"Maggie, we have a problem..."

[So began my real-life cancer ordeal on June 7, 1995]

I knew from October of 1994 that I had a different lump in my right breast near my armpit. I scheduled a Dr. appt. and a mammogram. The results can back "normal" on my mammogram and the letter stated to have another one done in 2 years!!!! My doctor felt the lump also and since it was a moveable lump, we decided to watch it and report any changes. Around May, l995, I thought maybe the lump had grown a little more so I talked to my mom who has breast lumps that occasionally need to be aspirated...She said for me to get in to see the doctor again. I really thought since the lump was still moving that I would be having it drained or something...So on June 5, I was examined by my Dr. and he said, "Let's just get this out!" So the next day we saw a surgeon in Miles City and he scheduled an excisional biopsy the next morning...June 7. The entire lump was removed and under a microscope, it was indeed---malignant...

Numb from those horrible words, we engaged in heavy-duty prayer and asked those around us to pray, pray, pray. Miraculously, my parents were here (they live 600 miles away) so we were able to cling together and ask the Lord to give strength and wisdom as to what to do next.

We scheduled another surgeon's appt. This time we headed for Billings...(the largest city in Montana) Since my lump was 1.4 cm. and it seemed from the pathology report that cancer had not started to spread into the surrounding tissues---lumpectomy was our 1# option. So on June 20, I underwent surgery where more surrounding tissue was removed and a cross-section of lymph nodes were removed. I went home the next day and that afternoon, Dr. Brown, my surgeon, personally called and said there was no sign of cancer in my lymph nodes!!!!!! We knew God had answered our prayers!!! (When you have cancer at age 38, sometimes it has a way of spreading very quickly...Grade 1V cancer can be highly aggressive...) We were ecstatic and praising God for such wonderful news!!! Of course, the "whys" and being confused and angry moments came too. We relied on the Lord's strength and held on to hope that my time on earth would not be shorter than we expected.

We had just begun our climb up Cancer Mountain. We engaged in heavy-duty warfare. Chemotherapy was scheduled and started injections on July 11. I had 3 more injections on Aug. 1, Aug. 22, and Sept. 12. I COMPLETELY lost my hair on my head by the end of August. I wore bandanas, hats, scarves, turbans mostly around the house and a long, blonde wig for when I would go places. Chemo was very hard to go through but my body and blood responded considerably well. Close to "50" meals came our way from caring friends in Colstrip and Forsyth. What a blessing!! It was better than manna from heaven. I maintained my weight through it all...no I didn't even get skinny!?!?!? We did continue to home school our kids. We learned to adjust and the Lord sustained us all.

Our next and last part of treatment ended with radiation to my right breast. I submit the following article to the Billings Gazette. It explains how God provided on our behalf. We serve a great and awesome God!!!

Angels Live In Billings November 12, l995

I would like to share with you a story of love, compassion and generosity. In June,1995, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and in the past 5 1/2 months I've undergone surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Radiation therapy is usually 5-6 weeks daily (M-F) treatments and many out-of-town cancer patients stay in Billings. We live in Forsyth (90 miles from Billings) and it was our desire to stay in Billings during the week and go home on the weekends. Also, I teach my children at home so I needed to take my kids with me to keep them busy at their work and allow me to keep some sort of schedule and routine in our lives. A friend, Sylvia, from Colstrip, called my husband one Sunday in September. She had heard of what we were planning on doing and thought she would try to help us if she could. She wanted to write Billings motels to see if they would accommodate us in this situation. She wrote the letters and sent them off with a prayer. Two days later, HoJo Inn responded and offered to keep my kids and me during my radiation cancer treatment. What a miracle! A shelter in a time of storm! Sylvia didn't stop there. She wrote restaurants, also and the kids and I ate at Arbys on Mondays, CJ RibRun on Tuesdays, Subways on Wednesdays and Hardees on Thursdays. Kentucky Fried and Pizza Hut gave us coupons to use during our 6 weeks also.

My 6 week stay is now up, with relief, and yet my heart can't express enough gratitude to those I've met and grown to love. I'll never forget Dawn and all at the HoJo. Our financial burdens were lifted in a big time, awesome way.

So, Billings, if you are unaware, angels are living all around you. I love you and all the "Sylvias" who put real Christian love into action.

(To God I give the glory was omitted at the end of article)

Five months have passed since I completed treatment. I go the "doctors" now every 3 months. My last blood screening came back completely normal! My hair is now naturally curly and wavy!!!! It's grown about 3 inches so far! My energy level is good and getting better each month. I wrote this letter especially for those friends I had not contacted at all. I'm sorry for this shock and that it took me this long to write this. some of you receiving this did know and sent beautiful cards and words of comfort and healing. Also, some of you were mighty prayer warriors. The prayers sent our way touched us like nothing we had experienced before. A quiet peace was felt by us all. Don't ever think your prayer doesn't matter. I treasure your prayers more than these words could ever say.

Having cancer and having to go through this treatment may not have been a privilege, and I wouldn't wish it to happen to anyone else; I have learned a great many things. My perspective has changed on almost everything: family, friendships, my Christian faith. Someday I will die and someday I may get a bad report that cancer cells have once again invaded my body. perhaps I'll be hit by a car or die of "natural causes". I think about the Lord more and I think when the Lord is ready to take me to my heavenly home in heaven, He will take me in His time. I don't worry as much about things I can't control because God is in control.

"Maggie, we have a million problems down here."

But underneath it all, around it all and through it all, lives the God of all hope. and with Him, there is always a light in the dark...there is always a burst of green underneath the dirt...there is always a Savior to guide me home. One, of the many books I've read, had a poem that caught my attention:

"Cancer is so limited... It can't cripple love, It can't shatter hope, It can't corrode faith, It can't eat away peace, It can't destroy confidence, It can't kill friendships, It can't shut out memories, It can't silence courage, It can't invade the soul, It can't reduce eternal life, It can't quench the Spirit, It can't lessen the power of the resurrection!"

Just as we remember this Easter that Jesus won the victory over death, I praise Him for the new life and healing that took place in my body this past year. My life is in His hands....Hope this Easter and spring bring you newness and peace to your life. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus: look full in His wonderful face: And the things on earth will grow strangely dim; In the light of His glory and grace!" Celebrate life!!!!

CONCLUSION

It is now l998, and yes, daily claiming God's healing. 2 years of being cancer free!!!!!!! I may add that my grandma had breast cancer almost 30 years ago and she's almost 84. So, genetically, there is a chance, that's how I got it.....Also, my dear birth mother died of aplastic anemia at the age a 34. There is some sort of genetic defect, I would suppose.

When your dreams or your entire life seem shattered, these verses from the Word, may give comfort and strength.

Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace." Psalm 119:50 "This IS my comfort in my affliction, for Your Word has given me life."

Also, the prayers and actions of love from believers is SO powerful. Sylvia knew after her pastor's Sunday sermon what she needed to do. When we hear from the Lord and know of a great need in someone's life, we need to take action. There were so many blessed, not just us, from what Sylvia did.

And, dear ladies, if something is bothering you and you are overly concerned about a lump or something that just isn't right...Heed the Holy Spirit and get it checked out. Also, don't wait till you are feeling ill...Cancer in the early stages is not painful and your energy level still may be good. And if fear and finances are holding you back, just go with God and let God go with you.

Psalm 118:17, "I shall not die, but live AND declare the works of the Lord."

Maggie Mellbom
 

---

Please sign my guestbook before you leave, I like to know who visits my site!