by Texas Homesteader ~
Many of you know that last year was very challenging for RancherMan & me. I was diagnosed with breast cancer and struggled through a frightening year of specialists, medical procedures and surgeries. I’m here to tell ya there’s no other feeling like sitting in that doctor’s office and being told “You Have CANCER”.
It seems time stops and you enter another dimension as you struggle to understand how this could possibly happen. Frightening thoughts scream through your mind… What does this mean about the rest of my life? What about my children? What about my husband? How will I be able to pay for treatment? Will I survive this awful disease?
Praise God I’m on the road to recovery and I have been blessed more than I can say by God’s grace and also by the kindness and compassion of family & friends that gathered around me and carried me through my darkest times. I’ve written many times before about how I was actually blessed throughout the year, how I felt God’s unmistakable comforting presence on numerous occasions and the surprising and touching actions of those that rallied close to me.
Last year a group of people gathered together & walked the Relay for Life in my honor as I was dealing with the disease. The funds raised for the American Cancer Society through Relay For Life go to fund research of course and I realize that’s of paramount importance – we can’t KILL this beast without research.
But I’ve always felt that even though research is valuable it doesn’t reach out & touch those actually struggling with the disease. This Relay for Life DOES by helping the American Cancer Society with programs that actually help the individuals.
- Hope Lodge Facility is a place where cancer patients and their caregivers can stay for FREE when their best treatment option is in another city. What a valuable resource!
- Road To Recovery helps cancer patients who either don’t have transportation or cannot drive by matching them to volunteer drivers who provide transportation to & from treatment locations. Difficulty with transportation is often cited as a major hurdle.
- The ‘Look Good Feel Better’ Program helps women battling cancer improve their self-image with makeup techniques, nail & skin care help and options related to hair loss. When you look better, you FEEL better!
- Reach To Recovery matches breast cancer survivors to people recently diagnosed with breast cancer so they have someone to talk to who’s been in the trenches before. I was blessed to have a breast cancer survivor sit down with me and share her experiences & comfort.
I have a whole new perspective of what it feels to hear the “C” word, and I know that a friendly face and a calming guiding hand were immensely helpful to me during this frightening time in my life. It warms my heart to think that I can raise funds to help someone else feel that caring touch during their own frightening journey.
I’d absolutely love if you can help support the American Cancer Society. Give in honor or memory of someone in your own life touched by cancer, or just because you want to help someone who’s feeling hopeless and alone. If you can help, please go HERE and donate whatever amount you like. It doesn’t have to be a lot since every bit helps. You won’t know the person you help with your donation, but rest assured I can tell you from personal experience that the gift you give will touch someone in a very comforting way. Let’s DO THIS!
~TxH~
More about my healing journey:
Witness In The Strangest Places
Pretty In Pink: Going Too Far?
Other Inspirational Posts
- Many Flowers Make For A More Beautiful Bouquet
- Why Can’t We All Get Along With Our Fellow Humans??
- Generosity Shouldn’t Be Judgemental: Just Show Love
- My Journey May Not Be YOUR Journey: And That’s OK!
- The Power Of Love: Helping Neighbors In Need
- Gossip: Words Really CAN Hurt!
Hi Tammy, don’t know if you’ll get this or not, I sent an update on my brother Joey but it came back to me. I also commented on your garden. This blogging stuff is all new to me, well if this is how to write to you please let me know. Thanks ciao Rosz from Ct.
Well good morning Rosz! I see this comment but I don’t see another recent comment from you so whatever you did this time certainly worked. Hope this finds you doing well… ~TxH~
Hi,use to see your blog on the prairehomesteader but she (Jill) does it differently now. This morning I thought how much I love your blogs and put in Taylor made ranch and here I am. How could I forget the name Taylor,it’s one of my granddaughter’ s name. Praise God for your recovery. We were hit hard last fall when my brother was told he had lymphoma,double hit lymphoma in his stomach. Two very aggressive and rare cancers. Treatment number 6 coming up on March 15. My husband was diagnosed 2009, had surgery. He’s healed Bless GOD! His sister went through breast cancer I think the same time you did. She’s pondering on reconstructive surgery. God Bless You and rancherman and your ranch.
Oh Rosz, I’m so sorry for all the stress this awful disease is causing you! (hugs) to you and your family! And yes, praise GOD your husband has been healed. Prayers for all the cancer-afflictions your family is continuing to have to deal with. My faith really comforted me as I was going through the hardest time of my life, praise God for his comfort! I love that you used to see our blog on Prairie Homesteader (I was so disappointed their hop went away but I still love her blog too – BUNCHES!)
C is an ugly word, but when you mentioned it was the most wonderful year in other ways, that blessed me to hear that. Even in the darkest nights that we face, the love of God, and the comfort of friends and family bring tremendous blessings into our lives. So thankful to hear that you are cancer free, and celebrating life. God bless you and yours today!
Thank you for your sweet words. God is GOOD!! ~TxH~
So glad you are free of this crazy disease. I am so glad you shared this at the This is How We Roll link party. It is so important to keep getting the information out there so that more money can be raised to cure this cancer and all cancers.
YES MA’AM Cynthia. By banding together we can kick cancer’s butt! (hugs to you) ~TxH~
Pingback: Cancer Just SUCKS!
Pingback: I'm Walking For RELAY FOR LIFE
So glad you are recovering well and have such a supportive guy in that Rancher Man! Thanks also for sharing those resource and donation links, I will be sure to pass those around. Your post will be featured in tonight’s What’d You Do This Weekend and pinned 🙂 Have a great night! (oh, and if you could send me over a pic to use for the post, I will be happy to update it!)
Thank so much Ashley, I’ve forwarded the promo pic I’ve been using. It has surprised me the flood of emotions this post has caused for me. The one-year anniversary of my surgery recently passed and wow, it’s still pretty intense emotionally. I love that I’m going to have the opportunity to give back a small portion of the assistance that was given to me! ~TxH~
I can’t imagine how intense it must be for you. I am so glad you are able to go on strong and share with others so that it may help someone going through the same thing. I updated the pic, thanks for sending it 🙂
I’m so thankful that you have recovered well. What a scary time and I’m sure it was a very long year. God is faithful!
Praise God!
I am so glad to here you are doing well. My prayers go out to you. Thank you so much for sharing it on our Four Seasons Blog Hop. Pinning Now.
Thank you Shawna! ~TxH~
Praise God and thank you for sharing! The “C” word is scary to hear. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer November 2011 after a routine mammogram, with surgery and radiation in 2012. She is cancer free and celebrated her 80th birthday in 2012 and is looking forward to celebrating another birthday July 2014! Romans 8:28
My cancer was also found with routine mammogram and with each test confirming probability of cancer I grasped to understand how this could happen & what it meant to my life. It was frightening indeed. Praise God Cynthia for your mother’s healing! ~TxH~
Praise God….so glad you are a survivor!!! Trust in the Lord with all your heart and LEAN NOT on your own understanding…..it’s amazing, I have to tell myself this a THOUSAND times a day….I don’t understand, but God does!
Yes ma’am Donna. The hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” echoed in my head all year. Praise God! ~TxH~
I’m so glad to hear you are recovering well, sending you prayers for a quick recovery and good health!
Thank you for your kind words & prayers Jody! ~TxH~