Road to Restoration Through the Diagnosis of Breast Cancer and Walking on by Faith

Road to Restoration  

Through the Diagnosis of  

 Breast Cancer  

 &  

 Walking on By Faith

By

Janice Workcuff

Edited by Charlene D. Kesee

© Copyright 2003 Janice E. Workcuff. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

Note for Librarians: a cataloguing record for this book that includes Dewey Classification and US Library of Congress numbers is available from the National Library of Canada. The complete cataloguing record can be obtained from the National Library’s online database at: www.nlc-bnc.ca/amicus/index-e.html

ISBN 1-4120-1130-2

ISBN 978-1-4122-1661-6 (ebook)

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Contents

CHAPTER I

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER IV

CHAPTER V

CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VII

CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER IX

CHAPTER X

Chapter XI

CHAPTER XII

Glossary

AM I NOT A WOMAN?

Am I not a Woman ?  

 My shape has been changed  

 My form has been revised  

 My breast has been de-sized

AM I NOT A WOMAN?

My heart still loves  

 My arms still hug  

 My body still craves

AM I NOT A WOMAN?

My hips still swerve  

 My lips still entice  

 My eyes still allure

AM I NOT A WOMAN?

My fingers still caress  

 My mouth still soothes  

 My ears still listen, tenderly

AM I NOT A WOMAN?

By Sylvia Dunnavant-Celebrating Life Foundation

PREFACE

This book is a personal account of how I overcame breast cancer through my faith and the help of medical professionals. It is in recognition of those who are breast cancer survivors, and those who will become survivors.

I encourage those who are stricken with this terrible disease to be encouraged and inspired by calling upon their inner God-given strength and spirit to help them endure what lies ahead on the battlefield of life. Breast cancer does require a serious fight that can be won with God’s help as stated in Hebrews 11:1NIV: Now faith is being sure of what we do not see. I realize I am not here to stay but while I am here, I want to be a blessing to someone along the way.

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my parents. To my mother, Willie Mae Butler and to my father, the late Earl E. Butler, Sr., for their love, spiritual guidance and direction, and for always believing in me when I did not believe in myself and for their unconditional love over the years. I love both of you so much.

To my brothers and sister: Verdie, Henry, Opheila, Brenda, Earl, Jr., Patricia and Jacqueline for all of their love and support.

To my loving husband, William Workcuff, Sr;, son, William, Jr.; God-daughter, Grace Wiggins; and great niece, Opheila Walker for their love, patience, understanding and untiring support they have always shown me.

To my family, friends; my God-Parents, The Carters; co-workers; acquaintances; associates; and even strangers for your prayers and support during my bout with breast cancer and the writing of Road to Restoration.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To God be the glory! I thank God for looking beyond all my faults and seeing my needs; for choosing me and using me in a special way that He may be glorified; to remind mankind of His goodness. I thank God for the vision and desire to write this book that it may touch lives all over the world to help whomever reads it.

Thank you to my big sister, Brenda, for all of the loving inspirational poems in the book. Thank you to Bobbie Williams, Michelle Lewis and Peggy James for assisting with the completion of this book; And to my mentor and prayer partner, Cynthia Curry. And to Sarah Freeman-Smith, author of Turning Stones Into Gems, who offered guidance through her book, How to Self Publish Your Own Book, which she co-authored with Mack E. Smith.

To my pastor, T. R. Williams, Sr., D.Min., who has inspired me with his teaching of the word which helped me to find my spiritual healing direction. Additionally, thanks to my New Faith Church family for their prayers.

To the Founder/National President of Sister Network® Inc., Karen Eubanks Jackson, for believing in me. And to all of the Sisters Network® Inc., Houston Chapter members for all of the daily encouraging words, prayers, and love.

To all the Sisters Network® Inc., Houston Chapter survivors for sharing their personal testimony.

To Charlene D. Kesee, owner of Written Expressions Publishing, for her support and assistance with editing. And to Barbara Turner of Turner Photography for all the survivors photos.

May God bless and keep each and every one of you.

Special tribute to Caregivers  

 THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR US  

 Praise God for the Caregivers

As a person close to someone with breast cancer, you might at first feel fear and shock. Not only does it affect the person that is diagnosed; it affects everyone that is a part of that women life.

Caregivers are the wind beneath the survivor’s wings.

Caregivers are able to look past physical form and see that perfect, beloved child of God that each person is. They come out of comfort zone to make sure we are taken care of. With a soothing touch, caregivers relieve the pain of others. With loving encouragement, they bring hope to those who have lost hope.

How you can be my caregiver

•   Accompany me to the doctor’s office

•   Provide mortal support. Bring me a book, tape or relaxing picture or card.

•   Cook or coordinate meal delivery

•   Offer to take the children for me I need a little time alone. They may need a break from my illness

•   Do grocery shopping

•   Help with the house cleaning

•   Do the laundry

•   Don’t always feel we have to talk. We can sit silently together.

