GOD EVERY DAY FOR SAVING ME AND SAVING MY LIFE. I HOPE MY STORY WILL GET OTHER MEN’S ATTENTION. THEY, TOO. CAN GET BREAST CANCER . I WAS TOLD BY MY DOCTOR SHE THINKS MINE WAS CAUSED BY INGESTING GREASE AND OIL AND CHEMICALS, AS I WAS AUTO MECHANIC AND VERY SELDOM STOPPED TO WASH MY HANDS BEFORE I ATE.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

BILL

Reply to Bill

My Dad just forwarded me your e-mail address wanting me to share my story…boy do I have one to tell!!!! I have just started a web-page on CaringBridge…Please visit my site(address below) …this tells part of my story…I had to limit it to 5,000 characters, and that is hard to limit what all the Lord has done in my life! I would be glad to share my story however needed…on your web-site, on-air…whatever! Back in October of 2008, I had an opportunity to speak at a Ladies Night Out @ FBC here in my hometown in Cherryville, NC. There were almost 400 Ladies attending and we had a glorious time worshiping the Lord. I try to add humor in with my story of going through cancer…not that cancer is funny, but God gave me laughter in the midst of such a trying time…and I even made up my own Top 10 Reasons Why Chemo is Good(pretty funny). I also sing in a locally based Southern Gospel group and have had opportunities to share through that also how God had helped me through this journey with cancer. My dad mentioned something about sharing with Janet Paschal, I’m not sure what he meant by that. Love her music. When I think of her, I can hear her singing, “It Won’t Rain Always”. I do love gospel music. I’ll just be praying that the Lord will have His hand on this e-mail and work to His Glory. Let me know if I can help share in any way! I will be glad to send a packet of info about myself/story/singing group. FYI, I will be speaking at a Ladies event at First Free Will in Gastonia, NC on May 30th…would love for the Ladies there at Joy FM to attend! Still learning the details about that, but I’m looking forward to another open door! Thanks for all your work and for giving people everywhere something worth listening to!!!! Love, Kimberly

Reply to Kimberly Sisk

This is not my story but rather the story about my friend Opal Greene.
Opal was the most courageous person that I have ever known. She lost her battle with cancer but she gained victory thru the Lord. I cannot recall the name of the cancer that attacked Opal, but when the chemo killed it in one area, it came back in another. Opal was so courageous. I believe she had four different rounds of chemo and stayed so sick. On a visit to her home, she offered to share some Friendship tea with me. We sat and talked, and I told her how much I admired her courage for fighting even though that fight left her so sick and weak. I admitted that I did not think I would want to take the chemo and stay sick, but that I would probably just give up. She looked at me and said, “This may not help me, but it may help them figure out how to help the next person that gets it.” What a courageous Christ like attitude … I was thinking of only myself, but she was thinking about all the other people that could be diagnosed with cancer.

When Opal went home to be with the Lord, her daughter offered that I come pick out something to remember her. I picked out that teapot and it sits on my stove. A reminder of her message of caring for others: even in her suffering, she shared so much more than a cup of tea.

Billie Hood

Reply to Billie Hood

HERE IS A TRUE STORY/MIRACLE FROM GOD:

ON THE NIGHT OF 7-03-2006, I WOKE UP AT 2:30 AM WITH PAIN SO BAD I COULD HARDLY MOVE. I VERY SLOWLY MADE MY WAY INTO THE KITCHEN AND TOOK TWO ASPIRIN AND THEN MADE MY WAY BACK INTO THE LIVING ROOM, WHERE I STAYED UNTIL 8:30 AM. AT THAT TIME, I WAS FEELING SOMEWHAT BETTER, FOR THE PAIN HAD EASED DOWN SOME FROM WHAT IT WAS BEFORE. I THEN CALLED MY FAMILY DOCTOR AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS WRONG. MY DOCTOR TOLD ME TO GO THE HOSPITAL AND NOT WAIT. WHEN I GOT TO THE HOSPITAL, THE DOCTORS GAVE ME A HEART SCAN. AFTER THE HEART SCAN, THE DOCTORS SAID IT COULD NOT WAIT, I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY RIGHT NOW. SO WHILE THE NURSES WERE GETTING ME READY FOR SURGERY, MY FIANCE NOTIFIED MY SEVEN CHILDREN ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. RIGHT BEFORE I WAS TAKEN INTO SURGERY, MY CHILDREN ARRIVED, AND MY TWO DAUGHTERS BROKE DOWN CRYING AND AND PRAYING. THE NURSE THEN WHEELED ME BACK TO THE OPERATING ROOM AND STARTED THE IV. AFTER WHAT SEEMED LIKE ONLY SECONDS HAD PASSED, I HEARD SOFT BREATHING VERY CLOSE TO MY FACE. I TRIED TO TURN AND SEE WHO IT WAS, BUT I COULD NOT MOVE. I TRIED TO LIFT MY HAND, BUT I JUST COULD NOT MOVE. THE ROOM STARTED TO BECOME DARK, AND COULD STILL HEAR THE SOFT BREATHING IN MY EAR. SOON, I DON’T REMEMBER ANYMORE.

