My Fight for Life: Theresa’s Story

Index of Stories

A small growth, a terrifying word, and a woman’s struggle for survival begins

Despite the summer-like weather, my body shivered uncontrollably. A roar filled my ears, and my mind and soul recoiled at the reality of the situation I found myself in. My hands trembled so violently that the words on the paper they held seemed to swim before my eyes.
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A woman’s worst fear is realized as doctors tell her the cancer has spread

“Wake up, Theresa! Its over. We need you to wake up!” It was dark and I couldn’t see. I felt confused and wondered if I was dreaming. It felt as if I were surrounded by dozens of people and all of them were yelling. “Why is everyone yelling?,” I wondered. Why couldn’t they just be quiet so I could sleep?
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As treatments begin, images of a father lost to cancer come rushing back

My father and I walked down the sidewalk a short distance from our house in Fremont. I was just shy of my 15th birthday. It was a late summer afternoon and the air was warm. Drivers were speeding past us and they stared at my father. Our progress was slow, and we finally stopped as my father’s energy waned. He sighed as he sat down slowly on the low brick wall of a neighbor’s yard.
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Energy levels wane as 'chemo brain' sets in

She sat in the chair in the chemo clinic, waiting for her blood to be drawn. A terry-cloth turban wrapped her head. Her face bore not only the lines of age, but the creases of pain Her skin was colorless, her eyes vacant. She attempted to stand in order to move to another chair, but she couldn’t raise herself without help.
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From darkness to light — Lessons learned

The prayers went out for angels and they came. A dark haired stranger. A quilt-maker in Alaska. A runner from Castro Valley. These angels came in the familiar form of family and the unfamiliar form of strangers. They lifted me up during my fight against breast cancer.
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