Debbie’s Story

“My name is Debbie.  I am a lung cancer survivor.  I was diagnosed in 2010 with non-small cell lung cancer.  It doesn’t matter what kind of cancer we are dealing with, we all experience the emotional trauma of the disease.  My story tells of how a small gesture of kindness, a little makeup, a wig, and an evening gown made a difference in my cancer journey.

It was Christmas time.  The company I worked for was having a Christmas party just as I completed my second round of chemo.  Not having bothered with makeup for months, I made an appointment with a local retail store to schedule a makeover.  The lady I saw was so kind.  This angel not only did my face flawlessly but gave me false eyelashes and drew eyebrows to replace what was missing.  When I looked in the mirror I saw a glimpse of the old Debbie.  I hadn’t felt pretty in a very long time and realized how much I needed this night.  I went home and put on my long wig (her name was Audrey) and a midnight blue evening gown.  My husband and I had a wonderful night.

I just finished reading the book “The Cancer Effect”.  I couldn’t put it down.  The story draws you in from the very first page.  Having gone through much of what the author experienced with chemo, I immediately connected with her emotional journey.   This book is for everyone; the patient, loved ones and family members, as well as caregivers. Literally, anyone that has come in contact either directly or indirectly with cancer, which is just about all of us.  I can’t thank Claudia enough for putting her story out there for others.  People really need the comfort of knowing they aren’t alone in their fears and Claudia just nails it!  I can’t recommend it enough!”

Update on Debbie

Debbie graciously shared this story with me about a year ago.  Since that time we have enjoyed lunches together, always Mexican food, and lots of long visits.  At the end of last year, Debbie was diagnosed with another cancer and was scheduled to begin chemotherapy on January 8, 2018.  While shopping in a local bookstore to purchase reading material during her chemo, she was knocked down by a customer, breaking several ribs.  Due to her already weakened condition, she never recovered from this accident and passed away a few weeks later.  Debbie has blessed my life with her enthusiasm, boundless energy, and capacity to love everyone unconditionally.  Thank you, Debbie, for impacting my life, as well as countless others.

“The Cancer Effect” is available on Amazon http://amzn.to/2y45CP0