During the month of October we are sharing stories from women whose lives and experiences have been shaped by a breast cancer diagnosis. We hope these stories will help provide comfort and courage to others whose lives have been touched by cancer.

It was September 2012. My day started out as ordinary but I was running behind as always.

I was scheduled for a routine mammogram, but called to cancel to give myself some breathing room. God was looking out for me that day. I tried to cancel, no big deal. I would get it next year, but the lady in central scheduling would not let me cancel! She just kept talking to me and finally as I continued to make excuses, she simply said, “I am keeping you in the schedule, just get here when you can TODAY.”

I made it in and the technician took her normal pictures, then she came back and said she needed a few more and then she would take them to the radiologist and have him take a quick look. I started having a feeling of foreboding. The radiologist came back with her and explained that it looked a little suspicious and they would like to do a biopsy right then. I was scared to death and of course I had gone by myself, so I called my husband Kip crying and telling him what was going on. They did the biopsy and told me the results would be ready the next day. Dr. Fleming called the next day as I was sitting at my desk at work and told me it was cancer. I broke down at my desk and just sobbed. I called Kip and he immediately came to get me. My mind was racing! Was I going to die? Do we tell the kids? How do we get through something like this? I tell you how! My God, Kip, my kids, my sister family, friends and church! Kip and I have discussed many times how we aren’t sure we could have done it without all of them.

I had two lumpectomies and they just could not get it all. All I cared about was getting that CANCER out of me! So we agreed that I should have a mastectomy. We agreed on reconstruction being done immediately following the mastectomy. They took fat from my abdomen and reconstructed my right breast. I decided I was going to come out of that surgery looking like Amazon Barbie – slimmer and a boob job. Unfortunately I developed infection in my new breast and the incision on my stomach – three types of bacteria. I got very weak very quickly. On the fifth day home Kip called the ambulance to come and get me. By the time I got to Sarah Bush Lincoln my organs were shutting down and my blood pressure was very low. The E.R. nurses, doctors and Dr. Lucas Catt kept me alive until they could air lift me to Springfield. When I got to Springfield the E.R. doctor told Kip I had a 30 percent chance of surviving. At this point they put me on a respirator and I was out of it for three days. On Christmas Eve they removed the vent. I could breathe on my own. People came to visit and my brother-in-law told me he loved me. Then I got scared. I knew I had been sick if he was telling me he loved me. I, of course, knew he did but he had never verbalized it.

It’s been three years and I am so thankful to God for sparing me and allowing me to be here with my family. I am still not sure why God spared me, but I am sure I have a purpose, just not sure what it is. I have had great days and not so great, but I am still here and so very grateful.

Cancer free for three years!