Last Day At My Cancer Support Group

After just about a year, today’s session with my cancer support group at the community hospital was my last one as I will be moving to Washignton, DC in just over a week away.

We welcomed a new family to the group, which brought up afresh all the emotions that I struggled with when I was first told that I had ovarian cancer three years ago.  I remember the fears that flooded into my soul as I heard the “c” word.  Images of my tear-filled sleepless nights came to mind as I recalled those initial moments.  I shared with the group how changing my diet and lifestyle made all the difference.  It was just last year, in 2013, when my lungs collapsed and filled with fluid and I had to be put into hospice care on an oxygen machine as my doctors lost hope for my survival.  By June 2013, I was given 1-2 months to live.  Those were sacred moments, when I realized that there was a fine line between me being here and me being transformed into another existence.  Moments like these made me seek God’s presence in earnest, as I knew I needed strength to go through the ‘valley of the shadow of death.’

Today, it is 16 months out from that very grim prognosis, which is a true miracle.  One doctor told me straight to my face that I should have been dead.  My surgeon used the analogy that I almost got thrown under the bus. Knowing this makes me appreciate and cherish life that much more.  Indeed, my whole perspective on life has changed, and for the better.

So, as I said my farewells to this very special support group, I reflected on how this move has a deeper symbolism, as I move from my peaceful refuge of healing toward a more engaged life to impact those around me with the important life lessons I learned through this journey.