My Name is Not Cancer Girl

I mentioned earlier this week, or maybe it was last week, that the kindness and goodness of people has been overwhelming. I wanted to share one of these experiences with you today.

I got a panicky call from C this morning asking if he had left his computer at the house. With little more than a turn of my head, I saw it out on the counter, cord still attached, laptop bag empty and open. I offered to bring it to him and we agreed to meet at Starbucks at Ellard.

After doing the handoff in the parking lot, I walked into Starbucks. There was a long line and I decided to run over to the adjoining CVS for a few items I needed. I’d come back for my cocoa after the line died down a bit. I spent about 20 minutes in CVS picking up daily necessities which have been recently added to my life: 2 different kinds of natural deodorant (really, a pink ribbon on the deodorant!?! I’ll write a post about my love/hate relationship with the pink ribbon at a later time), sanitizing hand wipes, more Purell. I paid for my purchases and went back to Starbucks.

No line, SCORE! While I’m waiting for my drink, I notice a gentleman sitting in one of the comfy chairs. Victor was a man that I met at the same Starbucks during those interminable 10 days between diagnosis and getting the PET/MRI results. The day we met, I had been making phone calls from the same comfy chair Victor was now sitting in, because it was easier to be around people than to be home alone. I was talking to insurance companies, friends, family members, doctors, and Victor overheard these conversations.

During one of the moments when I was between calls, Victor said “I overheard your conversation. I am sorry you are going through some tough times right now.” We spoke for a while, and he asked me if I was a woman of faith.

You have to understand, I live in the suburbs of Atlanta. We are in the heart of the Bible belt. And, while I am a woman of faith, I am not usually the faith that most people are asking about. There are Jewish people in Atlanta, but the majority of folks around these parts are Christian. And, quite frankly, I often don’t get into religious conversations because I find that religious belief, or lack of it, is a personal choice. My relationship with God is mine, and it is not really up for discussion or for others to witness to me.

In this instance, with Victor, I answered that I am a Jewish woman of faith. He smiled and said that he was glad to hear that. We spoke for a while, and Victor asked for my name so that he could put me on both his personal prayer list and his prayer list at church. He said that he would pray for my healing and for God to restore me to health. I was touched and moved by his generosity.

And that brings us back to today, when I saw Victor again for the first time since we met. I went over to him to reintroduce myself, but he recognized me immediately. He stood, offered me a hug and asked how I was feeling. I gave him the short version of all that we now knew, including that we have found no metastases and that my prognosis is great. With that, he introduced his friend that was sitting with him, a gentleman by the name of Van.

At this time, Victor told Van that I was a woman of faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, clearly letting Van know that I am not a Christian woman. And then, Victor asked if he could offer up a blessing. He spoke so sincerely, so passionately and lifted his prayer to my God, clearly saying “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” letting me know he respected my beliefs and putting his own aside. He asked God for His compassion and for His guidance and for my healing. The three of us, heads bowed, said “Amen”.

I don’t know if I am able to convey how generous this is. But you should know that I am surrounded by the goodness of friends, family and strangers each day. And, I would bet if you looked, you’d see that you are too.