The Early Years

I was born in Austin , Texas , in June 1956 where I've lived most of my life. My parents moved several times as I was growing up. Instead of becoming an introverted person in a new environment, I learned to make friends with ease. I was the type of kid that never got sick. My dad nicknamed me, “Well Baby,” because I never missed school or church due to illness. I realized, in the third grade, my need for Jesus as my personal Savior, so I became a Christian. I know that God was my source of strength each time we moved. My parents seemed to always gravitate our family back to Austin , and my church family at Windsor Park Baptist Church was a stable force in my life on several occasions. The Christians at Windsor Park showed me unconditional love and nourished my self-esteem in so many ways. My self-confidence blossomed as I grew up in such a loving environment.

Another sense of stability and strength came from my Grandmother Garner and Aunt Lucy, who I bonded with at the very young age of nine months when my mother was hospitalized for a while. I knew these two incredible women were special to me, but didn't realize why until I was an adult. I also loved to go for long visits during the summer between the third and fourth grade, to my Aunt Mary Ann, Uncle Bill, Aunt Verna Jo and Uncle James' house. They were such strong Christians and treated me with so much love. I know these formative years were important for me as I was developing into the person I am today. Many times I marvel at God's loving hand to place me in the most perfect place for me during a separation from my parents, whom I love dearly. I always felt invincible and strong as a child. I embraced challenges with enthusiasm thanks to the strong Christian influences in my life.

High School

When my parents announced that we would be moving back to Austin from Greenville , Texas , during the middle of my junior year of high school, I wasn't elated with the idea because of the friendships I had formed at the time. I loved Austin ; however, I was settled in Greenville High School and was excited about auditioning to be an officer in the “Flaming Flashes,” the drill/dance team, for my senior year. I was also excited about auditioning for the spring musical, among other things, and all of those hopes and dreams were about to fly out the window with my parent's future plans for our family. I had many friends that offered for me to live with them until I graduated the following year. However, after many hours of prayerful consideration, I knew that God wanted me to move to Austin with my family.

I must say that most of my junior year at Lanier High School in Austin was met with a negative attitude from me. All my friends that I knew in Austin went to a Reagan High School and I was enrolled at Lanier, which was across town. Once again, the Windsor Park Baptist Church family came to my rescue. All my friends that went to Reagan High School attended to my church. By the end of my junior year my attitude improved and I made many wonderful new friends that I still keep in touch with today.

I had two wonderful teachers at Lanier and realize the influence they had on my life then and now, especially when I became a teacher myself. My attitude toward new students transferring into the high school, where I taught, was one of empathy and compassion. Mrs. King was my new drill/dance team director and I still marvel at her loving Christian spirit, which guided me in so many positive ways. I still have a relationship with Mrs. King today and feel so blessed to have been under her direction and guidance when I needed it the most. The other teacher was Mr. Gifford, my choral director. Mr. Gifford allowed me to audition for the Acapella Choir and it immediately gave me a core of wonderful friends that shared a love for singing. Mr. Gifford's influence affected the way I accepted new girls into the Georgettes, my drill/dance team that I directed for fifteen years. I remembered how important it was to feel a sense of belonging when you are in a new school environment.

My experience at Lanier High School became a very positive one for me because of these two loving teachers. God was so good to me once again with His plan for my life. I graduated from Lanier High School in Austin in 1974 with a huge smile on my face because of the wonderful friendships that I had embraced. The students at Lanier High School were so wonderful to welcome me with open arms.

College and Career

My next move was to San Marcos , Texas , where I attended Southwest Texas State University . My dream was to be a teacher and SWTSU appeared to be the best school for me to attend. I was married in 1976 and continued with my education for two more years and graduated in 1978 with a degree in Elementary Education. After a semester of student teaching at Smith Elementary School in the Del Valle Independent School district, I was hired to teach for the following year before that school term was even complete. My principal, Mr. Blanchard, saw something in my teaching ability and hired me right away.

I taught for two years, then took two years off because of the birth of my two children, Brook and David. After teaching two more years in Del Valle, we moved our family to Georgetown , Texas , twenty miles north of Austin . It was during this time that I taught first grade and kindergarten through sixth grade music, followed by 15 years as the Georgette Dance Team director. My wonderful years under Mrs. King's direction were formative for me as the Georgette director. I praise God for her wonderful Christian influence on my teaching style. I also taught co-ed dance classes at Georgetown High School . I loved my dance team and enjoyed choreographing dances and producing shows. This gave me an outlet for my creative spirit. These high school students have given me so much joy and laughter through the years.

