How did you find out you had cancer?

 I found a lump myself; then I had a mammogram and ultrasound which showed nothing.  Six months later I could still feel the lump so I had a second mammogram and ultrasound which showed nothing again.  I refused to leave the place until someone felt what I was feeling.  When the lab guy felt it, he immediately sent me to a surgeon who did a biopsy which showed cancer.

 

Who did you tell about your diagnosis first and how did you tell them?

 My husband was there with me.  After him, I had to tell my son and my daughter, who were 16 and 14, respectively.

 

How did you cope with the diagnosis?

 I got right to work fighting for my life.  I had too many people to live for.  I teach school; I have 120 teenagers who look to me everyday to be strong and to be brave and to teach them.  I  had a son in my eleventh grade class and a daughter who had just entered high school as a ninth grader.  I had a family of friends at school and at church.  My sister had died from breast cancer two years before I was diagnosed.  Everyone in my life needed to see me as a fighter.

 

How did you deal with the affects of chemotherapy in your day to day life?

 I took off from school to have chemo; then I would be back at school the next day.  I tried to arrange chemo on Fridays so I could have the weekend to rest and feel better.  I read everything that I could about it and the effects which it would have on my life.  I tried to eat right and get enough rest.  I had my students as a major support system.  I wore hats to school when I lost my hair; they brought me hats and I would wear them.  I was honest with them, and they helped me get through the months of chemo.  My students got me through the days at school. 

 

How did family and friends show you support and encouragement?

 My husband and my children did everything around the house for me.  My church family cooked meals for me for six months; I finally had to tell them to just bring food two or three nights a week–we had so much food.  My school family did everything that they could to help me while I was at school.  I taught all day long, and I came home and got in my recliner and rested and did school work.

 

 How long have you been cancer free? 

I was cancer free from 2000 until 2008 when my cancer came back in a rib.  I underwent chemo again, and I did just what I had done the first time.  I wore hats–my teacher buddies threw me a hat party.  I think I ended up with 50 hats!  My students were great for me again–different students but just as great as last time!  I was honest with them; we cried together and then I got to work teaching again.  I missed a day for chemo and would be back to teaching the next day.  This time was a little harder because I was also recuperating from knee replacement surgery so I was on a walker most of the time. 

 

 How has the experience changed you?

 I take life one day at a time and thoroughly enjoy each day.  I teach my students to enjoy each life as though it were their last.  I teach them to see the beauty of life as God has given it to us.  I hope that I have taught them that they can do anything–face anything and overcome!  I am VERY close to my students; many have relatives who have cancer and want to talk about it to someone.  I am that someone.   I tell people that I love them…I tell them often, and I truly mean it.  I see life as a blessing, and I thank God that he is using me in this way.  Maybe I will help my students with their future lives.  I want to be an example to everyone…we can do whatever God puts in front of us. 

 

 How does the threat of recurrence affect your life? 

 I always feel as though I have a keg of dynamite under me, and it could explode at any time.  But I still love life and show that to my family, my friends, and my students everyday.  I never give up!

 

 What advice would you give someone battling cancer right now? 

Live life to the fullest.  Laugh and love…a lot of each will help you.  Hug people…tell people you love them…find a good doctor and do everything he/she says.  Trust in God to know what is best for you, but help him by doing what you can to fight the disease.

 

 How did you get through the tough days? 

Laughter…love…family…friends…my students…knowing people were depending on me…

 

 How would you answer “If I knew then, what I know now I would have…”

 I might have tried to eat better…not worry about things that were not important.

 

 Did you do something to pamper yourself during treatment? What and why?

 I rested every night.  I left things undone.  I tried not to worry about things that were not important.  I took care of myself better that I had any time in my life.

 

 What is the most memorable piece of advice you got when you were diagnosed?

 A sweet lady from my church wrote me a very short note that said that she was a 50-year survivor.  That has given me hope for many years. 

 

 Who is in your support system? 

Everyone that I know…family…school friends…church friends…MY STUDENTS…everyone!

 

 What is the most extraordinary thing someone did for you?

My church family brought food to my family for six months—at least three days a week!  My school friends ran off my tests, etc., did everything that I needed.  My principal let me wear jeans…anything that was comfortable for me…my friends did my duty all semester long last year.  I never carried a bag to my van; my students carried them for me.

 

 Tell us a little bit about your life today.

I teach English to high school juniors and one class of freshmen.  I am the head of the English Department at Searcy High School.  My son is working as a computer programmer, and my daughter is an events specialist in the Marketing Department at a hospital.  They are both independent young people who have been through a lot but have grown from it.  My husband is my “house husband.”  I come home and he has supper fixed, the house clean, etc.  I just sit down and rest and do my school work.  I have friends that would do ANYTHING I asked of them.  They come to my room in the afternoon and see what they can do for me.  God has truly blessed me.  I mentor many student teachers; I feel that that is my job–to teach others to be good teachers.  I am a National Board Certified Teacher and was chosen as the Outstanding Alumna from the College of Arts and Humanities at Harding University.  I am in the Hall of Honor at our high school.  All of these honors have happened since I was diagnosed with cancer.  Again, God has truly blessed me.

 

 Where do you see yourself in five years? 

I hope to be doing what I love…teaching teenagers.

 

 What is your greatest passion, favorite hobby? 

Teaching is my passion; teenagers are my passion….and of course since I am an English teacher, I must say that I love to read, especially mysteries.

 

 If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be?

 I would go to Florida.  I love the warmth and the relaxed atmosphere.  I love to sit on the beach and read.  I might love Hawaii, but I have never been there.  I just love the ocean and the beach…and of course seafood…especially crab legs and lobster.

 

 If you could possess any superpower, what would it be?

I would love to have the power to make people love each other and treat each other well.

 

 How would you describe yourself in three words?

Loving, patient, and caring.

 

 Are there any other messages you would like to share? 

 I think I have said it all…I tend to get “wound up” at times, especially when I talk about something close to my heart.

 

 Who inspires you and why?

My family and my friends…and of course my God.  They have stuck with me through everything.  They have never let me down and have lifted me up at times when I thought I could not go another step.