Blessings, Suzanne

   "But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions,  do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."  2 Timothy 4:5 Young Breast Cancer Survivorship Network Video Shoot 2015 "I am at a great place!" are the words that ended my interview about Cancer Survivorship today! Almost seven years later, what a relief to be sitting there. Restored. This video shoot was set up like a "where you are now" after treatment, surgery, etc. I was one of seven participants and number seven, I must add. For me that was very appropriate going into my seventh year of remission from breast cancer.  The answers to questions came pretty smoothly, as this whole process still seems fresh at times.  I remembered that there is truly always a purpose in any pain. That as I walked through the diagnosis and treatment with other women, I saw and felt the emotions through the eyes of a caregiver and realized just how hard it was on my loved ones. Every va...

"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." 2 Corinthians 1:4 About a month or so ago, I dropped a goody basket off at my child's high school for the teachers. Now, let me preface and say it was a work gig, we like to do that at the beginning of a school year in the communities where we have clinics. That covers a lot of schools these days, TherapySouth has grown quite a bit! Anyway, I remember it to be a Friday and I also remember thinking when I pulled in, it was a strange time to be coming there. I had even been there just a few hours earlier (umm, hello morning carpool). Abby politely told me she wouldn't mind if waited to take care of business after she was in the school. Totally get it. I go in, chat a few minutes and as I am walking out, I hear a familiar voice say "she is a cancer survivor and a prayer warrior." I stopped and turned...

"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." so we say with confidence, " The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid." Hebrews 13:5-6  Pink Flower from my walk today:)  I thought I would share a journal entry from my caringbridge site on getting back to normal (and I repeat is there such a thing as normal???) Haha.  Other journal can be read  Here , just go to the bottom of the page and hit the right arrow to start at the beginning. If you are just starting your journey with a diagnosis or in remission, have a family member or friend going through breast cancer... my prayer is that  you will find hope written on the pages . Caringbridge Journal July 16, 2010 11:46am "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7 Not of us, Lord but to you, your glory. My first oncology checkup was....NORMAL. That's what she said "you're b...

"If God is all you have, you have all you need." John 14:8 Another October of Pink and though I had on navy and paisley today, I noticed my pink pin right beside my name tag. I put them on together as a team. A subtle yet vivid reminder to me when I caught a glimpse of it in the mirror today. Although I did laugh several times when it was upside down and I wondered if people thought I was making some kind of weird statement with the "upside down pink ribbon" haha. I love all the pink, it speaks loudly of God's healing and wholeness to me. I started these "31 days of Pink" last year, you can read the first post  here , This year will be a little different as I will focus more on survivorship and life after treatment for breast cancer.  So we will take a break from the "Get Your House in Order" series and hopefully, maybe just maybe, I may get some time to get a few projects done and show the progress in November. October is loo...

" Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly above all that we think, according to the power that works in us." Ephesians 3:20 2nd Chemo treatment Many people ask God "why" when they find out they have cancer. I never ask Him that question, His word says "I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for  I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (Living Bible)  However, there came a point when I ask Him "How?" That question came on the day I met with my new oncologist and one of the nurses. Being given so much information about different medicines, side effects and a time frame of a year, led me to honestly ask in prayer "How Lord? How will I do this for a year and still be living a somewhat normal life?" I got my answer pretty quickly...".. Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit." Zechariah 4:6 And. It. Was. So. I have ...

"I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well."  Psalm 139:14 My scars have healed over time.  The ones left are the reminders  to never take lightly,  the Sovereignty of God.  Just think of His nail scarred hand. My first day at the Cancer Center 2009 5 years later, on yearly visits now, 2014 Thankful Blessings,  Suzanne "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act." Psalm 37:5

" Every good and perfect gift comes from above." James  1:17 Being diagnosed with breast cancer one week ,  and having surgery the next week ,  did not leave a whole lot of time to research what all I would need after surgery.  As October is  Breast Cancer Awareness  month, I thought I would show you all an easy way of personalizing a gift to include practical items that can be given to someone when returning home from the hospital!  This helped me a lot during my time of need. Let me first share a little about my experience : The day I got home from the hospital  after  having a bilateral mastectomy, I was so happy to see my children  ( who were five and nine years old at the time ) . However, I quickly realized that my weak condition concerned them and I felt helpless.  I called my friend Heather in tears, and asked if she could come pick them up after work and spend some time with th...

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." Proverbs 4:7   Reading is one of my loves and I hope that this list of books may be helpful for you or a friend going through breast cancer. The subject is vast and there are a ton of books out there! I chose not to use google for the first week or so and didn't begin any of the subject books until a week or so after surgery. Some books I started and had to wait until later to finish. It can be very overwhelming to read about other patients journey before you get to certain places. Odds are you will not have any of the same side effects or symptoms. I read the Bible every day with one of my devotion books. Otherwise, I read these books over the course of five years. I would also love any comments on books you have read and recommend! Here's the List: 1)The Bible (truth, word of God) 2) Pearls From Heaven:Your Heavenly Father's Words of Love and Comfort  ...

"See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." Isaiah 49:16 Then and Now..Left is Easter 2009, Right is February 2014..both are so funny to me! As I write this post today, I have a full heart from my day of reflection yesterday. It took me the entire day to get that post about my children written (Abby). I guess it has been a while since I allowed myself to remember so deep, the fact that I was unable to care for my babies and no matter how bad I felt, I just wanted to make sure they were "occupied." God provided above and beyond what I could have imagined. Needs were met every single day. And he protected me in the beginning days from knowing exactly what Abby and Luke were going through. You see they were His children before they were mine and Jeff's children! He had them in His hands all along.  So today I will talk about Luke's perspective as a five year old along and continue with more of Abby's book. ...

"Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14 Abby(9) and Luke (5) holding their dogs, day before my surgery 2009 I guess there is really nothing that easy about going through breast cancer, but at the top of my list for difficult...telling our five and nine year old that I had cancer. When I heard the words come out of the surgeon's mouth, "I am sorry, you do have breast cancer", I remember looking at Jeff and saying "are you okay?" and he saw a look of shock on my face. I did take a deep breath and  follow up with "well, God is in control." And the surgeon agreed. As we began talking about what my options were with surgery and then the discussion of my Mother having a history of breast cancer in forties, he briefly mentioned me having the BRCA-1 testing done. The next words seemed to come out like they were in slow motion, ...

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven."                                                                                                                                  Matthew 10:32  It should be no surprise that I like to tell a good, long, every single, detail, story! Well, pretty quickly after my breast cancer diagnosis, my friend, Lori Burke, set up a Caringbridge site for me. Five years ago, I had no idea what a blog was, let alone the fact that I had one, until someone referred to "my blog" one day. I highly recommend Caringbridge,org because it is a way to keep your friends and family informed of ...