One beautiful, sunny African afternoon, my life changed forever. For two years, I had asked my gynaecologist for a mammogram. For two years, he had told me it wasn't necessary. Finally another specialist sent me for a "routine mammogram and ultrasound" which turned out to not be as routine as I'd hoped. I had breast [...]
This is the desperate letter from my friend that started it all (used with her permission). Hi Aldyth This is just a very quick email to ask for your help. Since I have had the news of the cancer I am a wreck and in tears at the drop of a hat, which is definitely not [...]
I have lived in Ghana, Zambia and Burkina Faso for the last 12 years. We originally moved to Ghana because my husband accepted a position with a company there. Because we were going to Ghana, I went for a full medical check-up, which included a mammogram. To my horror, I found out that I had [...]
I have been on a cancer journey with my husband for 8 years In fact, in the space of 10 days, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, my wonderful father died, and my daughter lost a long awaited IVF pregnancy. It was a traumatic time. To his credit, my husband is a very determined man. [...]
Many years ago, we took our three young children to see the famous Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn, South Africa. To show us what the cave must have looked like to the farmer who discovered them, the guide put out all the lights. That darkness was so thick I couldn’t see my hand in front of [...]
Hard. It happens to all of us. Later I hope for most. But it comes. Hard comes in the form of miscarriages, cancer, babies with challenges they’ll face for life, loss of loved ones, accidents, lack of finance, relationships that come unglued. Hard, it can look different for each of us but it comes to [...]
I'm me. I once read of a little girl who, when she was asked how old she was, replied, "I'm me." "Yes, but how old are you?" "I'm me." When you think about it, the words of that little girl are actually quite profound. It didn't matter how many years she lived—she was still "Me". [...]
My husband was diagnosed with cancer in February 2012. Since then he has undergone 18 chemo sessions, a stem cell transplant and radiation. I’ve read that 1 in 2 people will be affected by cancer in their lifetime so odds are someone close to you is receiving treatment. It is easy to feel helpless in [...]
Strength Renewed Strength Renewed is a book of 90 meditations based on actual incidents that happened during Shirley's cancer journey, tied in with relevant scriptures. During her time on treatment, Shirley spent much time in the botanical gardens near her home. There she watched a pair of Vereaux's eagles and wished she could rise and soar [...]