I THEN STARTED HEARING MY DAUGHTERS’ CRYING VOICES, “IS DAD GOING TO LIVE?” I THEN STARTED SEEING LIGHT AND THEN SAW MOVEMENT BESIDE MY BED. MY VISION STARTED CLEARING, AND I COULD SEE FAYE AND MY CHILDREN BY MY BEDSIDE. THEY WERE ALL LAUGHING AND CRYING. WE ALL THEN STARTED TALKING.

I THEN ASK WHO THAT WAS WITH ME IN THE SURGERY ROOM. THEY ALL STARTED LOOKING AT EACH OTHER AND SAID, NO ONE WAS ALLOWED THERE WITH ME. I THEN TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE BREATHING BESIDE ME BEFORE I PASSED OUT. THEY ASKED THE DOCTOR IF ANYONE WAS THERE WITH ME WHILE THE MEDICATION WAS TAKING EFFECT. THE DOCTOR SAID THAT THERE WAS SOMEONE IN THE ROOM SITTING AT A DESK, BUT NOT CLOSE TO ME. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT TWO HOURS AFTER MY OPEN HEART 5 BY-PASS SURGERY, I STARTED HEMORRHAGING VERY BADLY AND THE DOCTORS HAD TO DO YET ANOTHER OPEN HEART SURGERY. THE DOCTORS STATED THAT I WAS IN VERY CRITICAL CONDITION AND THAT IT WOULD BE A WHILE BEFORE THEY WOULD KNOW ANYTHING.
THE NEXT DAY THE DOCTORS SAID THEY THOUGHT I WOULD BE OK BUT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND CARE.

I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HEARD THAT SOME PEOPLE NEAR DEATH SAY THEY SAW A BRIGHT LIGHT OR A FIGURE STANDING CLOSE. WELL, I DON’T DOUBT THIS ANYMORE. FOR THERE WAS SOMEONE THERE CLOSE TO ME, GIVING ME COMFORT AND FAITH, AND I KNOW WITHOUT ANY DOUBT, THAT IT WAS AN ANGEL SENT FROM GOD. I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN ANGELS AND NOW I KNOW FOR SURE, WE ALL HAVE ANGELS BESIDE US AND I WILL NEVER AGAIN HAVE ANY DOUBT IN GOD AND HIS ANGELS. I KNOW THAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME A GUARDIAN ANGEL AND I HAVE TOLD THIS IN A SONG TO PEOPLE I MEET AND KNOW. I NOW HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.
I ENCLOSED A COPY OF THE SONG AN PICTURE. HOPE YOU ENJOY.

ARDEN CRISLIP

Reply to Arden Crislip

My grandma survived Breast cancer in 1995; just a couple months, I believe, after I had my back surgery, she had to have both her breasts removed from the cancer. She took chemotherapy; it was horrible seeing my grandmother lie in bed sick to where she couldn’t get up, abd there was nothing I could do. My mom, grandpa, aunt and everyone pitched in and took care of both of us ( I was in 8th grade). I prayed continuously, as my family did, “Lord, please heal her, take the sickness and pain away”; I remember being so frightened I would lose the woman that had taken me under her wing and raised me. I would cry and pray. The Lord was right by our side the whole time! I didn’t realize it; I even asked Him why He’d let something like that happen. Basically from February through the next 6 months was a torment: if there was anything a family could go through, we went through it. But the Lord was right there waiting! He’ll be there to pick you up. He will carry you as Greater Vision sings!

