When I as a two-time breast cancer survivor was undergoing breast cancer treatment, I wondered if I would ever recover. Was I dreaming that I'd live to see my youngest son, who was only three at the time, graduate from high school? Was there a chance of living beyond breast cancer? I was determined to find out.
In my journey to find answers I was caught up in the infectious enthusiasm of others who have faced the jungle with grace and sophistication. Athletes who are cancer survivors and motivational speakers inspire me to persevere. Dave Dravecky's story, chronicled in his book Come Back, tells how he coped in the midst of overwhelming uncertainty. In 1988 he was at the top of his game as a major league baseball player. But his 5-1 opening day victory over the Dodgers was overshadowed later that year by the discovery of cancer and the removal of muscle from his pitching arm. Defying all odds, Dave came back to pitch once more in the Major Leagues in 1989. Driving into Candlestick Park to play for the San Francisco Giants, he was playing a praise tape, and the song "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart" caught his attention. Dave had been told by his doctors that he would never pitch again, short of a miracle. Yet that night he pitched a 4-3 win for the Giants.
Five days later, however, in Montreal, Dave threw "the pitch that could be heard round the world." Dave's arm suffered severe trauma, and he fell to the ground, wracked in pain, devastated. The cancer had returned yet again, and since his arm was not improving, he was forced to retire from baseball in November, 1989. Slowly the treatment and the cancer ate away Dave's arm, leading to amputation. In a book written with his wife Jan, entitled When You Can't Comeback, Dave describes his loss.
In another book authored by Dave, The Worth of a Man, he examines the impact of the amputation on his life. After a long search, Dave discovered his true worth could never be shaken by adversity or loss. Jan and he founded Dave Dravecky's Outreach of Hope, a nonprofit organization based in Colorado Springs. God gave Dave a platform from which to share hope with those around the world who are suffering.
Another inspiring personality is Chuck Colson, who went to prison for his role in the Watergate break-in. Chuck emerged from jail to start Prison Fellowship, a wonderful Christian ministry for inmates. He didn't cop out by saying, "I can't do anything now that I am a convict." Instead, he surprised his colleagues-and the world- by humbling himself to work with people whom some would consider to be the lepers of our day-hardened criminals seemingly beyond mercy or hope. His story of redemption is told in his riveting book, Born Again.
Each of these heroes overcame tremendous odds, inspiring me to open a new chapter in my story of living beyond breast cancer.
Cancer can teach us how to lose impatience and slow down. Why the hurry, anyway? I used to get carsick as a child, and my parents would pull over and stop to allow me to empty the contents of my stomach. Cancer did the same thing as carsickness. It forced me to put the brakes on my pace so I could relieve myself of the harried life and fathom the big picture. We are always in a hurry to get somewhere, anxious about being diverted from our goal. But carsickness, cancer, a car accident, a terrorist act, or any other malady or suffering that life brings to us allows us an opportunity to stop and smell the gardenias.
In May 2009, misty-eyed and proud as a peacock, I witnessed my youngest son graduate from high school at seventeen. Pinching myself to ensure this wasn't a dream, I realized that two other moms of students in his 22-member senior class were breast cancer survivors. We are testaments to the fact that living beyond breast cancer is not only possible, but attainable for many on God's beautiful planet Earth.
Muscleman is a Internet Health Advisor, compiled numerous success stories of cancers survivors. You can go tinyurl.com/mkcrph to get your Natural Cancer Treatments ebook now.
Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Breast Cancer Articles Via RSS!
