A Journey Down the ‘Pink Brick Road’
By Saundra Fuentes
Breast Cancer Survivor
NASHVILLE – Statistics
says, “One in eight women
will be diagnosed with breast
cancer in her lifetime.” I have
to admit, like so many other
women, I never thought
I’d hear those devastating
words; “You have breast
cancer.”
That quote ends in a period,
but for me, and others
like me, those words, “You
have breast cancer, end
in an exclamation point.”
This moment cannot be described,
or imagined, it must
be experienced.
I want to share my journey
through this particular
valley. The psalmist said,
“yea though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of
death I will fear no evil, for
Thou art with me, Thy rod
and Thy staff they comfort
me.” This is not just something
I learned in Sunday
School. This is something I
have experienced first hand.
The hand of Jesus in my
life in a special way. It was
mid July, a hot and sticky
Sunday afternoon. I jumped
in the shower to get ready for
church, and…there it was….
My heart skipped a beat,
surely not….but, there it was.
A lump about the size
and shape of an almond
…I waited until morning,
maybe it would go away…
not a chance.
When the long night
passed, (and they will) , it
was still there.
The following Friday I had
an appointment in Texarkana
at Christus St. Michaels. I
was told to go home for the
weekend, I would be contacted
on Monday.
Monday morning I sat in
the doctor’s office with a
friend who was a survivor
and heard those ominous
words. The only word to
describe this moment is
‘surreal.’
Like I’m watching someone
else, I was sure it wasn’t
to whom she was referring.
While I was still trying
to gather my thoughts, my
friend and co-worker (who
at this time was a three year
survivor) was on the phone,
making appointments with
specialists and getting my
insurance on track. God
placed many people in my
path to guide me through.
I headed straight for Little
Rock to see Dr. Dana Abraham.
By now my sister was
on board. Sisters are funny
creatures.
When we were little we
fussed and fought, but either
of us would take on a bear
if he threatened one of us.
Well, I had a little sister that
was prepared to take on this
particular “bear.”
Surgery was scheduled,
after which i was diagnosed
with stage 3 cancer because
my lymph nodes had been
invaded.
I was then sent to oncologist
Dr. Diane Wilder.
Dr. Wilder ordered six
months of chemotherapy,
with one year of herceptin,
along with six weeks of radiation.
Eight years have passed
since that fateful day. I am
happy and healthy. I am
scheduled every six months
for a check up and blood
work.
I do not know the rest of
my story. I plan to live happy
and healthy forever, but
whatever the future holds….
God is faithful.
