Reality Rally

Today we are thrilled to share with you a story from a cancer survivor--Dawn Powell--who journeyed through her illness with the support and help of Michelle’s Place!

“Anniversaries, that is how I have begun to mark time.  Tonight, as I write this I mark the one year anniversary of my final reconstruction surgery. October 29, 2015 marked 2 years since my double mastectomy declaration of being officially CANCER FREE!!

There are many anniversaries that are celebrated now, but my favorite is March 25th.  It was that day in 2013 I received the phone call at work confirming that yes, I had cancer. As devastating as that day was in 2013, it is equally exciting each year to mark time on that date.  I am still here. I am a survivor. Praise God!

I was very blessed in that when I was diagnosed I had so much support all around me.  I worked in an industry with primarily men.  There was only one other woman. The guys I worked with seemed to make it their mission to make sure I was okay.  They would drive me chemo appointments and when things got really rough, and I was in a wheelchair they would make sure I had anything I needed brought to my desk.  I had constant encouragement from friends in the community that came in many forms and was so appreciated.  My church family helped in many ways, and showed me how the body of Christ is supposed to work.  My family stepped up in ways that I am to this day astounded by, handling the very hard time with grace and humor.  

One of the other places I gained support, encouragement, and practical help was Michelle’s Place.  I had known of Michelle’s Place for several years, and had wanted to get involved at some level with them because I knew what a wonderful service they offered our community.  Well, life was busy and sadly I didn’t carve out the time.  March 26, 2013, the day after my diagnosis I stepped through the doors for the first time.  I was immediately overwhelmed by the love and caring I felt from the women there.  I was given a tour, and a survivor kit that was very helpful.  The kit had helpful literature, a book to show me what to expect, and some great questions to ask my Oncologist.  I was introduced to Cheryl who walked me through what was my diagnosis at that time. (I say at that time, because each time a new test came back the diagnosis changed)  By the time I left Michelle’s Place that day I knew that no matter how overwhelmed I got by information I would have a place to go that would take the time to help me understand.  I knew that when I lost my hair, there was a place I could go to get a wig.  I knew that no matter what, these ladies would understand.   What I didn’t know at that point was the gravity of how important the emotional support given by Michelle’s Place would become for me.

The first few weeks after diagnosis were incredibly busy with many doctors, scans, tests and consults.  I had my first of 6 surgeries during that time, and that was a minor one to install a port for chemo.  By the second week of April I was sitting in the chemo chair for what was the first of 18 treatments.  And so began the battle.  Michelle’s Place has a group of women who have survived breast cancer that call the women currently going through treatment.  This was such an important part of by battle.  Yes, I was blessed beyond measure by loved ones that supported me, but I also had what we can call a “Murphy’s Law” treatment.  I was hospitalized for 3 days due to infection, and then needed 21 days of IV antibiotics.  I was allergic to not 1, but 2 of the chemo drugs that were to fight my cancer. One of the medications that was used to help insure my cancer won’t come back did some damage to my heart, causing me to need a “procedure” and for that medication to be discontinued.  It was so nice that with each set back I could call in to Michelle’s Place and learn that while these set backs were not “normal” they were also not unheard of.  Many women had experienced what I was going through and survived.  

I would receive a call from a survivor after surgeries, or some treatments to check on my progress through treatment as well as my overall physical and emotional support.  Sometimes I didn’t even realize how much I needed this special encouragement until I received it.

One day was particularly rough and I was really struggling with the magnitude of what I was going through.  My co-workers, family, friends and others were amazingly supportive, but sometimes I just needed to talk to someone that “got me”.  I drove to Michelle’s Place and one of the survivors named Ginger was there.  She sat with me, talked with me, listened to me and cried with me. To have a conversation with someone who had been where I was, someone who could give me very practical suggestions to get through that moment was such a valuable resource to me, there are really no words to describe how important of a role Ginger played in my life that day. I am forever grateful.

Michelle’s Place offers so many wonderful resources, each woman needing something different.  For me the most important was the encouragement calls from people that had walked in my shoes.  I am grateful every day for the women who took the time to call me.” - Dawn Powell, Cancer Survivor

You are an inspiration, Dawn. Thank you for sharing your personal story--Michelle's Place and Reality Rally continue to serve others in hope of joyous recoveries like yours!

- Taryn Murphy