At the age of 27, I was pregnant with my 2nd boy, Aaron. I had another son, Ammon who was almost 2 years old.
About 4 months into my pregnancy, I noticed a lump. I didn't think much of it. I had breastfed my first boy, Ammon, for 15 months and was used to getting clogged milk ducts. I also lactated a little while pregnant, so I naturally figured it was a clogged milk duct.
After several months of trying to make it go away, it was still there.
6 weeks before I had Aaron, my husband lost his job - and I talked to my OBGYN (who sent me to a radiologist - my doctor and I were both convinced it was just a clogged milk duct).
4 weeks before Aaron was born, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Me, age 27. WHAT?! Major shock.
We decided that I would wait to have the baby before we would do any treatment to my body.
That was an interesting month - waiting for the baby.
My cancer doubled in size in that month. My son was born by C Section, then I started surgeries, 4 months of a dose dense chemo regimen and then radiation. 2 weeks after my cancer treatments were all done, my husband and I divorced, and I started my journey as a single mother.
I learned lessons through cancer that prepared me for single motherhood.
"Why should we mourn, or think our lot is hard? 'Tis not so, all is right. Why should we think to earn a great reward, if we now shun the fight. Gird up your loins, fresh courage take, our God will never us forsake..."
I want you to know that I know that God lives. And through our trials, we can become closer to Him.
Salt Lake City, UT