In the spring of 1999, I was asked to direct the dance team and colorguard at The University of Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton , Texas , where I was employed part time for five years. Shortly after I accepted the part time position at UMHB, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was numb and shocked that I had cancer! I wasn't supposed to be sick! My nickname was “Well Baby!” I didn't have time to be sick! The entire time I taught at UMHB I was battling my breast cancer. I would teach an entire day at Georgetown High School then drive thirty miles to Belton to direct the dance team and colorguard. In some ways I think my responsibilities with my teaching positions kept me going when I didn't feel like getting out of bed. When you are in chemotherapy you feel extremely exhausted from the effect of the drugs on your body and my current teaching schedule would have made a healthy person tired! I wanted to keep my life as close to normal as possible so I endured the rigorous schedule set before me with God's help.

My First Breast Cancer Battle

I was getting ready for bed one Friday evening, in June of 1999, and I felt a lump in my left breast. It was very late and my children were already asleep in their beds. My husband was working the night shift that particular evening and so I had a full night alone to contemplate the possibility of breast cancer in my very busy life. I usually fall asleep with ease, but this particular evening I was contemplating my future with breast cancer. I have always felt so invincible and cancer certainly wasn't a part of my plan for my life. I kept thinking in the back of my mind that this lump was one of those fibroid tumors that some of my girlfriends had told me about. Surely I didn't have breast cancer. I had my first mammogram the very next Monday. I should have had a mammogram earlier because my doctor kept prescribing for me to get one, but I was always too busy to take time for this very important test . IF YOU HAVE BEEN PROCRASTINATING YOUR MAMMOGRAM………….. DON'T! MAKE THE APPOINTMENT TODAY! That was my message to everyone I met after my breast cancer was discovered. One of my friends went in right away and the radiologist found a very small tumor. She had it removed immediately and didn't have to have chemotherapy because it was discovered so quickly.

God uses our experiences to help others in so many ways. I know He used my words to prompt a friend to discover her cancer before it was too late. In a few short weeks I had a bi-lateral mastectomy with breast reconstruction. During my hospitalization, I developed a blood clot that moved to my lung. I later found out how close I came to death and praise God for His healing of my body at this critical time. Several weeks after my surgery, I visited my new Oncologist, Dr. John Costanzi. I began nine long, hard months of chemotherapy and radiation. During this time my relationship with God strengthened as I immersed myself in God's word. God showed me many promises He made to me through scripture. One of the Bible scriptures that I held very close was found in Jeremiah 29:10 – 12. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. I knew that God had plans for ME because of the way He had delivered me from death's door. I also knew from this promise from His word that He still had a purpose for me here on earth.

My cancer went into remission for two years. It was during this two-year period that my marriage of twenty-four years came to an end. Both of my children were in college during this time, which left me very alone and dependent on God as my comforter and friend. My heart ached for my children as they endured two very hard realities within two years, their mother's cancer and their parent's divorce. I felt like a failure as a mother and wife. I needed God's unfailing forgiveness and He embraced me with love and assurance of my self worth.

My Second Cancer Battle

My cancer resurfaced in 2001. I endured nine more months of chemotherapy while teaching school at Georgetown High School and The University of Mary Hardin Baylor. The part-time position at The University of Mary Hardin Baylor was a blessing to me because it paid for my daughter's tuition and fees. What a blessing that God provided this opportunity for me to work and pay for my daughter's education. My students at UMHB were such a blessing to me and I was able to see my daughter two to four times a week. Even though it was very hard to endure at times, I considered it all joy as I served Him on the campus of UMHB.

Shortly before my second diagnosis of cancer I met a man named Bill Shoemaker in my Sunday school class. Bill was so wonderful to me and always treated me like a queen. He made me feel so good about myself as a woman of God. A woman that had felt like a failure as a mom and wife, not to mention unattractive to men. Bill was with me every step as I endured my second battle with breast cancer. He would go to my doctor visits with me, come over to my house with groceries, cook meals and even mow my lawn. Bill Shoemaker was my hero and friend. My love for him grew stronger with each passing day.

God also blossomed a wonderful friendship with Donna Wimberley. Donna has helped me in so many ways during my single years. She would also go to doctor visits with me during my second battle. Her daughter was on the Georgette Dance Team and she would see how my body was fatigued from the chemotherapy, so she would make arrangements for my house to be cleaned. Donna took me on a trip with her family right before I found out the results from my scans that revealed my second return of breast cancer to my body. She has been such an angel to me in so many ways, but most of all, an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on when I needed it the most.

