After 18 years, White is still free of colon cancer.
Went for my routine check-up to pick up some meds
I was informed to meet with general surgery instead
Reluctantly after disagreeing I took my butt upstairs
As God would have it, the second highest ranking colorectal doctor in the state of Virginia was there
Dr. Shah just happened to be doing rounds at the Veteran’s hospital and he pulled my chart
After telling him my history he asked me to humor him and get a colonoscopy to start
The appointment was made for the early morning dawn
when I got to my house, I was still torn
Believing there was no need for this test totally far gone
This was inconvenient — I had a lot going on
I was two months away from getting my degree
Was working two jobs the timing just didn’t work for me
Tried to cancel the appointment but the clinic was closed
My man and my mom were truly opposed
They’d agree to go with me and that’s just what they did
Mom said it wouldn’t be right for them to set up for me and then I not show up, God forbid
I was so mad, hurt and couldn’t understand
Why this unwanted interruption was my new command
The next day I woke up and I cried out loud
while dropping to my knees raising my hands toward the cloud
It dawned on me to say “thank you” dear God
for letting them find out something foreign was in my bod
This put things in perspective as I gave Him praises
And I took action initiating much-needed next phases
I spoke with my professors to arrange to finish my work late
The doctor and I set the left colectomy surgery date
This date was set for April 25, 2006
Got the anesthesiologist and team of doctors took me in to perform their medical tricks
Surgery was a success the tumor was removed
Rolling me out of the operating room,
Mom was scared said I was purple and blue and she didn’t approve
Although, under sedation, I still saw my mom’s jump when she saw my face
I couldn’t speak then was being rolled in my room in my new space
Three days on morphine kept me completely knocked out
But when I’d come to the pain in my head made me shout
I asked to be on Tylenol, but it wasn’t in my chart
The nurse hit my patient-controlled button like it was a work of art
Then in a matter of seconds again I was out cold
Still awakening with headaches this was getting old
When I woke up the next time,I threw the intravenous cord underneath my bed
so, when the nurse came back, she couldn’t give me any more morphine as meds
Day eight it was time for me to be home bound — my prayers were answered
By day 14 my tests came back confirming I had colon cancer
It was by God’s grace that this was caught early in stage 2
All was contained no radiation, no chemo — none!
They got every bit of my cancer it was all gone
So grateful to my medical team for all the care which was spot-on
Five colonoscopies later taking polyps out of me
18 years later, I’m still colon cancer free
Thank you, dear God for loving and blessing Me!
I hope and pray my poem brings light to someone’s life.
Being a colon cancer survivor reminds me of how God brought me through, of how great the doctors, nurses and hospital staff members are, and how important following through with medical appointments and health care and self-care is. This poem allowed me to bring it all together.
This post was written and submitted by Elaine White. The article reflects the views of White and not of CURE®. This is also not supposed to be intended as medical advice.
For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.
