Testimonies
Lucy’s Corner
Lucy’s Corner
I knew I would hear those three little words. I felt it in my heart and soul, but being in denial, I felt that those three little words would not be heard by me. No one in my family had cancer. As I sat in the doctor’s office waiting, waiting, waiting I grew more and more afraid. “Why is she taking so long?” After what seemed like hours, my doctor came in. I could tell by the look on her face that it was not good. Then I heard those three little words, “You have cancer.” My world was crushed. How could this happen to me? I exercised, watched what I ate, visited my doctor on a regular basis, and no one in my family had cancer--no one. How could this happen? Was I going to die? I needed answers, but I didn’t know the questions to ask. I was in shock and afraid, I was speechless. How was I going to explain this to my children, my family, my friends?
Driving home was the longest distance I have ever traveled. I might as well have driven from China , because that’s the way it felt. As I was driving, I talked and cried to God. My tears would not stop flowing. “Oh, God, what am I going to do?” As I almost reached home, suddenly a strength overtook me. It is hard to explain in this writing, but I felt the strength of an army. I told my children, my family, and my friends. We prayed and we laughed. Everything was going to be all right. I just knew it.
When I went back to the doctor, I was told that my left breast had to be removed.
Another shock. However, I was still strong in my belief in God. If I wanted to get over this crisis, I had to do what the doctor’s said. That night as I contemplated what was going to happen to me, God said, “Put your hand over your right eye,” and I did. I was not losing an eye. He then said, “Put your right hand behind your back,” and I did. I was not losing an arm. Then He said, “Stand on your right leg,”, and I did. I was not losing a leg. He then said, “Put your hand over your mouth,” and I did. I was not losing my voice. I was losing a breast. I did not need it for sight, for lovingly holding my children, for walking into the God’s place of worship, and I did not use this breast for praising God’s love and goodness. When I had my breast removed, I had the strength of ten armies--I had God. I had reconstruction, and now I look more fabulous then before.
Everyone approaches cancer in their own unique way. I talk to God everyday, thank Him for my strength, and thank Him for my life. I also told Him that I would be strong for other women, to show them that there is “life after cancer.” I ask God, “How do I know that I am being strong for other women,” and before the day has ended, I am approached by three to four women who are struggling with cancer, and look, I am writing this article approaching hundreds of women in this crisis.
In having cancer, I have learned to respect it, to be afraid of it, but with the help of God, I have learned to live with it.
Kianga Palacio's Story
My name is Kianga Palacio; I am a 40 year old fighter and survivor. I was first diagnosed with Breast Cancer on June 8, 2006. I was devasted and scared, all I could think about at that time was that I was going to die. It took me two weeks to finally realize that I had to trust in what I was taught and what I believed, God heals. I had to stop feeling sorry for myself and fight this with everything that I had. I decided on a lumpectomy but in the end I had a mastectomy. I was given four rounds of chemo and told that I was good but I needed to see my doctor every six months. Two days before my year and a half anniversary of celebrating being in remission I was told that my cancer had returned in my lymph nodes. Another devastating blow, I couldn't believe this was happening to me again and so soon. After wrapping this around my brain, I knew what I needed to do, I had to put on my pink boxing gloves and fight. I had my other breast removed along with the infected lymph nodes after having another four rounds of chemotherapy. I am in the mist of six weeks of radiation and I am looking forward to the end. I know I have a testimony to give and want all to know that having cancer doesn't mean death.
