Ellen Klink

It’s hard to think of cancer as a blessing. It hurts so many people; it hurt my Mom. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 1997, and I found out the day before my birthday.

I tried to be strong for my mom by telling her everything would be okay, and then I would go to my room, out of earshot and cry. How could I tell her everything would be alright when I didn’t know that it would be?

My mom underwent several surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy. She lost all of her hair. Some days she would seem better only to get sick from one of her treatments. It hard knew that the very thing that was supposed to make my mom better was making her fell worse. It’s always difficult to see someone you love in so much pain and be powerless to stop it.

Still, she fought on and her cancer went into remission. She had won! I said that it’s hard to think of cancer as a blessing, but in her case, I think it is. It is a blessing that was hard fought for. I have such admiration for my mom now. The courage she showed during such a difficult time helps me deal with things in my own life. I know that if she can face something so terrible and survive, then I can get over whatever bump in the road I face. I also think it brought us closer together. I’ve always loved my mom, but after facing the chance that I could lose her, I believe I cherish her more. She’s not only my mom, but also my friend and for that cancer was a blessing.

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