My Health Journey in 2023

I shared this on social media this week and wanted to share it with you, the wonderful Inspired by Life and Fiction community, too. . .

I’ve had my hands so full with this privately that I haven’t felt the tug to share this publicly until now—at the start of this new year. (I’ve never been so happy to see one year end or so grateful to welcome a new year with new hope.)

In February of 2023, I went in for my annual mammogram. I wasn’t too worried when they notified me that I’d need a follow-up mammogram, because I’d experienced that in the past and received good results. But this time, the second mammogram led to an ultrasound. Which led to a biopsy. Which brought the news, on April Fool’s Day of all days, that the small tumor (which had shown up on just one, single slide of that initial mammogram) was cancerous.

At the time when I received that news, I was going about my regular life. No health concerns. Feeling great. It was a challenge to wrap my head around it. “I have cancer? How? No, this can’t be right,” gradually became, “I have cancer.”

Genetic testing, an MRI, and decisions followed. Then came, on Cinco de Mayo of all days, lumpectomy surgery. After that, they tested lymph nodes and the tumor and determined that my treatment would include 20 sessions of radiation therapy.

I began radiation in mid-June. My body was dealing with it reasonably well until I came down with severe nausea after treatment #7. They ran tests and discovered I had strep throat. Radiation + strep + heavy antibiotics ended up equaling weeks of sickness while I struggled through the final 13 radiation sessions.

I believe patients signal the end of their chemo treatments by ringing a bell. At my clinic, you can sound a gong when you finish radiation treatments. This is me, joyfully sounding the gong.

At the end of all that, I went in for a mammogram and the news came back saying that the doctors saw, “No areas of concern.”

Praise God!

Since then, I’ve been on medication and my doctors will continue to monitor me closely via twice-yearly mammograms and frequent office visits.

All that to say . . .

2023 was a HARD year for me. It was scary and stressful and physically taxing. I spent many days last year waiting for test results and wrestling with the uncertainty of “not knowing”.

At this point on this journey . . .

Do I think God is good? YES. More than ever.

Do I think God can be trusted? YES. More than ever.

He showed me His love, power, and provision in a hundred ways. He renewed my reliance on Him. He gave me a fresh understanding of how each day of life is a gift. He gave me His peace. He reminded me about the things that matter and the things that honestly don’t. And He graciously blessed me with big joys in and around the struggles.

Ya’ll! A year before this diagnosis, He guided me to indie-publish my current series. Which meant I had no contractual deadlines in 2023. I was free to write whenever I felt up to it. Also far before this diagnosis, I booked a 30th anniversary trip for our family to Europe. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that the trip ended up falling at the absolute PERFECT TIME between surgery and radiation. Which meant I was able to go and experience that with my husband and children.

In SwitzerlandIn Germany

My surgery took place just a week before my oldest daughter’s college graduation. But because the surgery had a relatively quick recovery time, my doctor gave the go-ahead for me to travel, and I was able to sit in the arena and cheer for her as she received her diploma.

I always knew I’d share this widely when the Lord prompted me to do so because 1) I want to sing His praises and 2) I’d like to gently encourage you to keep up with your mammograms. I’m very, very thankful that my tumor was detected early.

“The LORD is good and his gracious love stands forever. His faithfulness remains from generation to generation.” Psalm 100:5 I don’t know what the future holds, but I know He will be there. And that is everything.

Happy new year with love, Becky XO XO