Cancer Research Month: A story of hope

A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from a sweet woman named Heather who had a story about hope and wanted help in sharing that story with as many people as possible. Ten years ago, Heather was given a death sentence when she was diagnosed with mesothelioma. She was given 15 months to live. She had just given birth to her daughter three months prior to her diagnosis. Heather was exposed to asbestos as a little girl through her Dad’s work clothes and diagnosed 30 years later.

I know we’ve all seen those mesothelioma commercials from time to time. The one with the older gentleman talking about being diagnosed with it and the very bleak, scary and uncertain look on his face. I’m sure you have done like I’ve done, quickly either turned the channel or skipped passed it because let’s face it 1) it’s a pretty sad commercial and 2) cancer is scary.

Did you know that this month is Cancer Research Month? I had no idea until Heather told me and so I knew that I definitely wanted to help spread awareness and help spread her story of hope through my blog. As Heather’s 10th anniversary of being a cancer survivor approaches, she has one mission and that is to have as many people as possible spread awareness of her terrible disease.

She wants you to know more about mesothelioma and that with HOPE, the odds don’t matter.

I’m sure just like most of you, cancer is something you think about from time to time. We’ve all had cancer touch our lives in one way or another whether we’ve had to go through it personally or someone we love has. We all know how devastating and unfair it can be.

I’m not going to lie – cancer creeps into my mind every now and then, especially when I come across a story of a Mama who has young children and was just given a very hard diagnosis or when I see a young child dealing with cancer and I look at my own children and hug them tighter and pray in thankfulness for their health. We all have those worries about cancer. I don’t let the worry consume me, but it’s there.

Did you know?

• Cancer is on track to becoming the number one killer in the United States. Thankfully, cancer research can help save lives, just like it helped save Heather’s.
• There are 13.7 million cancer survivors in the US and 2 million of them have survived more than 20 years .

I love hearing stories of hope and Heather’s is definitely one just like that.

You can read more of Heather’s story on her website HERE.

You can also read about her diagnosis, treatment and statistics HERE, HERE and HERE.

Hope is such a powerful thing.

I believe in the hope that my Lord and Savoir, Jesus Christ gives to us and I’m so thankful for the great strides in cancer research going on. Stories of hope are so important to share and I’m thankful that Heather reached out to me so that her story can encourage others and keep that hope alive.

Thank you for sharing your story, Heather.

Have a blessed day, friends.