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Previous Survivor
Stories
Five years ago the biggest
thing Sandy and I had had to worry about was taking
care of our four children (ages 8 through 17.)
Then one morning,
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Bill
and Sandy Cray,
Bethlehem, PA |
Sandy found a lump in her right breast. Two weeks
later while on our first-ever cruise, Sandy called
home to find out that her biopsy was positive. She
heard what nearly 11,000 other women in Pennsylvania
will hear this year. "You have breast cancer."
Within a month, I found myself sitting
alone while my wife underwent ten hours of surgery, thinking about
our future. We were so much in love, had four wonderful children,
successful careers and just four days earlier I had been confirmed
into our church. In my heart, I knew that we would not allow breast
cancer to destroy the life we had worked so hard to establish for
our family.
I am so glad that Sandy cared enough about
herself and her family to get annual mammograms and do monthly breast
self exams. Her breast cancer was detected early. I won't pretend
we didn't have some rough times dealing with the changes in our lives
brought about by breast cancer; but they have only worked to make
our marriage vows more meaningful, our family closer and our faith
in God stronger.
Sandy is now a five-year breast cancer
survivor. With the adoption of Rachel, we now have five children.
And I am happy to say that breast cancer has in fact changed our
lives. It makes me smile to be able to watch my wife spending hours
on the phone and in person counseling newly diagnosed patients. She
is such an inspiration! It makes me happier still when Sandy, Rachel
and I can join groups like the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition
in promoting the importance of early detection.
A diagnosis of breast cancer will never
be easy for any woman or family, but if in the process we can make
a difference in the life of someone who may be going through the
same thing, then the journey will not have been in vain.
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