Laura’s Story:
One day after a shower in 2022, I noticed a puckering in my breast and felt a lump. Breast cancer! I thought. I immediately emailed my primary physician to schedule a mammogram.
I’m not a “what-if” kind of person. I tend to deal with facts and press into Jesus, my Prince of Peace. But my peace was shaken that day. And when I eventually got a diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer, I felt anxious and unsettled.
Struggling to come to terms with my horrible news, I joined my long-time friend Ann and prayer partner for one of our walks and told her about my diagnosis. She emailed me Bible verses later that day, reminding me of God’s love and presence. I began posting sticky-note Bible verses on my mirror. One of them was Lamentations 3:21-24:
“Yet this I call to mind and I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.’”
Still shaken, on Sunday I shared my diagnosis with my pastor and two friends, who prayed with me. All I could do was cry liquid prayers. But I felt loved by them and held by Jesus.
My first step was to meet with a surgeon, and because of my work as a nurse, I was already aware of this surgeon’s incredible reputation for excellence and for offering to pray with her patients. Say no more, that’s my kind of doctor!
At our first visit, she started the conversation by saying, “Repeat after me: this is early and treatable.” While I tried to process this statement, she added that “the good news” was that because the mass was greater than two centimeters, I qualified for immunotherapy. And because the cancer type could be “aggressive and invasive,” I would need to start chemotherapy as soon as possible.
“You are a perfect candidate for lumpectomy and radiation after chemo,” she added.
Before sending me on my way, the surgeon gave me her cell phone number and scheduled an appointment with an oncologist for later that week. She handed me a goody bag with a crazy quilt for the cold chemo days ahead. The quilt was labeled, “Made with love by the Quilting Angels at Quilter’s Emporium.” Who doesn’t need a quilt made by angels?!
My journey seemed to be on autopilot as I met with the oncologist and laid out a treatment plan.
In spite of my doctors’ plans, I still had reservations and questions. As a new, young nurse in 1978, I had worked on a cancer unit. Traumatized by witnessing the ravages of cancer and treatments, I had been convinced that if I ever had cancer myself, I would choose comfort care with hospice. Thankfully, cancer treatments have come a long way since 1978, but those memories persisted.
In 2022 with my own diagnosis, I needed God’s guidance on how to move forward. God showed up through my friend Dana, a dear friend and an excellent nurse. Dana reminded me how her friends—including me—had held her up during the weariness of her own breast cancer treatments years ago. As a fellow nurse, she also knew my conflicted thoughts.
“Try treatment,” Dana advised; “you can always stop.” Then she added, “This is a ministry you did not ask for.”
I sensed God leading me to take the first step down the treatment road. As I began the journey, I clung to a quote from a former pastor: “Surround yourself with praying friends and know what you have control over.” Thankfully, I was already surrounded by praying friends. Jesus had provided sturdy shoes to walk my cancer treatment journey.
As I began cancer treatment, I was more grateful than ever for all the beautiful, godly people in my life. Not only did my friends pray for me, but soon many people I didn’t even know were also praying for my healing. God also cared for me through my friends in tangible ways. Carole gave me a chemo shirt with zippers to access my IV port. Kathy stayed by my side during surgeries. Linda sent yellow roses, delivered early on the same morning I was going in for a blood transfusion. The support poured in from other friends and my church family.
I couldn’t imagine my cancer as a ministry, as Dana had predicted. But in the months that followed, I prayed for and with many people in that chemo room. I shared my faith and the gospel message with my amazing medical team, including my Jewish oncologist.
One day in the chemo room, a fellow patient named Vivian struggled to open a juice box due to weakness. After I helped her, I asked if I could pray for her before her upcoming transfusion. She agreed, and I prayed for God to give her strength, protection and restored health. I saw her two more times, and she appeared better, even perky. Each time, I prayed with her again. Vivian was one of many people whose paths intersected mine, orchestrated by God’s hand.
I completed chemo in May 2023, had a lumpectomy in June, and completed radiation that August, when I was pronounced cancer-free. I have continued to receive clear scans and negative tumor markers.
And now, just like Jimmy Fallon, I would like to write a thank-you note to God.
Thank you for your never-ending, never-failing reckless love. For reminding me to keep my eyes fixed upon Jesus. For the friends and medical professionals who walked beside me. And for Your provision of strength, courage, and sturdy shoes for this journey.
What to Read Next …
About trusting God with health problems …
God’s Still Good During Sickness
