Cancer survivor Emerald from Ormonde shares her journey

She believes it is faith that has carried her through the most tumultuous seasons of her life. As a cancer survivor with diabetes, she believes God has and continues to use her as a vessel to inspire others and to reach out to those fighting cancer.

There for her

“I remember feeling horrified one morning in July 2019 when I discovered a lump in my breast. I immediately contacted a doctor to set up an appointment for further investigation.

“It didn’t take them long to confirm my suspicion. I was immediately referred to the radiology department. A week later I received the results and it was recommended that a biopsy should be performed immediately,” said Emerald.

It took her a while to process the devastating news that she has cancer. She remembers it felt as if she was sitting with a terrible weight that she could not shed.

“I was then faced with a huge challenge: my medical aid savings were depleted. The biopsy was expensive and I certainly did not have the funds to do it out of pocket. I pretty much saw this as a coin with flip sides. I have to admit that I felt a bit relieved I didn’t have the available cash to have the biopsy done immediately.”

She mentioned this to a friend and explained she would have to wait for her savings to come through in January 2020 before she could go for the biopsy.

“She was extremely concerned about the waiting period but offered to keep me in prayer. A week later she phoned and asked me to go and see Prof Carol Anne Benn at Helen Joseph Hospital, and she explained she will not send me away as she believes in equal healthcare for all.

“I consulted with her and she immediately referred me for a biopsy to be performed. I want to take a moment here to highlight how God sent an angel to open up a door for me,” she said.

Successful surgery

Emerald went in for surgery in November 2019. When she woke up the following day she felt scared, seeing all the machines that she was hooked up to.

Her operation was a bit more difficult as she is diabetic and played a critical part in the success of the operation.

“The doctor managed my diabetes well and all went well with the operation. I spent 48 hours at Milpark and the pain was well managed. I returned home with two drains attached to my body, which had to be emptied, measured and reported to the doctor,” she said.

After Emerald’s operation, she received a lot of support from family and friends. She is grateful for the extended love and support.

“They were my pillars of strength and giving up was not an option. They were by my side every day, accompanying me every single day for radiation.”

She said it is important to give yourself time to accept the bad news because you can only make sound decisions with a calm mind.

There for others

On September 29, Emerald was declared cancer-free and in remission. She is now part of Wings of Hope Cancer Support, which is an NPO initiated by mainly breast cancer survivors.

The NPO visits hospitals for people who has cancer to give words of encouragement.

“Wings of Hope Cancer Support is a caring group of women and men who understand the unique effects that being diagnosed with cancer may have on an individual both physically and emotionally. We can reach out to both men and women as we have been touched by the disease ourselves and have a heartfelt empathy with the patient,” she said.

“Many amazing friendships have been formed and a strong bond has developed among the support group members, both old and new, and we always welcome people with open arms.”

Their support group is available to guide on the best platform that works for anyone. The needs of the individual are assessed according to their requirements.

To facilitate this readily, they have supporters strategically placed in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. With technology, they can provide support globally.

You can find them on Facebook at Wings of Hope Cancer Foundation for more information.