Kris's Personal Story as a Cancer Survivor

"You have cancer."

Never in my life, with the exception of "I do", have so few words so completely changed my life. These life altering words came from my husband, who wished he could be saying "Happy Birthday" instead, since it was my 28th birthday. A rare type of breast cancer was the diagnosis, and my life went spinning out of control and in my mind death was imminent. No fair! I just turned 28, married with 2 very small children and the hopes of more...this cannot be happening to ME!! I have too much future left to live to be thinking about dying...

Amazingly, the above scenario happened almost 4 years ago. As I approach my 32nd birthday, I look back on that time 4 years ago and marvel at how much things have changed. Yes, fear still dogs me, especially at check-up times. But I have survived something I never thought I'd be able to handle if it happened to me. I'm living the days I didn't even dare hope I'd have on the day of my diagnosis. I appreciate my husband and children in a way I couldn't before - every minute with them is a precious gift from a gracious and loving God. I've been blessed with so many special new friends who are more like family - another precious gift. And I hope I'm able to use my experience to help my mother in a special way as she fights her own battle with the beast called cancer. These blessings I wouldn't have had if I hadn't experienced the touch of cancer in my life. And they are blessings indeed.

Kris in Georgia, USA

Note from Jim: Some time after Kris wrote this her mother passed away. I as well as many of us had the extreme privilege of meeting her. She was indeed a special lady as is her daughter. Pegge will be missed always.