On February 23rd I went to the 7th Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer sponsored by Young Survival Coalition and Living Beyond Breast Cancer in Arlington, VA. This conference included women who were diagnosed with cancer prior to the age of 45. I had an opportunity to greet the attendees that arrived on Friday and I was touched as to how easy it was for each one of us to talk to one another. I suppose it was because we shared one tragedy and that is cancer. I attended several workshops which focused on balancing treatment, side effects and improving quality of life, and treatment updates for metastatic breast cancer. I was saddened and yet felt comforted by the number of young women with metastatic breast cancer that attended the workshops.
I walked away from the conference realizing that I am truly blessed. I tell you this because I met a young woman that has Stage IV cancer and her wish is that her boyfriend marry her before she dies. I met another who has been on chemotherapy for ten years and now she would like to have a baby but needs to consider the pros and cons of getting off chemo in order to have this baby. I met another who has Stage IV cancer and found out a week after she was diagnosed with breast cancer that she is pregnant. I am so thankful that I do not have those issues to deal with in my life. I have been married to Michael for fifteen years and I have a beautiful baby girl. My wish is that I have more time with them as well as my family and friends.
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Dear Sabina, Serena and Michael. Michael, sorry ladies first. Sabina sounds like the conference gave you a new window to look out of and that's good, because sometimes we become blinded by own own pain and circumstances.
By the way, for those of us from the sidelines your openess and kindness gives us the opportunity to be blessed to know about your special cancer and the ability to hold you up and honor your courage as well as your concern for others.
The bottom line here is that we need each other and especially in times like these.
This blog is a great blessing too because if gives people like me who are on the outside the opportunity to share our deep feelings and tenderness toward you and those you love, where under the Pony Express system we may never get around to it. So I Thank You!!
Sabina, I'm sure you and Michael have seen the movie "The Hiding Place" (if not you must) Remember the scene where Corrie Ten Boom cries out to God after losing her dear sister "Betsy" in the concentration camp. She says these words so powerfully..."There is no pit so deep...that He is not deeper still."
Sabina, if there is a time when these words can reach down to you and lift you up from your pain and frustration it is NOW!
In one sense this movie is our lot in life; in that we are all headed for the concentration camp of death and only "Jesus" can comfort us in our time of aloneness.
As the song says..."Only Jesus can satisfy my soul..."
I am happy to report that Grandma Yancey has turned the corner in terms of her athsma attack and although very weak she is smiling and on the road to recovery.
Sabina, a number of years ago I sat in the home of a recent widow and listening to her share her deep lonliness I was impressed to write down these words.
I stood along in a world of care and wondered...is there another one out there: Or is it just me, all by myself, all alone? Can I face tomorrow when today hurts so much? Can I make it through the night? It seems so long. Then I opened my eyes and beheld His form. And all my doubts were erased, for Jesus was there and came very near, and I was no longer alone.
God Bless non-Stop! Sabina, Serena and Michael
Dave & Monika Yancey
It really sounds like this Conference was a tremendous experience for you, Sabina! Sometimes we look at our lives and our struggles and we feel so alone and yet there are so many others who face similar challenges, and it is so comforting to meet those people and share with them. I am so glad you got to go!! I know that Mark found such comfort and strength in sharing your cancer/chemo experiences. You were able to provide him with support that nobody else could because the 2 of you were going through the same experience. I believe that God puts people in our paths just when we need them and you were there for Mark when he needed you most...it is good to know that you have found people in your path just when you need them, too. I love you for your strength, courage, and love of your family and friends, Sabina. I am so glad that God put you in MY life...
Dave,
Thank you for your words of kindness and thank you for keeping us updated about grandma. I am glad to know that she is well.
Brandey,
Thank you as well for your words of kindness. I am glad that I was there for Mark as much as he was there for me. I learned so much from losing Mark. I learned that you cannot ask "WHY" as there is no answer. I learned that God is so good that as time goes by the memory of Mark never lessens but the pain does. I learned that as awful as it may seem life goes on and everybody learns to keep moving forward. I am so sorry and sad that we lost Mark and I am sad that I learned these lessons through our loss of Mark and yet I feel thankful. I am thankful because I am able to face my own death knowing what I have experienced through the loss of Mark. So even in death Mark has been there for me.
I Love You too!
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