Yvonne: A Breast Cancer Story

This week, I planned to write a post on “What’s In a Name.”    The selected name was a bit self-serving, since I chose to use my own – Yvonne.  I wanted to find out as much as I could about the name my mother gifted me with more than 70 years ago.   I began by entering a variety of  Yvonne questions in the Google and Yahoo search engines including “poems with the name Yvonne.”

I discarded the plan to write a post around my name when Google directed me to Finding Hope, www.findinghope.cbcf.org and this poem:

CANCER:  Yvonne’s Poem 

Cancer can you imagine a world without cancer putting you in bed

Anyone, anywhere, anytime is susceptible to cancer rearing its ugly head

No one should have to suffer the heartache & pain

Can you imagine not having chemo ever again

Everyone hopes & prays that one day that will happen for sure

Research surely after all these years will eventually find a cure

Written by Yvonne Thomas, November 1940 – July 2004

(Written with Hope:  Yvonne’s Poem – When looking through her mother’s things, Linda discovered this poem her mother, Yvonne, had written after she had been treated for breast cancer.  Unfortunately seven years later, Yvonne’s cancer returned”…)

I connected with the anxieties, frustrations, fears, hopes and wishes in Yvonne’s Poem.   And,  to my suprise, we not only shared the name, Yvonne, but the same:

Medical Diagnosis:                 Breast Cancer

Last Name:                                  Thomas

Birth Month                                November

So moved by Yvonne’s Poem, I was driven to match the letters in CANCER to daily positive affirmations and biblical verses.

How I Cope with CANCER

Choose to stay in the fight

Appreciate and show your gratitude daily

Nourish your mind, body, and spirit

Create your own happiness

Encourage yourself and others with positive words

Reject negative thoughts

My CANCER Bible Verses 

“Come to me all that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you peace.” 

“As I go forward, step by step, the way will be opened up unto me.”

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.”

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

“ Encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”

“Renew a right spirit within me.”

Yes, it is difficult to live life to its fullest with a “no cure” prognosis, but it can be done.  The “Quality of My Life Improved” after I was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago.  I will talk about this in an upcoming post.

I dedicate this post to the memory of Yvonne Thomas.  She lost the battle, but her message of “hope” and “prayer” remains.  The “fight for a cure” continues.

Warriors in Pink – Angel Wings

“Honor the angels who have

passed after their fight against breast cancer.