I was diagnosed on May 1, 1998 at the age of 46.

Kathy

I was in complete shock and cried for days after hearing my diagnosis. I expected to die within 18 months as the statistics at that time indicated that was the average length of time from diagnosis to death.

After a week or two of this attitude of 'preparing for death', slowly, my attitude started to change. I think I began to have hope as my treatment progressed, and I began to trust God and let my burdens rest with Him.

God has been my strength through everything I went through. My doctors were awesome, and I thank God for them, too.

My family, including three children, were affected in ways that I'm sure I will never know, and yet we've all made it through - the chemo, surgery (almost all nodes positive), stem-cell transplant, more surgery on a giant neck 'tumor' which the doctors suspected was cancer but turned out to be a branchial cleft cyst (good news), radiation with severe burns, and all the check-ups of the last five years.

Also I had a stroke a year after treatment began, supposedly due to the Tamoxifen, so I had to begin taking coumadin to protect against another stroke. I was in the hospital 8 days for the stroke and had every test imaginable.

No problems or reasons for the stroke were detected. So, I've been for lab tests every several weeks for the past four years, monitoring the effects of the coumadin.

While the last five years have been very difficult for me and my family, it has been a miracle for me to survive this long.

My oldest daughter was just graduating from high school at the time of my diagnosis and leaving home for college (out of state). Now, she has graduated, has a job and a place of her own (out of state, ha), and my younger daughter will be a senior in college next year.

My son will be graduating from high school next month. I am so grateful for the time I have had with my family. The last few years of my life have been the most joyful I have ever experienced.

This disease is evil, and I hate it, but we can overcome it. We can decide to live the life that remains for us (however long that is) with an attitude of hope, faith, love, and understanding for others. (May 4, 2003)

Please click on the title of the hymn in order to hear the music.

On Eagles' Wings

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
who abide in His shadow for life,
say to the Lord:
"My Refuge, my Rock in Whom I trust!"

And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun,
and hold you in the palm of His hand.

The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
and famine will bring you no fear:
under His wings your refuge,
His faithfulness your shield.

And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun,
and hold you in the palm of His hand.

You need not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day;
though thousands fall about you,
near you it shall not come.

And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun,
and hold you in the palm of His hand.

For to His angels He's given a command
to guard you in all of your ways;
upon their hands they will bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.

And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun,
and hold you in the palm of His hand.