Stepping Stones For Survival

“I have pancreatic cancer, Yvonne.”

“The tests showed that?” Tears streamed down my face. “Oh, dear God.” I bit my lip so I wouldn’t cry on the phone.

“I’ll have surgery to remove the tumor.”

I struggled to concentrate on what she said next. I remembered her bout with breast cancer eight years ago. She went through radiation but didn’t need chemotherapy. Now this.

I attempted to get more information even though I wanted to curl up on the floor and sob. “Where will you have surgery?”

“Sentara Norfolk Hospital.”

Arleta has been my friend and spiritual mentor for years. We met when she and her husband were missionaries in Puerto Rico, and I lived in military housing. They moved to California. I left for California a year later. What a joyous reunion.

Three years later, they transferred to Virginia Beach. God knew I needed their friendship and a spiritual mother. How wonderful when he brought me to Virginia one year later.

I hated the news from her doctor. What a brutal reminder that life is fragile.

“God loves you, and I do too.” Even though I’m a cancer survivor, I grappled for words.

Inside, I felt fearful and angry. Arleta and Bob served as missionaries in Haiti for fifteen years and in the Dominican Republic for fifteen years. Now in their 80s, they traveled yearly to France for a month to minister to the churches there. Arleta still taught Sunday school. God, this isn’t fair. They’ve served you all their lives. Please have mercy on her. Her husband and grown children need her. I do too.

“I’ll pray for you,” I told her.

“Thank you, honey. I knew I could count on you.”

“I love you and will pray for you and your family.”

After I hung up, I prayed through tears for them. O God, please don’t take her from us.

Copyright © June 2008 by Yvonne Ortega

In 2005, with a book proposal for a cancer devotional and my manuscript, I flew to Colorado for the Colorado Christian Writers Conference at the YMCA at Estes Park. As I traveled cross-country, I felt both nervous and excited. I hoped an editor would want my book proposal. What joy awaited me. The conference location offered a breathtaking view of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. The elk captivated me. They came to the window of my room and walked the grounds of the YMCA as if they were also participants at the conference. The room rates and food were reasonable and the food plentiful and delicious.

Marlene Bagnull, the director of the conference, insisted I needed to attend the conference. She was right. I met authors from all over the USA and editors from numerous publishing houses. I met precious friends with whom I still correspond.

Cec Murphey, the co-author of 90 Minutes in Heaven, introduced me to Wayne Holmes. Wayne accepted my article, “It’s Part of Life,” for his book compilation, The Embrace of a Father, Bethany House 2006. So I became a contributing author.

I talked with Gary Wilde from The Quiet Hour, and he sent me a contract to write seven more devotions for that quarterly which appeared in March 2007.

I had one-fifteen minute appointment with Bill Petersen from Revell, and he liked my book proposal and manuscript. He asked me to write a ten-page introduction for the book and then send him the entire package. May 1, 2007, Revell published my book, Hope for the Journey through Cancer.

It’s not too late to register for the Colorado Christian Writers Conference. Go to Marlene Bagnull’s website at www.writehisanswer.com and click on the link for the Colorado conference. Mention that you read about the conference on my blog, and you can register at the early-bird price until March 31, 2008.

Contact me through my website, and let me know how God blesses you at the conference.

Copyright © March 2008 by Yvonne Ortega

I will give away one signed copy of my book, Hope for the Journey through Cancer and a Starbuck’s gift certificate for $10. Lysa TerKeurst will draw the lucky winner’s name on 12/23/07. Go to her blog at www.lysaterkeurst.com to enter the drawing. Because of prohibitive foreign postage, my Christmas Give Away is only for those with a USA address. Once you are on Lysa’s blog, read through the first post. At the end of it, you will see her signature and below that a number and the word, “comments.” Please click on “comments.” A box will appear on your screen. You do not have to read all the comments there to participate in the drawing unless you want to. At the top of the box, click on “Jump to comment form.” You will then see a space to leave your comment. Click on “Anonymous” but be sure to include your name within your comment for the drawing. Then click on “Publish your comment.” It is simpler than it sounds, and you will see that once you go to “Jump to comment form.” Lysa will post the winner on Monday, December 24, 2007. God bless you, and Merry Christmas.

