Hero of Hope

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Lisa Holt
Lisa Holt

This week has been less than stellar.  So far, I have managed to break the air conditioner in my car (second time this summer), the air conditioner in my office, a lamp, a ceiling fan (yes, those two were in a related incident), fried the entire electrical system in my office, my internet was down for two days, and this morning my coffee pot went out.  I am trying to be patient with all of it, knowing that these things are just a part of life’s challenges to make us appreciate when things are going smoothly, but I’m not a very patient person.  I would really just like to go to my room and sleep it off!

 

God has a funny way of putting things into perspective.  In the midst of my pity party, I attended a meeting with several strong, smart women.  Each of these women has become my friend. One of my friends was sitting next to me, wearing a beautiful summer blouse and super cute sandals, and a matching hat.  Her hat covers her bald head.  My friend has lost her hair from chemotherapy.  Fourteen years ago, she fought breast cancer, went through chemo, and surgery to remove her breast.  She slay that dragon and lived to fight again.  She was re-diagnosed earlier this year.  As I write this, she is having a PET scan to see if these many months of weekly chemo treatments have been effective.  Next month, she is scheduled to have another surgery to remove her other breast and she will continue with radiation treatments to make sure the monster that lives within her is dead.  She fights with grace.  She has used her experience to speak publicly about cancer and raise funds for the American Cancer Society. She fights with tears and anger.  She fights with love and looks forward to having this journey behind her so she can get on with her life and continue to be an ambassador and raise awareness.  My friend is a true Hero of Hope.   I’m sure she would like nothing more than to go to her room and sleep it off.  But that is not her path.  As I think of my friend, and all of the other warriors out there slaying dragons, my less than stellar week seems pretty stellar.