Everyone has their struggles and we have had many however this is the biggest struggle of my life thus far.
On a normal Tuesday morning in August, I did a self exam and felt a knot in my left breast. Concerned, I called my OBGYN to set up an exam. Two days later, at my appointment, she found what I was talking about and sent me to get images. The following Monday, I did my very first mammogram and sonogram. The physician confirmed that there was a "suspicious mass" in my left breast that needed to be biopsied. He continued with the news that I also have a suspicious lymph node that is inflamed however it is too risky to biopsy due to the amount of blood vessels surrounding it. I was in a room by myself without my husband, who was sitting in the lobby, so everything following that news was wasted breath. I was drowning in emotions and didn't know what to grab on to. I left that appointment deflated and in a state of complete unknown. At this point my husband and our parents were the only people that were aware of what I was going through.
I had my biopsy on Thursday Aug 31st with a wait time of 2-7 days for results and the following Monday being a holiday. Now the wait!! During the waiting period I began to share what I was going through with friends. The more I shared, the more words of affirmation I received and the more encouraged I became. On September 5th 2017, I was diagnosed with Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma Grade ll Breast Cancer, the most common form of Breast cancer.
This news hit hard and I broke down. My husband immediately left work and came home to hold me. He has been and continues to be my rock. Here I am 37 years old, Mom of 2 wonderful children (Tristan and Ari), wife to an amazing husband (Andrew), daughter, sister and friend and I am diagnosed with cancer. I was shocked and felt defeated. My husband became my positive voice pulling me up and pointing me to our God who is bigger and stronger than this puny cancer. I began to reach out to friends more and they also pointed me back to the Savior who is bigger and stronger than this little disease. God began focusing my eyes and my heart on Him and not this cancer. I am a child of God and I am not my own. I am His, I am complete and whole in Him and He takes care of me. Each day, more and more people began praying for me and more people began speaking life to me and it's amazing how much stronger I became mentally, spiritually and physically.
I am still human. I have my moments where my eyes start to drift from the One true God how big He is to my problems, this cancer and the "what if's" BUT God always draws me back to Him. I say that I was diagnosed and not "I have breast cancer" because I do not accept that as part of me. I am not the disease, I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus! We all are. We are not our "mountain", we are not our "addiction", we are not our "sin", we are fearfully and wonderfully made by a creator who knows the very number of hairs on our head. We are complete and whole in Him. We all are going through something and I would like to encourage you to take your eyes off of the situation and turn your eyes to the God of heaven and earth, the star maker, wonderful counselor, mighty redeemer, mountain mover, sea parter, wall breaker, bondage destroyer, earth shaker, strength builder, soul cleaner, way maker, cup filler, omniscient, all knowing, lover of our soul, sustainer, prince of peace, mighty God and the one who has you in the palm of His hand (and much much more).
Know this: (1) We are involved in Spiritual Warfare manifested in the physical and (2) Jesus came to give us life and life abundantly. Satan came to steal, kill and destroy. Please join us in the battle! Know that we intend to claim victory and proclaim the healing power of God over this cancer and His provision for the war. Remember to fight the fear attacks of the enemy the same way Jesus fought them by using the Sword of the Spirit which is the written Word of God. It is written “by His stripes we are healed.” God says in His Word "His Word does not return unto Him void but accomplishes that which it was sent to do"...speak life, speak the Word over your mountain and have faith that God will complete the work in you.
Our most coveted thing is your prayers.
Matthew 18:19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
Myself or Andrew will be updating through this site as time allows to make it easier all to see at one time. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.
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