VOICES OF HOPE | CLASS OF 2012/ Global Hero of Hope Class of 2016 —

My cancer journey began in January 1990, right after returning from our honeymoon. I saw my Dr for a routine exam which ended with the words,” You have Cancer.” I was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer. Surgery and a permanent colostomy was my only option. The prognosis was grim, but I knew immediately that I would give this fight everything I had. I had 2 young children to whom I had given my solemn promise I would survive, and I had every intention of doing that. I had just gotten married; I had a wonderful full life and no intention of allowing cancer to interfere with my plans. I armed myself with as much education as I could find, got strength from my family, faith and my own internal hope and continued on one day at a time. Thanks to the American Cancer Society I was able to attend a special support group that specialized in patients that had colostomies and that experience allowed me to regain my self-esteem with confidence and dignity. At my first Relay for Life, I knew I was making a difference by providing hope to people in my home Relay For Life and creating more birthdays throughout the world by the research being done by The American Cancer Society. Today, I continue to save lives through Relay For Life and will do so until we can all know a world without cancer. In 2016 after 26 years of surviving stage III colon cancer I heard those 3 words again, when my husband was diagnosed with colon cancer from a routine screening, and I accepted a new role as caregiver. Both my husband and I are cancer free.