More angels amongst us

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geewhiz
geewhiz Member Posts: 1,439
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I just finished radiation that left me feeling like raw hamburger for a few days. I healed fast but was left with brown scaly skin across my chest.

I treated myself to a facial today. The older Russian womans hand ran across my flaky collar bones. She flipped the blanket back and saw my radiation damaged skin. "I have breast cancer, and just finished treatment", I said.

 "I will take care of this. You do not have breast cancer. You finished treatment. You HAD cancer. It is gone. Now you are a survivor just like me."

For the next hour she lotioned and potioned and soaked my skin with warm cloths. The dead flakes are gone. I looked in the mirror and see no signs of what I just went through with the blistering.  It made me feel like a new person.

Hugs and white light to all of us in this journey together!!   

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited July 2010

    This brought me to tears...there are so many angels among us, that is for sure!  So glad you were in the company of one today...you were blessed!

    Tori

    So happy for you that radiation is done for you too!

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  • g94u67
    g94u67 Member Posts: 436
    edited July 2010

    I have tears too...We definitely need angels with this darn disease! I am so happy you were blessed with one.

    I am set to start RADS on Tuesday. Calling all Angels..

    May God bless you and continue to heal you.

    Jeannine

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  • redsoxfan
    redsoxfan Member Posts: 162
    edited July 2010

    Tears here, too.

    Went for a haircut this weekend, the haircut that I had a problem scheduling with my trips up and back for radiation.  Trying to reschedule, the hairdresser asked if the issue was work. I answered that it was radiation treatments.  She said, "Oh, I had radiation for gall bladder cancer three years ago," and we set a time to cut my hair....

    It's as small shop. On the day I went, there was one other hairdresser.  As my person was cutting my hair, the other scheduled client came in.  The woman whose hair was four inches long following chemo....

    God bless us all.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2010

    Hi,

    I just happened upon your post, and thought about my grandmother, an older Russian woman at the time., She would have done the same, always loving, caring and kind to everyone.. She was only 57 yrs old when she passed, and I was lost without her. She was only, a few yrs older than I am right now. Now Im the older Russian woman, and I can only hope to be half the woman she was. I feel she is my guardian angel. God Bless you and may you be healed.. Hugs..

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  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited July 2010

    That gave me chills...Love that story.... I rememer when I finisehd Chemo and the male nurse -I always requested him-I said to him I hope this is my last session forever. He looked and me and said "it is" He said i in such a firm way that I felt like he knew something I didn't. It was a neat moment. I think back on it when I get down.

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  • LindaLou53
    LindaLou53 Member Posts: 929
    edited July 2010

    Shortly after my last BC dx I had a foot injury and had to go to physical therapy.  The first day the therapist and I engaged in some small talk and I told her of my recent diagnosis and concerns over my high nodal count.  She very calmly commented that she had been diagnosed with BC also and had 17 positive nodes....and that was 15 years ago!!  I was walking on clouds the rest of the day!

    Smile

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  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited July 2010

    That's a wonderful story. 

    Shortly after I was dxed, a very competent and caring nurse manager was organzing all my paperwork so I could fly south for treatment.  She looked at me directly, and simply said "I have a good feeling about you."  I could feel the certainity in her voice, it wasn't just a platitude which I was used to hearing by that point.  I've held on to the statement ever since and it has given me the most comfort.

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  • lexi4
    lexi4 Member Posts: 1,074
    edited July 2010

    That's a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing. It brought tears to my eyes.

    Lexi

    p.s.Hoping your rads tx goes smoothly Jeannine

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  • kimber3006
    kimber3006 Member Posts: 586
    edited July 2010

    Oh, what a wonderful story!  The day after I found out I had cancer, I walked into work, sat down and flipped over the page of the desk calendar my mom gave me years ago.  It said, "In your deepest distress, you are often surrounded by angels' wings."  So true!  I've never flipped it since.  It may stay November 4th for a very long time. 

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  • KittyDog
    KittyDog Member Posts: 1,079
    edited July 2010

    What a lovely angel you had.  I have had many experiences with angels since my DX.  I never knew so many people had cancer.  It truly changes you into a different person.   I hope to one day be able to give back to a fellow chemo paitient who is having such a hard time.

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  • grneyd5600
    grneyd5600 Member Posts: 420
    edited July 2010

    I just stumbled across this post and it made me smile!  I too have had the blessed experience of angels among us.  Most recent one was yesterday.  My son and his girlfriend are here visiting before he leaves for his new duty station in Hawaii.  He wanted an opportunity to go with me to a chemo treatment.  Anyway, my husband and I took him down to the motorcycle gear store where we buy gear sometimes.  I was browsing the doo rags looking for ones that I liked.  Anyway, I turned up one with pretty butterflies and pink ribbons on it.  Of course, I added it to my stack.  Well, one of the female sales clerks came around the corner and asked if I had tried on the full head wraps on the other display.  When I said I hadn't she said "come with me and I will show you".  As we got over to the other wraps she gently took the pink ribbon butterfly wrap and said - "this one is going to be a gift from me.  I need to look out for all my warriors!".  She took the tags off it and gently laid it on the top of my purse.  At that moment I could see her wings!!

