I was asked to put this in my blog again so you could read this. This is a story that was written about me in the Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine. I think this is what LIFE is all about.
Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine She survived cervical cancer, lung cancer,and recently breast cancer. In addition Lynda had a serious accident which required major back surgery and both of her knees had to be replaced. Here is her compelling story: When my doctor told me that I had breast cancer and that I had to have a double mastectomy, I took out my date book and I showed him my schedule. I told him,“Look Doc no where on my schedule does it say take time out for breast cancer, but it does say work at Disney World, The Happiest Place on Earth.” He got a good chuckle out of that and told me that I was going to be okay and that he loved my out-look on life.I have always had a wonderful group of supportive friends, I also have my internet friends that I met over ten years ago on the Oprah internet chat room. We have are union once a year. When Deb Randall from my Oprah chat group invited me to her support group’s annual Mothers Day walk for breast cancer in Jefferson City,Missouri, I agreed. I had never participated in a walk or run for breast cancer, and I thought, sure why not. This was the first time I was able to meet Deb Randall in person after chatting with her for ten years online. It is amazing how we reach people in the world, thousands of miles apart, yet only fingertips away, that make a difference in our lives. At 9:00 a.m. the day of the breast cancer walk/run, there were over 250 other breast cancer survivors, and their support friends and family including sons and daughters waiting to begin this annual event. Even though I had recently lost over 150 pounds, I had never participated in anything like this, but I knew I had to do this. So I walked along and boy does it give you time to reflect on your life.I did a lot of thinking and I heard my mother’s voice tell me like she had told me many times before “Lynda never start any-thing you can’t finish”. There were several people lined up the walkway to help show each of us where the next turn would be,and as I walked down the path I noticed I was not walking alone as my friends and my mother were walking this walk with me. No, they weren’t there in body, but in spirit. As I continued this walk for breast cancer, several people told me they could call someone to pick me up if I was too tired to continue, but I couldn’t do that as I had to finish. It took me one hour and nine minutes to finish. I didn’t finish FIRST, or SECOND, or THIRD, but I did FINISH. I finished LAST, but I finished with tears in my eyes knowing this was something else that not that long ago I would not have been able to do. There are times in my life that I know I am the only one that can make a difference in my life,taking one step on a time, not even knowing where the next turn in the road is, but knowing there will be someone there to help me make that turn or to help me in the journey of healing. I know I am not alone. I know the way will be shown tome, and I know I can do this. For me, life is about going the distance in each of life’s challenges. Perhaps I have had more challenges than others, perhaps not, but we each have road blocks that we CAN over-come, yet I am learning that help is always there in walking the course of life. When I was in the hospital facing lung cancer, my mother came to visit me. Not only was I facing a grave health condition,but my husband had just announced to me that he was divorcing me and leaving me for another woman. I told my mother I just wanted to die. I had survived the loss of children, and cervical cancer, but I had always struggled with my health and atone time I was taking over 35 medications,and now something as serious as lung cancer and my husband wanting a divorce. Living was just too much for me. I had written to my mother to be taken off of life support. Her response to my ‘last‘ request was "if you are looking for sympathy you can find it in the dictionary between s...and syphilis". Well, it seems maybe my mother knew me better than I knew myself. She told me I was going to get better and get out of the hospital and come live with her in the mountains. That new beginning, up in the mountains with her there for me was the medicine that I need-ed that the doctors couldn’t give me. We bonded as mother and daughter as we had never done before. We had never been close until that time. She and I had become best friends, and then suddenly, a phone call changed my life once again, my best friend, my mother was taken by a massive heart attack at age 62. Since the divorce and surviving lung cancer, my life has changed a great deal I have married a wonderful man, Don, my soul mate. We are both retired and enjoy traveling together. We enjoy the sunrise and the sunset and everything in between as we travel the country in our RV. I know I have my own journey, my own experiences, and my own reflections upon my life. Even with the heart aches I have experienced, I am still going down the paths of life with both my spiritual and living friends by my side. Going the distance the best I can, one step at a time, one mile-stone at a time. Lynda can be reached at bunnyfartsLynda@aol.com. -Lynda Perdew Goes the Distance Lynda Perdew knows heartache and some of the most difficult life challenges on their deepest levels; she has experienced the loss of two children and divorce. Her mother was a breast cancer survivor. Lynda herself is a three time cancer survivor. Lynda happily wears her medal for finishing last in the 2006 Mother’s Day Walk for Breast Cancer.
