I am a witness to God's faithfulness, protection and mercy. In January of 2018, my husband started experiencing severe back pains, at times bad enough where he could not walk. I took him to the ER and they diagnosed it as back spasms and gave him muscle relaxer. That did not work. The pain continued in his lower back. We went to a local urgent care facility and they said they couldn't find anything. However during March of 2018, the pain was so bad that my husband could no longer walk. I literally had to put him in my SUV and I took him to the local MEA. This is where God began to order out steps. The doctor at the MEA did X-rays, the first time ever having them done since his pain began. After receiving the results he suggested my husband go and have a MRI done. He went to have the MRI and we then returned to MEA. The results were sent in and the doctor suggested we needed to see a neurosurgeon. Again, unbeknown to us we did not know what the results were. We arrived at St. Dominic Hospital and met with Dr. Gaspard (I will never forget his name). He informed my husband and myself that he needed immediate surgery. We looked at each other because we thought they would just give my husband a steroid shot and send him home. But no..he said surgery. We declined surgery and came home. However once we got home we looked at each other and realizing that was the only option we packed a bag and returned back to St. D for surgery the next morning. Before entering the operating room, I remember these exact words Dr. Gaspard spoke to my husband, "Pastor, we found cancer. You have 4 herniated discs but you also have cancer. I am going to go in and fix the discs but I am going to get the cancer as well. Pastor, I know you are use to praying for everyone else, but is it alright if I pray for you this time". After surgery, my husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 Prostate Cancer that had metastasized to his back. Never thought we would here that word however here we are. Praise to God he underwent chemo and the cancer went into remission. But that is not the end of our story....
February 2022 during an annual exam with my OBGYN, he noticed a lump in my right breast. He asked if I had ever felt it before and I told him no and allowed me to feel it and there it was. He sent me to get a digital mammogram which confirmed "something" was there. I had a biopsy shortly thereafter. On 2.22.22, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Here we go again!! But I prayed and said, "God if you are giving this to me; help me to get through it. I don't want to be sick, I don't want my life to change" And God kept answered my prayers! I went through 8 rounds of chemotherapy, 17 rounds of immunotherapy, 32 rounds of radiation and a lumpectomy to remove the "alien" from my body. Not once was I sick, did I miss work, I still worked out, continued my normal activities. No one knew I had cancer except for those in my immediate family and circle of friends. Today I am going 2 1/2 years cancer free. But that is not the end either...
In February 2024, my husband's doctors observed his PSA level was beginning to elevate so they order tests. The tests discovered tumors in my husband's liver. He was then sent to the biopsy. And the results...here we are again, the third cancer diagnosis, liver cancer. My husband was told if he didn't begin treatment immediately he would have 50/50 chance of survival. He is undergoing chemotherapy again and the tumors are stable.
We know God has His loving hands upon my family. My main concern has always been for my son. He has had to deal with both of his parents being diagnosed with cancer. But my baby boy (all 6'4" of him) is thriving while now being enrolled in graduate school at my alma mater Mississippi State University.
Great is thy faithfulness toward me...your loving kindness towards me, your tender mercies I see, day after day!
