Motivation March- Colon Cancer

So my Theme for March is all about Motivation and today was the start of Colon Cancer Awareness month so today was "wear blue day"

I have a dear friend that I met through my work with the Cancer Coalition, last year. We have something in common, both of us have lost a parent to cancer. So today I wanted to share with you the story of her mother, and of her and her family. My friend, Belinda, and her family are very inspiring and I'm honored that she's allowing me to share her story... So here you go:

"May 30th will make two years since we laid my mom to rest. She had just turned 43 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, and our lives were turned upside down. I had always said we were such a blessed family because we hadn't had anyone with cancer, then it seemed like I ate my words twice. In just 5 weeks my moms cancer had spread from her colon to her liver and bones. She was determined to beat this thing, and always tried to smile, but I know how scared she must have been. She began chemo and radiation in January 2011, and it quickly took a toll on her body. A scan after 4 treatments showed that the chemo wasn't stopping the cancer growth. The initial tumor in her colon was nearly 8 inches long at this point. She came to stay with me and my husband and kids each time she took the chemo, and that time is something I would never trade for anything. My girls were everything to my mom, and they didnt quite understand why mammaw was so sick. I remember her yelling for me when she was in the shower and noticed her hair coming out by the handfuls. She said she didn't think it would be coming out so soon, and it really took a toll on her emotions. By April, her dr had told us there wasn't any hope and we only had about two weeks left with her. My dad, not ready to give up, had her sent to another hospital with better cancer experience. There, they decided to operate on her to remove her bowel obstruction. At this point she had stopped acting like herself. She talked out of her head, didn't know us at times, and didnt remember things from her past. Because of her mental changes, when they operated to remove the blockage, she never really gained consciousness again. I didn't get to be there with her before her operation because my little girl was in Cincinnati children's hospital with a staph infection, so I never got to tell her that I loved her again and be able to hear it back. We stayed in Lexington a couple more weeks with her, then we brought her home with Hospice. After three days, we each got time alone with her to talk to her and tell her how much we love her. Then around five in the morning she passed, while we were all surrounding her with love. My girls were in the next room sleeping, and didnt have a clue of what was in store for our family, and how their little hearts would be broken when they woke up. She had told me once that she had waited so long to become a mammaw, but only got to be one for 4 years. Our lives have forever been effected by colon cancer. A mother truly is the pillar that holds a family up, and cancer took that from us. Since her passing, she had had two grandsons born and it seems so unfair that they will never meet the grandma that would have spoiled them rotten, and this is because of cancer. We now have some emptiness at each holiday, and at times find it hard to enjoy them. I can't watch commercials about cancer without crying, I can't see a mother daughter themed movie without crying ( Disney's Brave), and when each of her grandchildren reach a milestone or say something amazing I get so mad at cancer because I can't call her to tell her about it. Cancer has taken do much from us, but there are things it could never take. It could never take the memories I have of her walking to the altar in tears asking Jesus to forgive her of her sins and come I to her heart, this was three days before her diagnosis, so I know God was preparing her for her fight that night he laid conviction upon her heart. It can't take my memory of her standing in severe bone pain and testifying to the church that if God took her or let her stay, she would be a winner either way. Cancer cannot take the memories of our family, our conversations, good times and bad, or my faith that I will see her again some day. My heart was broken when I wasn't at the hospital before her surgery to say goodbye, but I believe I know why now. I believe I didn't get to say goodbye because God wants me to serve him everyday and strive for that day when ill see her again and get to say hello. Cancer took my best friend, but it cannot take my faith and my joy in knowing that my mom isn't suffering anymore and that she will never know sickness again. The pain of losing her is still here everyday, but knowing how we can testify to others and inform them helps to know that through it all, we can make a difference. Early screening and detection truly does save lives. My mom had several screenings before her diagnosis because she had odd symptoms, but nothing ever showed up until it was to late. I urge everyone to get screened at the first sign of something odd because colon cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable." -Belinda Riley

I hope this story has touched you like it has me and others who've heard it. I stand with Belinda as she urges everyone to get screened! Take part in regular screening when your Doctor starts suggesting it and if there are signs PLEASE DON'T ignore them. If you've been touched by your own family member who has or had cancer know that you are not alone. Look at the strength of Belinda and her family and know that she fought hard for that strength, please stay strong too. Until next time...