That One Pin and Twenty-Five Years

InMay I will be celebrating twenty-five years cancer free. If I could, I wouldturn a cartwheel in my backyard. I am so grateful to the Lord for the wonderfulgift of this life he has given me. Below is an updated version of words I wroteyears ago, because that one pin on my first walk is what I still often thinkabout.

Those photos above were taken at my first ever Relay for Life Event. After several surgeriesand many tests, I was celebrating a year cancer-free.

Atmy first relay, we were given sashes, and on them, we attached that year’sRelay for Life survivor pin, which you can see on my sash. As I trekked around the track with my one pin onmy first survivor lap, I searched for other survivors who had multiple pins. Iwanted to find another woman who lived a significant length of time beyond herdiagnosis. When I spotted a metal laden sash, it thrilled my heart. It gave me somuch hope.

Yousee, when I was diagnosed, I had young children, only six and eight years old.Oh, how I wanted to be with them as they grew, to celebrate birthdays, soccervictories, and ballet recitals. I wanted to mend skinned knees and help consolebroken hearts. I wanted to be there for graduations and college decisions and dare I even hope to seegrandchildren. My husband's daughter when we married and our oldest was just beginning her married life and herprofession, and I didn’t want to miss anything the future held for her.

Ialso sensed a call from the Lord to be a writer. But I hadn’t really evengotten started, and I knew it would take time.

Itall seemed a lot to pray for, me with my one pin on my first survivor lap.

ButI did pray. And many others prayed for me. As most survivors will attest, Ilearned to value every day as precious.

Thenext year at Relay for Life, I added another pin on my sash, and the next year,another. Then I was given a sturdier sash to hold my pins.

Andtoday, by the grace of God,  here I am, atwenty-five-year survivor. WhenI again make my lap at Relay for Life this Friday, my sash will be heavy with pins.

Photo credit Michael Prochaska, Oconee Enterprise

In thepicture above from a newspaper article in 2019, you can see my pin laden sash at a Relay for Life Event whereI was speaking. 

As an update, our oldest daughter went on to earn a doctorate and help many as a physical therapist. I have seen grandchildren be born, grow up and had the privilege and joy ofattending football games, ballet recitals, and graduations. Our youngest childrenare now in their thirties, well established in their careers. I praise God, Icelebrated when my son played goalkeeper at the state soccer playoffs in highschool and when our youngest daughter performed in her senior ballet recital. Iwatched the fireworks with joy when our son graduated from the University ofGeorgia, and I cheered when our youngest daughter earned her master’s degreealso from UGA.

Andas far as my writing—since my diagnosis, I have seven books in print, soon tobe eight in the fall, others on my computer. I’ve contributed to twelve bookanthologies, written over one thousand blog posts, countless articles, anddevotions, and even had a screenplay under option. 

Iam thankful I was one of the very first people in this area to benefit fromsentinel node mapping developed at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, which washuge in helping me not to suffer from complications from the big surgery Iunderwent. Some of you may remember John Wayne was the spokesperson for theAmerican Cancer Society for many years.

So,if you’ve just been diagnosed, remember my pin-laden sash. Nothing is impossible.I’ve been through some scary times in the intervening years, but God has beenwith me. I realize there are others who have prayed just as much and are in areal battle. I have a precious friend there now. Let’s draw courage from theLord, and let’s encourage one another.

Iwant to give a huge shout out to @athensbreastclinic, Dr. Cody Gunn who was mysurgeon, and @themoorecenter, Dr. James Moore who was my plastic surgeon at thetime. I will always be grateful for the outstanding medical care I receivedfrom these two extraordinary doctors as well as their staff. Thank you from notonly me, but my entire family.

Andas we make our survivor laps, whether we have many years under our belt or onlyone,  let’s have hope for the future, andlet’s celebrate.

Ifyou have not already donated to the American Cancer Society, you may go to mybio page and find a link which will take you to my American Cancer Society fund.Just put my name in the search field. Thanks, from me and all those who maybenefit from this life-saving research. 

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).

var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24260977-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023