*This entry is a part of a continuous series, reading the previous entries will help you follow without missing a beat*

In 2004, I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis: Sarcoidosis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, or other tissues. Not cancer…while still trying to get the AS under control. The Sarcoidosis had in fact attacked my liver, lungs, spleen and skin by this time. The next phase was getting the right medications to bring everything into balance.  I was placed back on steroids indefinitely and a few other meds to keep the pain from AS under control and stop the spread of Sarcoidosis.  My heart went out to my daughter because I had few hospital stays and it was during one of them that her father had a freak accident at a pool party and was rushed to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. She was back and forth between NIH in Bethesda and Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. She was under a lot of stress and all I wanted to do was to relieve her but this was her lot and I had to trust that God was holding and growing my baby at the same time. I spent 5yrs total on disability with a few breaks where I tried to work but I couldn’t hold down a job due to my health flare ups. During one of my painful flares, my healthcare team and I decided to try enbrel injections to help with the pain.  I would inject myself daily and this was working out pretty good.

One day I started coughing uncontrollably and having night sweats. I lost 10lbs in 5 days, so I called my doctor.  She advised me to come in immediately. Once there, they ran some tests and said they needed to schedule me for a lung biopsy. The Sarcoid was in flare but something else was going on. This time I didn’t tell my family. I was calm and decided to tell one friend about the biopsy because I had to have a ride home. I didn’t want to ring the alarm and scare everyone although they knew I had been coughing ferociously.

That brisk April morning in 2006, I was at peace as I went in for my biopsy. This time they had to cut my throat and it would leave a scar.  I had prayed and God’s will would be done. When the doctor came into my room later that evening, the look on his face told me to brace myself. He spoke with a soft, gentle voice as he showed me the pictures and then pointed out the carcinoid tumor…I had lung cancer. They caught it early, so early that they had to wait a few months to do the surgery to ensure that they get it all. One lone tear fell down my cheeks as I assured him I would be okay. I have a great support system and I have Faith that this too shall pass.

I told my family in the peace that surrounded me, some days I didn’t even understand the peace but God had already assured me that I would make it through. I could see my children trying to be strong while it was rough on my mom. My family and friends grew closer as we prepared for the surgery. Behind the scenes, I still made sure everything was in order just in case God decided He wanted to bring me home after all.

I had prayer warriors everywhere, My mom was leading the pack on the home front with my aunts and great aunts while my church was lifting me up as well. In the months following the diagnosis I went from a sized 14/16 to a size 4. I was back to my high school size and as much as I wanted to lose weight…this wasn’t healthy. It didn’t look good to me at all! I had cut my hair all off just to save myself the headache of it falling out. So I was bald and small, those hips and that onion that seemed to make grown men cry were now gone. Who would’ve thought it? I had never had a flat, pancake behind but there I was with one! I know, I know, you are probably thinking this girl has cancer and she talking about her hips and behind. Well, when going through these kinds of traumatic experiences you never know what you will find to distract you…mine just seemed to be my vanity.

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