•   Screen the telephone calls; make a list of calls, gifts and cards sent.

•   Handle insurance needs

•   Relieve my family so they can rest

•   Take me for a pleasure trip but know my limitations

•   Coordinate rides to treatment

•   Give lots of hugs

•   Openly share your feelings, pray, cry and laugh with me. Don’t be afraid to share with me.

•   Be there for me and continue to support after treatment is completed

•   Respect my privacy

•   Most of all take time for yourself it can sometimes be overwhelming being a caregiver.

•   Make sure you do something for yourself daily.

Psalms 8-4-5: What are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.

Intimacy After Breast Cancer

•   Overcoming negative feelings

•   Acknowledge what you are both feeling

•   Be patient with each other

•   Talk to you mate about your feelings

Rebuilding Intimacy

•   Choose a time and place when you are both relaxed

•   Listen to each other. Then acknowledge each other concerns Remember not to interrupt or criticize

•   Give each other support. This is a difficult time for both of you

When to get help

•   Try talking together with a doctor, nurse , or counselor or join a support group or talk to a friend or minister

•   If you feel depressed or have no desire for sex talk to your doctor your medication may be affecting your desire or ability to have sex.

Resuming sexual intimacy (start out slowly)

•   Try hugging, kissing, touching or caressing at first.

They help you both feel close and wanted

•   Spend time away from the house talking and enjoying being together.

•   When you feel ready for sex focus on giving each other pleasure.

•   Foreplay and mutual stimulation are more important than having an orgasm.

•   You may try a new position the put less strain on the chest area

•   Avoid twisting movements until the breastbone has healed

•   Choose a time when you both feel rested. This could be when you wake up in the morning or after a nap.

•   Take your time, (back rubs with lotion be the giver and the receiver)

•   Give yourselves a chance to become aroused. Remember you don’t have to prove anything.

•   Try and exercise 5 days a week Exercise gives you more energy and helps get rid of stress.

•   Keep your love life healthy Know that your concerns about sex after breast cancer diagnosis are normal and that they will most likely pass as you feel better. Enjoy each other

And now these three remain Faith, Hope and Love But the greatest of these is  

 LOVE

I Corinthian 13-13

FOREWORD

The true depth of authentic Christian faith finds its most genuine expression in times of extreme tragedy. It is in those hours when trials present themselves in protracted fashion that people of faith are pressed upon to exemplify perseverance that transcends comprehension. Real faith is the manifestation of determination in the face of disaster. It is knowing prior to disclosure and seeing before the veil is lifted. There are times when the turbulent of life vex the very soul, causing one to wrestle with the issues of faith. These are the moments when God appears to be conspicuously absent and apathetic. The desperate plea of deliverance seems to fade into the endless vacuum of silence. The story of Janice is that kind of pilgrimage. It is a movement that progresses from restlessness to resignation and on to resolution. The whole of her experience is a testimony of how one can grapple with a life altering vicissitude and through faith in God find strength and courage to persevere. Those who are privileged to read this powerful movement of God in the life of a believer are going to be blessed beyond measure. Perhaps this story could properly be entitled From Tragedy to Triumph

T.R. Williams, Sr,D.Min. Senior Pastor,  

 New Faith Church Houston, Texas

INTRODUCTION

I began to write this book about four years ago and for various reasons, I had to put it down. I did not have the money to self publish. I didn’t have time to dedicate to it. And I really didn’t believe I could write a book.

Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may matched by completion of it, according to you means. 2 Corinthians 8-11.

I am still busy but someway, somehow God has allowed this to happen. In the five years, God has revealed so many things to me. He told me to complete the book because there is a great need for this book. After ministering to so many sisters and hearing their cry for comfort, guidance and direction, there are still so many falling through the system.

Cynthia, my dear friend, mentor, and prayer partner, along with a friend who lost his battle with brain cancer, would always encourage me to finish the book. They made me realize that if I believe it, I can achieve it. I believe I can fly. I am trying to be obedient to God’s calling and getting this book published is a deep desire of my heart to help others.

The road to restoration was tough road to walk through but I walked it by FAITH. Faith must inspire action. It is the knowing by which faith is put into motion. Faith gives endurance to face the trials without being tempted to stop before it is time. Faith produces doers. Faith produces patience to wait for the healing.

Inside these pages lies the witness testimony of hurt, denial, pain, hopelessness, and finally the victory over breast cancer by walking on faith. It has taken me on a spiritual journey in the last fifteen years to recognize God’s

goodness and healing power as well as His great works. I’ve cried some tears of joy and some tears of sadness.

My personal story is an example of the importance of awareness, early detection through breast self-examination, and regular mammograms. It is also important to keep in touch with your body by eating right and exercising. It encourages you to educate yourself to be still and allow God to reveal to you His greatness, and to understand His divine plan for your life.

Through this communication, I was taught not to take life for granted, but to live each