Life wasn’t punishing me, but giving me a chance by Tatiana Willis
It’s very hard to see something good it every bad situation, especially if bad situation includes cancer diagnoses Hard, but worth it. Two years ago at age of 37, I was (what I thought) perfectly healthy. I was trying to explain the increasing pain in my legs and chest with stress, even though, I had no reasons to feel stressed-out. When I couldn’t ignore it any longer and finally made a doctor appointment thinking that most likely the relief will come before the appointment. Instead, just days later, I found myself in ER with blood clots in my lungs and an oxygen mask over my face. Still in shock, I was trying to understand why and how that is happened to me and was making promises to start a healthier life style, when I’ve got even bigger shocker. Scan results had arrived reviling a large tumor around my right ovary, which turned out to be an ovarian cancer, stage II.
As I remember myself back then, I was in absolute denial of my diagnosis. And even after the surgery, a week later still in the hospital, hooked up to multiple high-tech devises, which there blinking and beeping resembling a Space Station, I firmly believed that at any moment the door will open and my doctor will tell me that there was a mistake and I am totally healthy and how happily I would forgive them everything! But instead, my doctor said that I will have to undergo 6 rounds of chemo therapy. My spirit was officially crashed
When I heard about LGFB program, at first, I questioned: how is my looks are going to make me feel better?! Seriously, is there anything that could make me feel better now?!
My entire family lives in Russia and unable to come due to travel related difficulties, so my friends and neighbors became my greatest support. They refused to give up on me and through their positive attitude I’ve got the understanding, that life is NOT punishing me, but rather giving me a chance to beat the sneaky disease, which otherwise would’ve progress unnoticed!
I become determined to get healthy and keep working at the office, doing it. But I was concerned about my ability looking professional with all those side effects of the chemo? So, I went to the LGFB class.
And that class changed everything! In class, during the film, I started to cry. For many it might seem silly, that that what I was worried about, when my life was at stake, but I faced my biggest fear of those times – loosing my hair, my pride and my identity! And as I saw the transformation on the screen and in the class of the patients in to the beautiful and radiant ladies, I’ve got not just hope, I’ve got courage.
By the end of the class we were laughing, trying referent wigs and hats. We were ready for a new chapter in our lives – the recovery. My tears all dried up and I felt happy and hopeful once again!
From that day I was looking very confident going to my office. Yes, I lost eyelashes and eyebrows, but I was using the makeup techniques that I learned and no one noticed that. My wig was stylish and every day was a good hair day! And I had the astonished amount of compliments from unsuspecting strangers regarding my great looks. It felt great and, guess what? It made me feel great! THANK YOU !!!
p.s. 1 y. cancer free!
It’s hard to find something to laugh about these days, but your description of you and “your space station” after surgery did it for me. I was exactly the same way. The day my Dr. looked at me, in sadness, and said, “Sherry, you have cancer,” I turned around to see who she was talking to. Couldn’t be me. This stuff happened to others. I, like you, fully expected my Dr. to come in and tell me it was all a mistake. I distinctly remember thinking exactly that same thing. And like you, I was ready to forgive, forget, and then move on with my life. I picked up one of the Look Good Feel Better brochures while getting my chemo, plus my sister who works at Immanuel Christian Hospital in Turlock CA suggested I give it a try. I might. Thanks for sharing.
Sherry