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited July 2010

    Jackie..here go the tears again...Wow, you too were so blessed! 

    I love reading all your stories ladies...I hope to run into a few angels too...

    Tori

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  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited July 2010

    What a beautiful sotry....thank you for sharing.

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited July 2010

    Keep posting these wonderful stories.....there are soooo many good people out there.....but being reminded and hearing the stories is so heart warming.

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  • Bugs
    Bugs Member Posts: 1,719
    edited July 2010

    Awesome stories!

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  • Frankie_
    Frankie_ Member Posts: 422
    edited July 2010

    More tears here too as I wipe my eyes as I try to type. Thanks for sharing ladies.

    Frankie

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  • DesignerMom
    DesignerMom Member Posts: 1,464
    edited July 2010

    I love this thread.  I just marked it as one of my favorites.  I, too,have been moved by caring people along this adventure.Isn't it amazing how healing the kindness of strangers can be!   There is a sweet book I just read called "When God Winks" by S. Rushnell.  His theory is that nothing is a coincidence, people like this lovely Russian lady are placed in our paths for a reason.  It is God "winking".  Keep sharing the good stories ladies.  I'm sick to death of all the bad news in the world.

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  • grneyd5600
    grneyd5600 Member Posts: 420
    edited July 2010

    I had a cool experience yesterday at TX.  A new member of our sisterhood was there getting her first treatment.  It was clear she was struggling a bit.  So after they got her pre-meds running I took my pole and pushed over there to her.  I asked if I could give her a "hug".  She blinked a bit and said "Absolutely".  I shared some words of comfort and told her that the onc nurses were great and that she was in good hands.  I assured her that she could do it.  As I turned to walk back to my chair she told me "Boy, I needed you today!".  Girls, I couldn't get my smile off my face all day!  I don't have wings but I sure was glad I could pass along a little comfort.  Hang in there!  We WILL get through.

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  • Jaim1123
    Jaim1123 Member Posts: 14
    edited July 2010

    Awwww Jackie, that is very sweet!  I really like how you refer to this experience as a sisterhood, makes you feel not so alone!  Take care and you hang in there too :)

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2010

    All of your stories are awesome -- just as awesome as all of you !  Remember life is not measured by how many breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. 

    Shelly

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  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited July 2010

    What an angel, thanks for sharing that!

    Sharon

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited July 2010

    bump

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  • SusieMTN
    SusieMTN Member Posts: 795
    edited July 2010

    Like the above this brought me to tears!  It is so amazing the kindness showned to Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors.  If there is anyone who would understand it is another Survivor! 

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  • mumito
    mumito Member Posts: 4,562
    edited July 2010

    wow you are so lucky I ended up with third degree burn that took two weeks to heal.

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  • mumito
    mumito Member Posts: 4,562
    edited July 2010

    wow you are so lucky I ended up with third degree burn that took two weeks to heal.

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  • rcca
    rcca Member Posts: 59
    edited July 2010

    I went hiking in Yosemite on one of my good days between chemos. As I was taking a break (because I was so out of breath) a teenage boy said "I like your hat."  It was obvious I didn't have any hair under the hat. It made my day this young man could be sweet when many people twice his age are so rude.

    RC

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  • ktn
    ktn Member Posts: 181
    edited July 2010

    Thanks for an uplifting story! I too had great chemo nurses. My last treatment I told them I hoped it was the last....they said they knew it was. It sure meant alot and I always hope God is in agreement!!!

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  • grneyd5600
    grneyd5600 Member Posts: 420
    edited July 2010

    RC, great story!  I am always so warmed when the Gen Y and Gen X's give us an extra "hug". 

    KTN - I am convinced that chemo nurses are definitely angels on earth! 

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  • thegoodfight
    thegoodfight Member Posts: 560
    edited July 2010

    I don't know how I missed this post when it was started a few weeks ago, but I am glad I found it today.  I shed some tears too, but they were the kind that felt oh so good.   We are in a very special sisterhood and it is together that we find the strength and never ever feel alone.  No matter how good our support systems from friends and family may be, no one can understand this unless you have walked in the shoes.  Sometimes when we have a crisis or tragedy in our lives we find ourselves with a new gratitude as a result.  We look at our lives with a new clarity and see all our blessings.  I know I am blessed, and even though I never wanted to be in this "club"  I am blessed to have you all in my life.   My half empty glass is once again looking half full.  Love you all.

    Caren

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited July 2010

    I don't know if this story counts me as being an angel but I wanted to share it. As I was almost finished with the expansion process, I was sitting in the waiting room of my PS. A woman and her husband walked out through the door, she had a white camisole on similar to what I got when I had my surgery 2 months earlier and a pillow under each arm, usual bilat position for just after surgery. She had the 'shocked' look on her face. I couldn't sit there as they walked out the front door, I rushed out and asked her if she had breast cancer. She turned with a puzzled look on her face, I told her that I had bilat 2 months earlier. With a relieved look on her face, she asked if it gets any easier, she just had her drains pulled. I reasured her that once the drains were pulled it does indeed get better. I never saw her again or got her name, but I did feel good letting one know that it does get easier from personal experience.

    Sheila

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