Last 2017, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 31. My husband and I just started our family with 2 boys ages 5 and 4. When the doctor told me it was cancer, a little part of me was sad but as I was wheeled in the hospital and looked at the sky that day, I head Jesus whisper in my heart, "It'll be you and Me fighting this battle together". My worries slowly abated and was replaced with excitement because of what Jesus will be doing in my life. I was reminded of the verse in John 15:16.
I praise and thank the Lord that despite the many needle pokes and labs with the veins on my left arm collapsing, I still managed to smile at the nurses and give them comfort and cheer with them when they finally hit a vein and started a line.
I praise and thank the Lord for the number of times we had to wait patiently at the doctor's clinics for my turn for numerous check-ups, that way I was able to share Jesus and give comfort to the other patients who were waiting anxiously and worried of what the doctor would tell them...
I praise and thank the Lord that when I was diagnosed with cancer, my kids are still young that they didn't have to worry about me and go through the emotional turmoil my family and I went through when my Mom was diagnosed with the same illness and died 7 years ago. My kids are still happy and carefree and prays for me telling Jesus to please heal Mommy by letting my hair grow long! hehe....
I praise and thank the Lord that despite the financial challenges with treatments, surgery, laboratories, medications, doctors' fees and hospitalizations, God provided us everything and more than what we needed. People just came up to me and would tell me that, "God told me to give this to you", because of the overflowing financial assistance we got from my family, friends and colleagues, the money we received in excess, we gave it away to a friend who was also struggling financially with chemotherapy.
I praise and thank the Lord that despite the awful side effects of chemotherapy, I was still able to muster the strength to go to church without missing a single Sunday mass despite the hospitalizations, nausea and vomiting, weakness, exhaustion and pain. I always looked forward to Sundays as that was the only time I got to out of the house and not be in the hospital. Yey! :)
I praise and thank the Lord that after surgery and I was hesitant to look at my 11-inch scar because I thought it was ugly, Jesus whispered in my ear that my scar was beautiful...that I was beautiful...and it was affirmed when my surgeon said the same thing aloud saying my scar was beautiful and was healing nicely...
I praise and thank the Lord that despite loosing all my hair and being bald, i realized that the most beautiful thing you can put on your face was a smile! No make-up, no accessories...just a smile. :) When I looked at my face in the mirror and in the pictures, I did not look sick at all. The people I meet would always say that I looked healthy and radiant...
I have finished my IV chemo in 2018 but still continued with the oral chemo medication. When people tell how strong I am and positive, I always tell them it wasn't me but it was God all along as in Matthew 11:28-30.
This year 2019 will be another victory for Jesus in my life. To our surprise, despite chemo medication, we found out that we're having a baby on the way! When I told my doctor about my pregnancy, he asked me to choose between my life or the baby's. I told him I'm keeping the baby and that i'm asking my Jesus to save both me and the baby. It wasn't an easy 1st trimester with having contractions early on and sub-chorionic hemorrhage but God has been faithful time and again and as of this writing, I'm 5 months on the way and both Mommy and baby are in good health. Praise God for that! :) I still need your prayers though for a normal, healthy, full term baby girl (despite the concerns of the doctors) and a normal delivery! Thank you for your prayers and let me leave you with this verse to help in whatever battle you are in: Philippians 4:6-7. Indeed God has won the battle for us! God bless all of you and God loves us so much! :)