CANCER. We have all heard about it, read about it, some of us have experienced it first hand with relatives, or friends. Statistically almost all of us will have to come head on with this disease in some way, being directly in our own battles or being care takers of a loved one.
On a personal level, I experienced cancer through my grandmother. She was a beautiful, strong, very blunt woman filled with Life. Cancer stole that life from her very rapidly. By the time she was diagnosed (at the end of October 2004) she had already had mode swings, seizures, and the cancer had spread like burning fire to her breast, lungs, and brain so quickly there was nothing medically that could reverse the damage. She was told that she only had 6 months. I remember the last few times I saw her. One time it was for her wedding and she was so mean to me. I just couldn't believe how nasty she was treating me. The next time I saw her. I knew. It all became too clear. She was slower. More fragile. Kinder. Scared. My mother, sister and I got to spend our first and last Christmas with my Aunt, cousins, and grandmother that year. It was bitter sweet.
My mother and my aunt saw the worst of it. My mother stayed with her and was her care taker. She had front row seats to my grandmother's Cancer struggle. She watched as her mother's body began to loose it's strength. Loose it's Life with each passing day. My mother took her to her appointments Chemo, radiation and the experimental treatments for studies (She knew she wouldn't be a survivor but wanted to help others if there were even the slightest possibility), cooked for her, and helped bathe her until she had to return to Florida to go back to work. Then, it was my aunts turn. It was my moms little sister who was there for my grandmother's final days. It was my mother and grandmother's last telephone conversation that directly preceded her soul leaving her body. Her body shutting down. Just short of 7 months, in May 2005 my grandmother's pain came to an end at the cost of her Life. She was only 62. I will never know how my mother truly felt because that is impossible to know until you have experienced the exact SAME, but I do know what I felt and what I saw in my mother, my family, and myself. I am a person with compassion so deep for others that I can almost feel their pain. Though, I was not in my mother's or grandmother's shoes directly, I could still feel the pain surrounding them.
In some Cancer stories the fight comes to an end. That, no one has control over, but in some Cancer stories the fight and hope conquers leaving the end result LIFE.
I want to talk about one cancer specifically because this is where the Von St. James Family comes into play. Cameron Von St. James recently contacted me to ask if I would share his Family's story. After reading it myself and hearing about it from him directly via email, I was honored to share their story. This is a story about MESOTHELIOMA. This is a rare Cancer caused by asbestos exposure and someone diagnosed with this type of cancer could have gone up to 60 years before being properly diagnosed! Often symptoms are similar to other respiratory related conditions, making it difficult to diagnose. Most who have become diagnosed worked directly with asbestos at some time in their life, but secondary exposure is now becoming very evident. This is a very AGGRESSIVE disease with no cure....YET! Yes, there is talk on the radio about this disease and commercials touching on the disease as well, BUT there is NOT enough AWARENESS on this type of cancer.
Meet Heather Von St. James, her husband Cameron and daughter Lily.
In 2005 Heather Von St. James was diagnosed with Pleural Mesothelioma at the young age of 36, just after giving birth to her beautiful daughter Lily. (Only 3 months at the time of Heather's Diagnoses) This family was blessed with the joys of parenthood and very quickly slammed with the uncertainty of this diagnoses. What was supposed to be one of the happiest times of their lives quickly was stolen and replaced by Fear, Anger, Stress,Worry, Heartache and Uncertainty. The Von St. James Family began their battle, throwing punches. They had to sacrifice their time with their new baby to come head on with this disease. Cameron was primary care taker and the Mountain for his wife and daughter. To say rock would not even give him the credit he deserves because he was stronger than a rock. Heather was optimistic and held onto Hope even if at times it felt as though it were slipping through her fingers. With no cure, HOPE is all they had.
On February 2, 2006 Heather went for surgery to have her Lung Operation, which was nicknamed by her sister as Lung Leavin' Day!
Heather was brave, optimistic, hopeful and LOVED! She made a decision to not allow this disease to take her. She made a decision to not accept the odds of having only 15 months to live. She made a decision to FIGHT. She made a decision to be Strong. She made a decision to be Hopeful. Her husband Cameron made a decision to take control. He made a decision to be his family's mountain. He made a decision to comfort. He made a decision to Love UN-selfishly.
*I am afraid that I will not be able to make my dream a reality as a source of income to help support our family and take burden off my husband's shoulders.
*I am afraid that I will somehow mess up my kids and they will hate me for it
* I am afraid that I will never truly find my way in this world
* I am afraid that I will not escape the emotional damages of my childhood
* I am afraid of FAILURE particularly with my writing
SO SMASH ON!!!!!
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**(Cancer Statistics - Just a bit of information I found online)**
2012
2013
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