CAN-CER-VIVE

It's truly is amazing how our lives change from one day to the other. A few weeks ago I was going about my life, and within a moment everything in my life seemed to change.

For the better!

I recently learned that I have a rather large mass on my Ovary. My first doctor shared it was Cancer. My second doctor shared he would like to be more optimistic and do two more tests, but both agreed that whatever it was that was growing would need to be removed quickly.

These past few weeks have been absolutely amazing. I design and manufacture toys for children who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, and until I was told I too could have a life-threatening illness I don't think I completely understood what it was I was doing. I knew that giving a gift of comfort was a wonderful thing to do for a child, but until I became the child and actually sat with them in the room, I now call, the uncertainty room, I don't think I realized how important giving comfort was.

For the past few weeks I've been on the receiving end of comfort. Calls, e-mails, personal hand-written letters and gifts have been frequenting my home.

I've also learned that the word CANCER is not a bad word, but a wonderful word, because it's true... ONE, CAN-CER-VIVE anything that comes their way as long as they know that they are not alone.

This morning I woke up and many people started sharing their hearts with me about what they've had to CER-VIVE, and even though most were not illnesses, they still had to work through it, and move "onward" and live their life through their personal faith.

After reading all the wonderful stories I would like to start collecting stories and putting them into a book for all the world to read. I think that we need to take a new approach to the word CANCER, and put it in a form where others won't be afraid to hear those words. We need to share with the world that inspiration comes from adversity, and that WE CAN-CER-VIVE.

I'm so glad I got the news a few weeks ago. I believe I was taking my life for granted. Knowing that I might be here for 30 more years gave me the freedom to worry through another day. Now, I don't care where I'm going to be in 30 years, because I know with all my heart that it's going to be grand! What a blessing this is.

If you have a story you'd like to share about your being a "CAN-CER-VIVOR" I would love to hear from you. E-mail me at onwardbyfaith@yahoo.com

Onward by faith...
Gina