Although I just moved here a little over a year ago, I am not a stranger to Crook County.
My children and I spent several summers here. I taught Vacation Bible School music for a few years. I met a lot of people and received a lot of love. And when I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, the kind folks of Crook County lifted me up in prayer. Thank you. Now, I am here to share my story.
To me, it seems that cancers are like snowflakes. No two are the same. Sure, two people might have breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, or any of the many types of cancers, but no two people will have the same experiences. And just like everything else in life we all have our own unique coping skills. And the reactions of the people around us play a big part in it also.
I was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma in July of 1999. My first reaction was "I don't have time for this." I was very active being a wife and a mother of two children. My daughter was in 10th grade and on the speech and debate team and I would drive, chaperon, and judge at the tournaments. I was home schooling my son, who was in the sixth grade. I was the owner/operator of a martial arts studio. I taught classes and was working on my black belt. I was also very active in church and school. I did a music ministry with the `wee ones', taught art classes and sign language. And I was in the midst of working on a broken marriage. Certainly, I had no time for cancer.
I am sure many of you know my Mom, Marilyn Malloy (aka 'Tadpole'). I know a lot of my survival skills I learned from my mom. When life knocks us down we instinctively jump up and figure out how to make the best of the situation. They always turn out to be blessings. Now, that is not to say that it didn't take us awhile to see the blessings, but nonetheless they were there.
I started living when I was told that I was dying. I started focusing on the blessing that I have. My sister, Nora, for one. She took me to all of my chemo treatments and all but one of my doctor appointments. She was sick and appointed one of our aunts, who Nora said was the only one she trusted enough to take me. Nora and I became very close, closer than I had ever imagined we could be. My mom, so far away in Oregon and I in southern California, not only figured out a way to be a great source of strength for me, but also for others. She has jumped into the Crook County Relay for Life with both feet and works with a wonderful group of ladies making "chemo quilts." Their time, money, supplies, talents and love are all donated.
Another blessing out of my bout with cancer was being able to teach my children how to die. We teach them how to talk, and play well with others, but very few of us get the opportunity to teach them that dying is not something to fear, and to live each day as if it were your last and to be a blessing to everyone you meet.
There is a country song that says "Live like you're dying" - I believe we need to live like we are living. Live every day like it is your last. We never know when it will be. It could be a car, a bus, a plane, a train, or even cancer. None of us leaves this place alive.
So, July 12, 1999, I was told I had an incurable cancer and was given six months to live.
And that was when I actually started living.
Mona Jean is a resident of Prineville and is still a cancer survivor.
Relay for Life
July 28, 2007
For more information on how to participate, contact either Daphne Weller at 416-0542 or Rebecca Swearingen at 419-3005. |
