How my story begins: One day around June 2018, my protruding belly felt harder than normal, and my heart kept speeding up for no reason. Not to mention, I was having teeth problems.
So I made an appointment with the OB-GYN because, before that, the last time I had been was when I had my son, and by that time he was about 7 years old.
I made the appointment and went. They did a Pap smear, and I informed them that I was on my menstrual cycle, but they said that was fine. She began the exam and found a specimen that was around the size of a golf ball. I thought it was just a clot, but she said it looked unusual and that she was going to send it to the lab for testing.
About a week later, I was called back to the doctor's office to receive the results. My mother came with me. When they called me to the back, a doctor gave me the diagnosis of cervical cancer. After he said that, I couldn't hear anything else. How could this be happening to me? I was devastated.
Life before my diagnosis: Before my diagnosis, I was self-judgmental, self-conscious. I didn't value myself very much. Friendless, I didn't think anyone cared about me because no man wanted me. I felt tainted and the only people that loved we were my kids and my family because that had to.
How I felt after diagnosis: As I mentioned before, I was devastated. I didn't know what I was going to do. I had just turned 30. I was a mother of two, and I thought, how could God allow this to happen in my life?
But hindsight is 20/20. I think God wanted to get my attention because I was too consumed with the concerns of others, how they felt about me, and trying to be a certain way. God needed me to get back to Him and be reminded that He still matters and that He is the only one who can fix my situation.
Telling my family and friends: I didn't want to tell anyone because I didn't want to be pitied, and I didn't want my diagnosis to be used against me either. I wanted to get through it on my own, with my mother and my kids, and that was it.
But I ended up telling my aunt because my mother told her I was going through something. Interestingly, in the midst of receiving that diagnosis, we got evicted from where we were living and had to move in with my aunt. The way she treated me during my recovery process was less than considerate, but that's another story for a different time.
I really went through it. Not to mention, I was in school trying to obtain my bachelor's degree, but I had to quit in order to continue treatment.
My treatment: My treatment was a process of many things. First, I had surgery around my birthday and Thanksgiving. My doctor, Dr. Hines, shortened his holiday vacation just to perform my hysterectomy. Not only that, but he prayed over my family and me before the surgery. I really appreciated that he was a man of God, so that was a plus.
As I was preparing for surgery, the nurses allowed my son to come back with me to give him a sense of security, and I really appreciated them for that. They also allowed him to ask questions. Mind you, he was only eight at the time, but he asked them, "What are you doing to my mommy?"
The nurse answered, "We're going to take her uterus out."
He responded, "I want to get my uterus out."
It was the cutest, funniest thing, and in that moment it had everyone laughing. It made the atmosphere much lighter. After that, they explained to my son that he didn't have a uterus and took him back to my mother while I was taken in for my operation.
After my surgery, I was in the hospital for about three days. They allowed me to heal for about three months before I began radiation. I underwent radiation five days a week for about a month. About a week after that, I started chemotherapy two days a week for about a month. That was my treatment process.
How I felt after treatment: After it was all done, I was relieved that I didn't have to go through it anymore because it had taken such a toll on my body. But my spirit helped me fight through it, along with having God by my side.
I slowly began to feel like myself again, aside from the lingering physical pain and chemo teeth. Little by little, I started to feel better.
What was most difficult for me: Knowing that my kids suffered some trauma from watching their momma fight to live really left a mark on my psyche. My kids had to grow up a little too fast, especially my daughter, because she had to help me on the days when the chemo really had me out of it.
She made sure her brother was okay and fed, and she made sure I was okay too. My daughter really deserves a lot of credit.
The time after my surgery was especially hard. My aunt kicked my family out while I was in the midst of the cancer battle of my life. But I knew God had our backs no matter what, and He did.
What I did to help myself: What I did to help myself was gain more knowledge about my diagnosis, as well as learn about alternative treatments like holistic medicine. I gained an understanding that healing is not just about being cured.
I came to understand that being healed means giving all control to God and allowing Him to heal my spirit and fill my soul so that my mind, body, and spirit can be united in healing and wholeness. I also learned to grow closer to Jesus and to listen to the Holy Spirit when He is trying to tell you something, because that's how you heal.
My life after cancer: My life after cancer is still a battle, but it's a different battle. God has delivered me from cancer and all the other afflictions the enemy has tried to hinder me with. Now, God is training me in self-discipline and self-restraint, helping me acknowledge how fragile my body is and teaching me to take care of it with the right herbs, foods, and all the things He created on this earth to care for His children.
I also reapplied to school and have been taking classes, but now I'm running out of financial aid and need an alternative way to complete my degree. I don't know what I'm going to do because I'm unemployed, and every time I go on an interview, I end up not getting the job. But if I've learned one thing, it's that God is a way maker, so I'm not going to worry.
My kids are now in high school and will both be graduating soon, so that is exciting. God is my best friend, and I have become content with just Him and my family. This world can be cruel and filled with evil, so right now I am satisfied with my life.
Where I am today: Today, I am 38 years old and living at home with my mother, my two kids, and my sister. We are just taking things one day at a time.
What I want other women to know: I want other women to know that, in spite of your circumstances, you should give God a chance and watch Him turn your situation around. Explore other treatment options and don't just rely on Western medicine. Learn about holistic healing. Even if a doctor gives an unfavorable diagnosis, remember that God has the final say. Stay encouraged.
How I will try to help others: I will continue to tell my story and acknowledge God as the one who got me through it. I want people to know that if God brought me through, He can and will do the same for you. You just have to believe.
Any additional information you'd like to share: When it comes to any cancer, try to introduce plenty of herbs and vegetables into your diet and consider doing a complete organ detox.