Fighting Spirit and the Battle for Life A Journey with Breast Cancer

Fighting Spirit and the Battle for Life

A Journey with Breast Cancer

Gideon Thompson

The Ashland Beacon

In a world full of distractions and routine-based living, we move along through life sometimes unaware that change comes in many forms. Without notice, our bodies can find themselves in conflict with raging battles that prevent us from continuing a normal path. Taking notice of loved ones, friends, family, and even strangers we pass in a day, we may find that they or ourselves are fighting for our lives. Life can be uncertain in consideration of change, as once an obstacle is presented, we then must find a way to surpass it. Bravery, courageousness, innovation, and support are all factors in the fight for survival. Surviving an internal battle may be the hardest scenario we ever encounter, where conflict is entirely up to the person who has become ill.

Rebecca Porter, a Worthington, Kentucky resident with Ashland roots, has taught the world bravery with her fight against cancer. In August of 2010, Mrs. Porter was diagnosed with breast cancer, changing her world as she knew it. With the presentation of a battle, she was unprepared because there were choices that had to be made and changes that came with them. For 15 years, Rebecca has confronted breast cancer head-on with a smile on her face and love in her heart. When asked what drove her to fight, Rebecca responded with, “my children.” A mother’s love is a hard thing to break and is the driving force behind many great accomplishments in this world.

Confronting breast cancer can be the most difficult thing anyone ever does, as the battle is left to the person of diagnosis. The battle doesn’t have to be carried out alone, as there is support in family and community. Mrs. Porter explained that her driving factors in recovery and stability have been her family, friends, church, God, and the medical community that have shown her love and respect along her journey. One instance of her family’s support was noted as she explained that when the treatments had begun, she fell ill, and her hair began to fall out. The hair loss was noticed on her way home one day and resulted in her pulling her car over to pray after raking her fingers through her hair. Once home, she and her family came together and removed her hair as a team.

Empowerment is a crucial factor when someone is fighting with illness, as doubt, pain, and misery are all parts of the darker side of that conflict. Rebecca has been empowered with the relationships provided to her in life—with her mother, Jesus, and children—who have all driven the fight to succeed. Mrs. Porter desires to pass the support through her journey on to others, as an acknowledgement has been made that not everyone has family or friends on their side. She wishes to one day be able to help others survive their battle with cancer as others have helped her. Rebecca hopes to one day see more of the world, discover new places, make new friends, and find hope along the way.

We never know who is struggling with their internal battles when we are out in the world. Kindness from a stranger or a smiling face in passing could be the upward force someone needs in their fight to survive. With a world full of life and pursuits of self-fulfillment, we may forget to check in on others, which could turn someone’s world around. If you or anyone knows of anyone struggling with breast cancer, there is support and hope available in friends, family, church, and the medical community. No matter who you are, you do not have to make that journey alone.