When I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago, I reacted like many people who receive a cancer diagnosis: the first thing that came to mind was–“a death sentence.” I began questioning my faith: why would God do this to me? What had I done so bad in life to have this thrown on me? But instead of bemoaning my fate, I decided to look for something positive in this. There had to be a reason for it all. Instead, I found that it was truly “an awakening” for me, even after being diagnosed with colon cancer a few years later.
I realized that I was facing a new beginning–new hope–and was about to do and see more with an entirely new perspective on life. When I think of the gift of life that was given to me, I know that I will develop and gain strength from all my experiences. Even with the complications I now have to live with, I still feel truly blessed.
For a while, I was not happy with the way I looked after my surgery, and the pain I had to endure each day, but I decided to “snap out of it.” I thought about those who are no longer among us. I also realized that there will always be someone worse off than I was. I reminded myself that I still had my life, so who am I to complain?
One day I experienced something that seemed like a miracle and had the compulsion to write it down. I turned that experience into a poem, which I called “Peace.” Since then, writing has become therapy for me. I took that poem, along with many others I had composed during my breast cancer illness, and turned them into a book called True Simple Poems of Life, Faith and Survival. I was blessed enough to have that book published (and it is now available on Amazon).
I later had another inspirational children’s book published, and a third book is on the way. I hope that anyone who has the opportunity to read my poems, get out of them what I placed in them.
My goal is to make a positive impact on people who are ill, to help each person develop the strength to embrace life in a whole new way, as I did.
I never anticipated becoming a writer, I just became one. I truly believe that when you survive a horrific tragedy or a horrible disease such as cancer, it’s for a reason: “you have a purpose,” and that’s what I’m all about now–inspiration.
I would have never become a writer, producing inspirational poems and stories, if I had not gone through all that I did. I’m a true example that you can survive cancer not once, but twice, providing you catch it in time, have faith, and allow that faith to direct your path.
This is not to say that all will be easy, or that everyone will survive a serious illness such as cancer. But as you embark on such a journey, fight with all your might, and believe that no matter what, God is with you every step of the way.