During the four months my cancer was in remission after my second battle, my Port-A-Cath started to bother me. This is a device that was placed in my chest to administer my chemotherapy drugs. I mentioned it to Dr. Costanzi on a Monday and he had me in surgery to remove it a few days later. To my surgeon's amazement a piece of the tubing had broken lose and X-rays revealed it was traveling through my heart. I was taken by ambulance to Brackenridge Hospital in Austin where a specialist would go up through an artery in my leg and “fish it out,” as he so eloquently put it. He was sure he could have it out in fifteen to thirty minutes. An hour and a half later he successfully removed the six-inch piece of tubing from my body. I was reminded again how God must have a purpose and a plan for me here on earth.

My Third Cancer Battle

I discovered that my breast cancer had returned four months later when I visited Dr. Costanzi for a routine check-up. My cancer markers were up past the normal range. Cancer or tumor markers, as they are sometimes called, were elevated above 38 and were starting to rise rapidly. My vision in my right eye was very blurry and after a visit to the Optometrist, a tumor in my right eye was discovered. Breast cancer cells had metastasized to my right eye. The vision in my right eye went from 20/20 to 20/200. The Retina Specialist wasn't very hopeful of my eyesight ever improving. That very day, I met the stepfather of one of my former high school students who introduced me to some wonderful supplements. I started taking the Vision For Life supplements that evening and two weeks later when I returned to the Retina Specialist my vision had improved to 20/70 in the right eye. I hadn't even started my chemotherapy yet and already my vision was improving. I knew God, once again, was showing me signs of hope for His plans for my future to prosper and grow as promised in the Bible. The supplements also stopped my cancer markers steady rise in my body. During this two-week period the markers started to decrease. This showed that the activity of cancer in my body was declining. Praise God for His timely introduction to the natural supplements that I still take today!

At the end of the four-month remission of my cancer, Bill and I were married. He knew the magnitude of my cancer treatments and he still married me. God was so good to put such a wonderful loving man in my life at a time when I needed him the most. Bill radiates Christ's love every day as a humble servant of God. He has prepared meals, purchased groceries, cleaned house, mowed the lawn, never once complaining about the extra duty he had to endure after a long day at his job.

I praise God that one of my doctors, Dr. Jim Donovan, found the infection quickly and gave me excellent care. Recovery from an infection to your blood is slow and strenuous on the body. All chemotherapy was stopped for eight weeks as I recovered. My cancer markers continued to decline during this period. I feel God's blessing of the supplements contributed to this miraculous result.

My Fourth Cancer Battle

I cringed when I got a phone call from Dr. Costanzi’s office informing me that he wanted to see me the very next day. My cancer markers were rising and he wanted to get right on treating the cancer. That’s what I like about Dr. Costanzi he doesn’t waste time! My markers were up a little at my previous visit and he ordered blood tests on that day which indicated the markers were still rising. I started the new treatment on Monday.

That was five weeks ago and since then my hair has fallen out for the fourth time. But that shows me that the treatment is killing fast growing cells and I’m glad for that. So if that means I’m bald for a little while, then that’s OK with me! It always grows back dark and curly.

My last visit to Dr. Costanzi’s office has revealed that my cancer markers are going down again, Praise God! So now my treatments are on Monday morning for two weeks, then I’m off the third week. Then I start over again. The third week my white and red blood counts are usually low and so shots help to bring them up. Then I feel much better!

My Life Today

I recently participated in the Race for the Cure in Austin, Texas with my dear “Birthday Girlfriends.” They have been such a support and inspiration to me. They continue to send me cards on a regular basis and never falter from lifting me up to God in their prayers. Their cards inspired me to begin Breast Cancer Cards and Cancer Care Cards. I thank God for my dear “Birthday Girlfriends,” Johna, Helen, Cindi, Susan, Lee Ann, Mary and Vicky!

God has been so good to me in the midst of what seems to be a hopeless situation. I know there have been so many prayers lifted up on my behalf and I continue to feel God's presence through those prayers. He has brought me from death's door on several occasions and blesses me with wonderful family and friends. I recently retired from my beloved teaching position, and through God's blessing I have a way to enrich and uplift others with the Breast Cancer Cards and Cancer Care Cards.