Reply to Crystal Burr

I am a 4-year breast cancer survivor. Actually, it was Jan. 17th 4 years ago that I found out about my breast cancer. My husband Scott and I adopted a dog about 4 years ago, we named him Lucky. Lucky was playing with me across our fence in our basement and his paw touched my left breast just in playing with me. A few days later, a “bruise” showed up on my left breast. I had it checked out and it was breast cancer. I’m not sure how long I had it before he touched that area of my body, but, my surgeon and my cancer doctor both told me that our dog saved my life. I had shared our “Lucky” story with both of them. I was only 47 at that time. I had no pain or indications until he touched me that evening. It was Stage 3 inflammatory breast cancer, which I was told is very fast-growing. I thank the Lord for placing Lucky in our lives, because my husband and I feel “lucky” to have him in our lives. The hardest part of my cancer story was losing my hair. Yes, this is how God adorned women. I had chemo every other week and radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks. My husband Scott was right by my side each and every day and still is to this day. This year, we will be celebrating our 28th anniversary. He went with me to every chemo treatment I had. But, you know what he also did that touched my life more than words can say? One day he called me from work and said he would be late coming home from work. When he came home and walked through the front door, he had been to the barber and had his head shaved. He told me and I quote “I’m going through this with you.” Tears just flowed down my face. He still had a bald head. My sister told me then “Can you imagine going through this alone?” Everyone knew he had shaved his head just for me! I have always had a positive attitude through life, and I still had this same attitude going through this deadly disease! You really need to have a positive attitude going through cancer. The love of my husband, my family, and such a caring support of my fellow Christian brothers and sisters, with God’s help is what brought me through this terrible time in my life! I always had loved eating green beans, and I told my church then that I wanted to have prayers for me that I didn’t lose my taste for them, since chemo can have such terrible side effects. God answered my prayers and I never lost my appetite for ANYTHING! Praise the Lord! My husband said my appetite was much better than even his! The only thing I had and still have to this day is neuropathy in my feet. The cancer doctor said the chemo permanently damaged the nerves in my feet, and with the help of medicines I am dealing with this. Yes, I grew new hair; I was a blond before I had cancer, and now I am a brunette. My husband Scott, says I will always be a blond though! I want to thank God, my husband Scott, my blood family and my church family and all my friends for going through this with me! I cannot say enough for my husband, though! I have told him many a time through tears that I can NEVER repay him for all he did for me and still does now. He tells me every time that I HAVE repaid him because I am a survivor and still living. Thank you for reading my lengthy story; I felt I needed to share everything with you in hopes that there is someone out there that can and will benefit from my story! Keep the Faith and don’t lose hope! God is Great and can do ANYTHING!

