Welcome to Motherhood Voices – How I Lived through a Cancer Diagnosis and Learnt to Lean on God Alone.
Our guest today chose to remain Anonymous.
(For confidential reasons, we sometimes take out our guest’s name as requested. They can choose to be seen or remain anonymous and we will surely respect that choice.)
Oneinspiredmum: Good day ma’am. We are so excited to have you here.
Guest: Thank you. I am glad to be here.
Oneinspiredmum: Firstly, we have some quick questions we will like to ask you. Here we go.
Quick fire questions
1. What book are you currently reading?
Guest: I am currently reading “His Healing Power” by Lilian B Yeomans.
2. Who or what inspires you?
Guest: The Holy Spirit, Pastor Dickson Anyanwu, and Pastor Poju Oyemade inspire me.
3. What does motherhood mean to you?
Guest: Motherhood is a gift to treasure and nurture.
Over to our Main Questions.
1. Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do?
Guest : My name is ***************************** and I am an Early years practitioner. I am married with with two beautiful nations.
2. When kind of cancer were you diagnosed with and how old were you at that time?
Guest : I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in June, 2019. And I was just 35 years old.
3. Can you give us a little insight into your story?
Guest: I discovered a swelling on my left knee that I was not too comfortable with. And I decided to see a doctor to know what was happening. A series of consultations and tests were carried out to find out what was going on in my body.
Eventually, I was asked to do a scan and the diagnosis was lung cancer. We engaged another doctor for a second opinion and further testing revealed Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
“Hodgkin’s lymphoma — formerly known as Hodgkin’s disease — is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of your immune system. It may affect people of any age, but is most common in people between 20 and 40 years old and those over 55. “
I started my treatment in July through November, 2019. And by January 2020 – I become cancer free and went back to work. God was faithful through it all.
4. How did you feel when you first received the news?
Guest: My world came crumbling down before me in that moment. I was devastated and cried bitterly. I thought to myself – this was the end.
This is Motherhood Voices – Sharing Everyday Motherhood Stories
5. Were your children aware of all that was happening in your life?
Guest: My children are still young and below 10 years old. They knew mummy was ill. They saw me go in and out hospital but did not know the gravity of what happened.
6. How did you overcome your fears of treatments? Of side effects? Of the possibility of death?
Guest: I constantly had God’s word before my eyes. I had it in my heart and wrote it and pasted it on the wall by my bedside. And even in those low and weak moments when I didn’t have the strength to speak out God’s word. I just stared at those words. It was all I had and my only hope .
7. Did you feel like God had abandoned you in this season of your life?
Guest: I must say that it was a really dark time in my life. But, I knew that God was still with me.
8. What kind of thoughts and conversations went on in your head during this period?
Guest: At first, there were those thoughts that spoke out loud – this is the end. There was also a lot of fear and what if’s. I also had questions of why did I have to go through all this, even though I knew that God was with me. So much was going on in my mind, and I had to fight those thoughts that were trying to make me feel hopeless.
9. What did you do to help you meet the challenges that came with your treatments?
Guest: I exercised, did a lot of meditation and read a lot about this particular cancer (Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) and nutrition. I also met and encouraged other cancer warriors.
10. Did you have a support network? If not, how did you overcome it or find it?
Guest: My husband was my greatest support. My mum was also there to care for me and my kids. My Pastor and In- laws were always visiting, giving and praying for me.
One of my Sister-in-law was constantly sending healing scriptures that spoke to me. It was like she was always reading my thoughts.
My Church – The Covenant Nation had a community group ( More than Conquerors), a support group for people with severe and terminal illnesses. All of these formed a rock solid support system for me in my fight to stay alive.
11. What are the things you did that helped you walk through that season of your life?
Guest: Aside from prayer, I took the communion regularly. I also had a playlist of worship songs playing constantly in and around my environment. This was because I believed that the real battle was in my mind.
I played songs of victory ( I am gonna see a victory by Elevation worship & I Overcame by Ada Ehi ) topped the list amongst other songs for me. I played those songs and imagined myself being free and danced in spite of the pain I was feeling.
I read stories of people who had survived cancer. And I surrounded myself with people who loved me and cared about me. I decided to encourage and pray for people I met during my treatment who also had cancer. I also changed my diet to a plant based diet and avoided processed foods.
12. Can you share with us something unforgettable that happened to you during your diagnosis or treatment?
Guest: I will never forget the response of the Oncologist when she saw my scan result after my Chemotherapy treatment. She raised her hands up and said – ” This is the kind of result I want to see”. I was grateful because this was the moment I had prayed for. I was free – no more cancer!
13. Who was your greatest support system during this season?
Guest: My husband was my greatest support. He stood strong for me, praying, encouraging, and researching with me. He was also ready to pay for anything that looked like a cure. Not to talk of the cost of the many tests carried out and my treatment. It was draining financially and emotionally for him, but he stood firmly by my side. I call him my armor bearer.
14. Did you at any point feel like giving up?
Guest: Giving up was not an option. I was in a fight and battle to stay alive. I remember the day I had my first Chemotherapy session and had an adverse reaction. I was struggling to breathe. But I kept saying – ‘I am not going anywhere. I will not die’ .
15. Was your faith tested to its limit during that season of your life?
Guest: There were those times when the intense pain I was feeling got me crying. But then, I always went back to find comfort in God’s word. These two scriptures – Isaiah 43 and Jeremiah 5:22-24 were my anchor in that storm.
16. What did the people close to you do for you that made a difference?
Guest: My family and friends were always praying and sending me healing scriptures to strengthen my faith.
17. Now that you are a survivor, how are you living your life differently and why?
Guest: My life is different now. I now believe that every obstacle or impossible situation can be conquered. I have come to see obstacles as opportunities. And that there is always light waiting to burst forth in the darkness. I have also learnt to enjoy every moment and be thankful for everything because life is really fragile. I am now more fully dependent on the mercy and strength of God.
18. What three things would you tell a person who just yesterday learned of their cancer diagnosis?
Guest: To anyone who just got a cancer diagnosis
1.) Cancer is not a death sentence , you can beat this too.
2) The real battle will be fought and won in your mind. Decide that you are going to win and keep that image in your mind.
3.) Others have fought and won. Find and connect with them. Also surround yourself with people who love you and get all the help that you need.
19. Your final word for everyone.
Guest: Light and treasures are in the darkness. There is no need to fear because the battle has already been decided in your favor. So fight from a place of victory.
Oneinspiredmum: Thank you ma’am for sharing your story with us on this edition of Motherhood Voices. We appreciate you.
Guest: Thank you for having me on board here. I am truly grateful and thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my story.
Did you get a lesson or two from our guest’s story?
Or perhaps you are strengthened and encouraged by her story.
Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section or feel free to reach us via our email –oneinspiredmum@gmail.com
Did you get a lesson or two from our guest’s story?
Or perhaps you are strengthened and encouraged by her story.
Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section or feel free to reach out to us using the contact form on the blog.
You can also send us an e-mail here – oneinspiredmum@gmail.com if you think you have a story or experience to share. We will be excited to share your story with our audience.
Until next time.
Love and light.
