LIFE after Cancer—Find the Silver Lining

I can’t believe almost 2 years have gone by since I got that dreaded diagnosis of breast cancer!  My last infusion was in June, 2013!  That ended a year and a half of intense cancer treatment. Whew, what a whirlwind!  My calendar looks very different today than it did a year ago.  Thankfully, entries on the calendar have changed from doctor appointments, infusions, labs, and scans…to family gatherings, trips, meetings, and volunteering.  I feel like I came through the storm, and now I’m experiencing the rainbow. 

We didn’t get to the rainbow without a few dark clouds and rain showers though. Just as I thought I was about done with treatments, that we had kicked cancer in the backside, I started experiencing pretty severe shortness of breath and pain when I inhale.  The symptoms progressed, so I was sent to a pulmonologist, and then to a cardiologist.  My work-up with those specialists included: chest x-ray, pulmonary function tests, CT Angiogram, PET CT, bronchoscopy with biopsies, cardiolite stress test, and ten weeks on a steroid.  Thankfully, I now know everything that I don’t have!  I don’t have TB, blood clots, infection, cancer, or heart damage! Praise God!  I do, however, have some scarring on the right upper lobe of my lungs.  For some reason, doctors have not put their finger on the cause, although I know in my heart, it is damage from the radiation.  When you consider the job that the radiation had to accomplish, I’m not really surprised that there was some collateral damage.  Again, I’m thankful that I am cancer free at this time, and by the grace of God, I am overcoming this lung problem.

To quote a song I heard the other day, “Gotta face the clouds to find the silver lining”.  That truly spoke to me!  As I write this, I am sitting on an airplane looking down at big puffy white clouds, but sometimes we have dark intimidating clouds come into our lives.  The massive storm that I faced passed, but it left in its wake some dark clouds that held scattered showers.  As I went through test after test, I felt the presence of God.  I felt His peace and His voice reminding me of the mission He had called me to when I first got my diagnosis of breast cancer.  That calling was to use my testimony as I walked through it and minister to others going through pain.  Through Christ, with my family and medical team, I overcame breast cancer, and I am now faced with the opportunity to persevere in prayer and overcome the lung damage.  I know that Jesus came to give us life and life to the full…So, I decided I was not going to spend another day letting my lung issues control my life.  Praying constantly, I started out slow, but I am now walking 3 miles per day, and feeling great! Praise the Lord!  I am seeing the silver lining to that cloud that entered my life for a while.

I know it is no coincidence that the sermon at my church last week was about living life “on mission”.  What a great reminder!  We are not all called to go on a mission trip to Africa or India…but when we know Christ as our Savior, we are all called to live “on mission”.  Wherever God places us in life is our mission field.  I, for one, want to say “Here I am Lord! Send me!” 

I pray that God will bless you and your family richly this Thanksgiving.  We have much to be thankful for.  If you sit down and list your blessings…I guarantee you will run out of paperJ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=WiBNkZHOBI8 (What Faith Can Do, by Kutless)