          I drove into the parking lot of Wareham’s Pond Clubhouse at Kings Mill in Williamsburg, VA for the breast cancer survivors’ retreat. Women in all stages of recovery met to share in a day of “Health, Hope and Healing.” The Women’s Imaging Pavilion, Sentara Hospital in Williamsburg, Phillip West Memorial Cancer Resource Center, and the Williamsburg Regional Library sponsored the retreat. They honored breast cancer survivors with a day of self-care, education, and pampering.
          A tall blonde in a pink flowing gown, a tiara on her head, and a wand in her hand caught my attention. I would soon meet René Bowditch, the Good Health Fairy and co-founder of Beyond Boobs! Inc., the Williamsburg breast cancer support group.
          A continental breakfast of fresh fruit and bagels waited on the tables for us in one of several rooms in the clubhouse.
          After breakfast, René made us laugh as she showed us her white tennis shoes with hot pink shoe laces under her lovely gown. She also explained the history of the breast cancer support group.
          Dr. Louise Lubin, Ph.D. spoke on the power of taking charge, of how to embrace silence and relax, and about the power of our thoughts. She provided each of us with a folder of breathing and relaxation tips and exercises. Dr. Lubin also allowed us to share our experiences and ask questions throughout her presentations.
          Joy Thompson taught us gentle stretching exercises. After sitting for a while, we appreciated the opportunity to move around and stretch.
          At lunch time, we chose from an array of healthy salads and sat at tables with white linen and china. Many of us hadn’t met each other until that day. However, we chatted as if we had been friends a long time.
          Before and after lunch, we browsed through books on cancer and related topics from the Williamsburg Regional Library. Janet Crowther, the librarian, allowed us to check out books, and she answered our questions.
          Mary Beth Gibson, co-founder and president of Beyond Boobs! Inc. addressed the topic, healing through writing. However, I missed part of it. Retreat participants had a chance to sign up for a fifteen minute chair massage compliments of Kerri Mueller. Unfortunately, my massage occurred during Mary Beth’s presentation, but at least my neck and shoulders felt better afterward.
          Back again in the central meeting room, we saw drums of all sizes, tambourines, and various other instruments on the floor. Megan Cordova from Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center asked us to pick up an instrument and engaged us in a drumming circle. After a while, some of us stood and danced to the music. We danced and laughed together. Who says only kids know how to have fun?
          We welcomed an afternoon tea in an adjacent room and then returned to the central meeting room. A panel of doctors answered our questions about chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and reconstructive surgery.
          After the closing ceremony, we each received a parting gift of a pink tote bag full of surprises. One of them was “A Calendar to Live By” with pictures of breast cancer survivors for each month in the calendar. Another was a large pink candle from the Yankee Candle Shop.
          As I drove home from the retreat, I felt renewed and encouraged. I wished every cancer survivor could have the chance to attend a similar retreat.

Copyright © November 23, 2007 by Yvonne Ortega

The last time I saw Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis she led the survivors’ lap at Relay for Life at York High School in June 2006. As a fellow cancer survivor, I also walked that lap. Her willingness to speak for all of us and increase public awareness brought tears to my eyes. I spoke to her briefly about my book, Hope for the Journey through Cancer due out May 1, 2007.

In February 2007, her cancer returned. I later mailed Jo Ann a gift copy of my book. My own congresswoman battled cancer, not only with grace and courage, but with an unshakable faith in the Lord. She never gave up. By example, she taught us how to live with cancer and how to die.

Jo Ann passed away on October 6, 2007 during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Daily Press on Sunday, October 7, 2007, quoted her husband as saying, “She was a fighter . . . She didn’t lose this fight, either. She won this fight. She’s healed completely. She’s where you and I want to go.” His words reminded me of Philippians 1:21 (NIV): “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Jo Ann lived with love and determination to fight for her district, “ America’s First District,” as she called it. She died only to this earthly life. She went from this world into the arms of the Lord. Mrs. Davis could have quoted 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV): “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” God probably greeted her with the words of Matthew 25:23 (NIV): “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Copyright © October 2007 by Yvonne Ortega