In memory of Ms. Isabel Law (Jan. 29, 1947 – Sept. 14, 2008) and
Petty Officer Marcus A. Lee (1970-2007)
It is fair to say that most of us know someone with cancer, or we have personally dealt with the disease in one way or another. By now, you’ve seen the pink ribbons, received an e-mail about breast cancer, or may have possibly participated in some kind of awareness activity.
One woman who lived through breast cancer and was able to talk about it was the late Ms. Isabel Law, a 26-year breast cancer survivor and nurse who worked with cancer patients. I never knew Ms. Law but I got to know her spirit through her daughter, Tamara, a childhood friend of my friend, Shana (See "Who Are Your Peeps?"). I was blown away when Shana called me on Sunday, Sept. 14 to tell me Ms. Law had passed away. Via e-mail, Tami had kept me abreast of her mother's progress, and only a few days earlier, had notified me that she was leaving the hospital after heart surgery. "What happened?" I went back to the e-mails and there was just one praise report after another. "How?"
The family and her doctors have questions that have yet to be answered, but what is known for sure, is that Isabel Law fought a good fight and finished her course.
To remember her life and work, the Mayor of Columbia, S.C., renamed his annual breast cancer awareness breakfast in her honor. Additionally, Palmetto Health dedicated their Walk for Life in her memory. While Ms. Law received many awards during her life, her most important achievement was that she knew her God and allowed Him to use her as a vessel.
This week, I encourage you to join me in honoring Ms. Law’s memory by taking the time to learn more about breast cancer. As a journalist, I wrote so many stories about various forms of cancer that I became a little jaded about the topic. That is, until I began reviewing some of the latest statistics on the disease. The American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures reports,
“Breast cancer is the most common cancer among African American women and the second leading cause of cancer death among African American women, exceeded only by lung cancer. In 2007, an estimated 19,010 new cases of breast cancer and 5,830 deaths are expected to occur among African American women. Although breast cancer incidence is lower among African Americans, African American women have a 36 percent higher breast cancer death rate than Caucasian women...”
“an estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2008. An estimated 40,480 women will die from breast cancer. It is estimated that 1,990 men will be diagnosed and 450 men will die of breast cancer during 2008.”
In November 2007, my play-cousin’s husband, 37-year-old Petty Officer Marcus A. Lee, succumbed to the disease. Prior to his illness, he had spent 15 years in the U.S. Navy.
This week, I also encourage you to learn more about your body. Breast cancer as well as other diseases can often be managed or treated with early detection.
Here are a few questions I’d like to leave you with this week:
Do you know how much you weigh?
Have you been ignoring aches and pains for too long?
Have you checked your breasts this month? If not, why? (oops, stepping on my own toes, there!)
Have you had an annual exam this year? If not, what are you waiting for?
Today, take a moment to pray for those living with breast cancer, those whose loved ones have lost their battles, and those who treat and study the disease. It is my prayer that God will anoint those hands for healing.
While it may seem like cancer research has yet to uncover the answers needed to prevent or cure various forms of cancer, I am encouraged by the words of the psalmist who wrote, “If you can have it, God can heal it.”
As always, continue to walk in your blessings!
ADS
Picture: Tami and her sister, Monique, pictured in front of the Palmetto Health mobile mammography van that features their mom’s pic (October 4, 2008).
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