I mentioned one of my friends, Cathy on Day 10. Cathy and I were introduced by a mutual friend Lori who sensed that we might each find comfort in our circumstances by being able to share our stories and swap advice. Although Lori had walked through treatment for Ovarian Cancer with her mom, she didn’t know exactly what I was going through. She did, however, put me in touch with someone that did. What a blessing really when I consider how the timing of my friendship with Cathy was undeniably God’s timing and not possible without Lori’s obedience.
Cathy was diagnosed about one month before me. She underwent chemo prior to her mastectomy whereas I had my mastectomy surgery first. The specs of our cancer were slightly different but we shared an amazing Nurse Navigator and the coolest Oncologist around. When it was time for my chemo, Cathy let me in on everything I needed to know. And when she opted for a bilateral mastectomy, I was there to offer some heads up. This relationship was indeed a gift and a sweet picture of how the body of Christ is supposed to work.
Fast forward two or so years when my friend Sylvia tells me about a friend and neighbor of hers that was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She hands out her mailing address and the next thing I know I have a new friend in Elizabeth. She was diagnosed at age 33 just like me. Again her story has it’s own unique details but we are connected in a way that we would never know without this yucky thing called cancer.
Story gets better…you ready? One day I see on Facebook that Cathy posts on Elizabeth’s wall. Turns out they had known each other through Cathy’s brother, Chris. But now breast cancer has connected them in a whole new way. There is a get together that will happen one day as soon as the three of us can clear our schedules. Lori, Sylvia and Chris, you are all invited too!
Catherine Steen says
YOU make my heart happy. Xoxox