I'll never forget the day one of my very best friends in the world, Candy was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer. She had told me that she was going in for a routine Mammogram after finding a tiny lump.
No big deal, right?
She was 36.
The doctor called her into his office 3 days later for a consult. We were all there with her. How could we not be? We have been friends since I was 14 years old.
She is like a sister to me!
When he told her that she had a very aggressive type of breast cancer and a radical mastectomy was required, we were all in shock, that is except Candy. She smiled thru it all and held our hands and we left in a cloud of shock and for me total despair.
Cancer at 36?
Why Candy?
I know of women that are NOT sweet, NOT kind, NOT caring like she is, why not THEM?
The surgery was scheduled for the end of the following week.
I went home and cried for days. She was so strong. I was not.
An entire bevy of us arrived with her at the hospital. She was told to gown and where to go. All of us girls were surrounding her hospital bed right before they were to wheel her in for the procedure.
Someone, I'm not sure to this day who, suggested we all pray.
We began..."Please God be with Candy......"
That's as far as it got before we were all wailing and sobbing and broken down in tears. All of us crying .... then Candy's sweet voice...
"Please God be with these wonderful friends of mine and keep them strong.
You see, I need them.
I borrow their clothes."
All was so quiet. No one was even breathing. Then, in a flash we all broke up into fits of laughter.
No tears. No more crying. Candy was going to be fine.
Here she was the one lying so vulnerable and small in that hospital gurney and she was comforting US!
She had the procedure and went home that day.
I took a covered dish to her house that evening and guess what? She was out on the back of a motorcycle! WHAT?
Three weeks later they scheduled the first of a six month round of Chemo. This was the first I saw how hard this was going to be for my dear friend.
She told me that losing her breast was no big deal.
Her boob had Never hugged her kids.
Her boob had Never drove her car.
Her boob had Never gazed up at the stars in the sky.
Losing her hair was going to be the hard part. We would sit outside and just the lightest breeze would make her long beautiful hair blow away in a cloud. I could see how much this hurt her.
She shaved her head and then just simply rocked headscarves and wigs. She was beautiful inside and out. Hair or no hair.
It's been over 20 years and Candy is Cancer Free.
Thanks to early detection and a willingness to follow her doctors orders, she survived.
Breast Cancer is survivable.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I Thank God it has had a light shown on this disease.
I go on Friday for my annual Mammogram and screening.
I hope that all of you over 40 or with a history of Breast Cancer in your family, schedule a Mammogram this month. It could save your life!
I could only hope to ever be as strong as my dear friend. She gives me hope everyday ~ in Every Thing.
Besides, she borrows my clothes!
I ℒℴѵℯ You All!
❤