In God’s love,

Cathy Campbell

Reply to Cathy Campbell

As a nurse in the intensive care unit, I have seen the face of death many
times; it often comes as a welcome relief to see an end to suffering, but moreoften than not, it appears too soon to take those we have grown to love away from us. Sarah, just another patient to me at the time, was admitted to my unit, under my care. She had worked at my hospital for a few years; I’m not quite sure what she did there, I just remember seeing her in passing. As I look back now, I wish I had paused to know her. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and she was there under my care because her treatment had caused her so much pain that she was having trouble breathing. She seemed quiet, almost mousy in appearance, but I would soon learn she had the courage of a lion. Her husband Mike never left her side. She did not utter a word or open an eye that he was not there to see. As the hours passed, her pain became more tolerable and her breathing less labored, and she was able to remain off the ventilator. She remained in our unit for days, precious days in which I had the rare opportunity to know an angel. Sarah was young, in her thirties, and had married Mike a few years before; she said it had been love at first sight — a feeling in her heart that she knew this was the man for her. She had been trying to give her beloved Mike a child and during all the tests and workups women must trudge through for childbearing, the unthinkable was found…cancer. It was a small tumor in her breast that could be removed with ease and “everything would be fine,” she had been told. However, the small tumor was a monster, it had spread to her lungs, her bones, and her lymph nodes. Her days were few, and her treatment was not for a cure but to buy precious time with her Mike. Sarah, however, had not given up hope; she was a Christian and believed that God’s will would be done, she prayed diligently His will would cure her of this horrible disease and allow her more time with Mike and her family. Mike, also a Christian, prayed for this also, but spent countless hours researching new treatments, new procedures, new drugs, anything, anyway to save Sarah. One afternoon, I had convinced Mike to leave Sarah’s bedside and allow me to bathe her that day; he needed a rest and a break from his vigil. Reluctantly, he left and allowed me the task at hand. Sarah told me that she had met Mike at a church gathering and the two had been inseparable since; God had blessed her in so many ways. I stood listening, thinking to myself, “How you can say that? you are going to die!” However, I smiled in agreement and worked away. Sarah spoke of God and His love for her and how she had never known what His love entailed until she had met Mike. It was Mike, she had said, that carried her when she was too weak to walk, Mike who held her hair from her face when the chemotherapy had made her sick, Mike who held her in his arms and rocked her at night when the pain made it impossible for her to sleep; it was Mike who was always there, just like God. She had no fear of death, she told me; she would be healed here or there, that she knew. It was for her beloved Mike that she was fearful; she feared he would harden his heart and his heart was endless. It was for those she would leave behind that she cried; but, they would join her, she had made sure they knew the Father and would join her. God loves us like Mike loves me, she had said, He carries us when we cannot walk, He comforts us when we are sick, and He cradles us when we are in pain. Those words had an impact on me that I cannot express to you. Until that moment. I had an image of God watching over us, not here with us caring for our every need. After our talk and her bath she slept. Mike arrived and thanked me for caring for his Sarah. Then Mike began to tell me his story. He had joined the military — more for discipline than anything else. Once in the military, he said, they own you, every minute is assigned a duty, a task, and a job. His job had been to become a medic. He had hated everything to do with medicine, sick people, blood, the whole prospect, but as he said before, they own you; he had no choice. “God had known I would need those skills to care for Sarah, He knew I would love her more than myself and need everything in me to care for her; God knew.” As the days passed, Sarah improved and even began to make jokes and became a bright spot in most of our dreary days. Then, in a flash, our hearts were broken. Sarah could not breathe; we the nurses and doctors, Sarah’s new friends, placed her on life support. For two days, the machines worked away, visitors, endless lines of people came to see her, to pray for her, and to will her to live. Her beloved Mike never left her side. It was a Tuesday when Sarah’s heart beat its last; it was pouring down rain, and Mike and the staff were there with Sarah. Mike was much better than we had expected him to be, he cried and cradled her, then he walked to the window to watch the rain. “Sarah is crying because she left me behind, and God is rejoicing that she is home!” I have never forgotten those words and the strength and witness that those two hearts brought into my life. As a nurse in the intensive care unit, I have seen the face of death many times, and on rare occasions I have seen the face of God — but in every instance I have felt the love of God, especially in the rain.

Angie Stewart, RN

Reply to Angie Stewart

As I sit here reading Sara Shelton’s story with tears running down my face I am praising our God. Sara, I love you and your family. Your mom, Jean, is one of my closest friends and such a woman of God. I have prayed many prayers for you along with so many others and I knew in my heart that one day God would turn your heart and help you to get back to him. Your story is amazing and this is how God works in people’s lives. You have a wonderful family and the sweetest little son. Praises to God for all his goodness and for blessing your life. God loves us each and every one unconditionally. Always remember that. Parents love their children the same way. No matter how lost we become on this journey of life we always have hope-God will never give up on us. Take care of yourself and your family and keep your focus on our Lord and Saviour. I will continue to pray for God to keep you safe, bless you, and the desire to always live for him. Love to you, Matt and “little Alan”. Yvonne Edwards

Reply to Yvonne Edwards

I also am a breast cancer survivor. I just celebrated my 5 years cancer free. There was no history of breast cancer in my family so was totally not expecting it. I had surgery, chemo and radiation therapy. It was a rough road, but the Lord carried me thru. He was always there no matter what. I am greatful for the journey I took because I had a glimpse of the saviour I wouldnt have had otherwise. I was questioning why? which I think we all do. The Lord impressed upon my heart that I was exactly where He wanted me to be. When I realized that, it made all the difference in the world. He wanted people to see that even though you have cancer you can still have joy in your heart if you know the Lord. When I would go for my chemo the nurse said she had never seen anything like it. Even though I was taking chemo, I had a glow about me. I said, oh thats not me, thats the Lord! What a joy it was to be used of the Lord so that He might be glorified. Thankyou for the oppurtunity to share my story. May the Lord bless this website and use it to help and encourage others. Thanks Janet for sharing your story and the blessing of your music. Edie

Reply to Edie Jones