I was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2007. It was my father’s birthday when I was called back into the breast clinic because my mammogram was abnormal. I remember sitting in the waiting room and praying I did not have cancer. After all, my father had passed away from lung cancer and my mother was a survivor of cervical cancer. God never would allow cancer to come upon me after my whole family had been inflicted by it. But my worst nightmare became reality. That same day I underwent an ultrasound and a biopsy and was told it probably was cancer. The road that laid ahead of me was scary. I wasn’t sure what was gonna happen to me. All I could do was think I was gonna die. I underwent a lumpectomy and started the chemo-therapy regiment.
Wow! Was that a trip. It made me sicker than a dog, and I ended up in the hospital after my first treatment for nausea and dehydration.
I underwent six months of chemotherapy, lost all of my hair, 33 treatments of radiation, a year of herceptin treatment and five surgeries in a year and a half. I don’t know how I made it through except by the grace of my Lord and savior and great friends, relatives and my World Harvest Church sisters.
My church sisters always encouraged me and prayed with me and rallied me when I didn’t feel or think I could survive another day. I am so glad I hung in there because now my treatments are over, my hair has grown back, I am resuming a normal life, still working full time at my job, and I even own my own business now, too. God has shown me he has a plan and a purpose for my life and cancer has no place in my existence. Now it is time for me to move on down the road of my life and to assist others around me inflicted with this terrible disease.
When you doubt you do without, but when you believe is when you receive!
Cindy Hakel
