I'm a Survivor, I'm Not Going to Give Up

Nicole Willms

Story #7

       

     Have you known anyone to have cancer? How about survive it? Jennifer Spalding, a 43-year-old, native of Roseville, Minn., did just that.

            Coming from a family where cancer is not predominate, Spalding did not think she would have anything to worry about. Spalding was wrong to think something was not going to happen to her. On March 4^th, 2005 Spalding’s life would forever be changed. She went in for her yearly physical with her Doctor. During the exam her Doctor noticed a lump in her left breast. He was not sure whether or not it was cancer or just a swollen lymph node, the doctor sent Spalding to have a biopsy. Spalding said “I was nervous put did not think it was going to be anything. I give myself daily checks and I have never felt anything before.” It was 2:00pm March 3rd, 2005; Spalding was on her way to have the biopsy. After the biopsy was done Spalding was allowed to head home and was told her doctor would call with the results. “I have not mentioned anything to my family besides my husband Todd, I did not want my boys to have to get worked up and it turn out to be nothing.” 24 hours have passed and on March 4^th, 2005, Spalding got the call, it was the call that would change the rest of her life. She heard the words cancer come out of her doctor’s mouth and she froze. “I was not sure what to say or do; I did not think something like this was going to happen to me. I was a healthy 43-year-old woman. How was I going to tell my family I had cancer? How were they going to take it,” said Spalding. Later that evening Spalding gave the news to her family and friends not sure what to expect. She knew it was going to be hard for everyone but she was determined to fight this disease. Spalding said, “My family means the world to me, I am not going to let this disease take me away from them. I have way too much I want to conquer yet in my life.”

            For the next year Spalding would go through various rounds of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Spalding said, “This was the worst year of my life. Both the radiation therapy and chemotherapy made me very sick. I could do nothing but go home and lay in bed. I was always sick to my stomach. It was hard for me to even eat. I would end up losing 55 pounds during my treatments. This was very hard for me as I am an outgoing person who loves being busy.” Not only was Spalding sick because of the treatments but her complex would forever be changed. One of the side effects to chemotherapy is losing your hair and Spalding endured that. She would lose chunks of her hair at a time whether it was when she was in the shower or just coming her hair. Spalding finally realized it was time to shave the remaining hairs off her head. “It was hard for me to say goodbye to the rest of my hair knowing I was going to be stuck wearing scarves for the next several months until my hair grew back.” So on the day Spalding decided to shave her head her oldest son Jason asked her if it would be ok for him to do it. Still to this day Spalding is unsure as to why her son wanted to shave her head but she was delighted he wanted to be apart to this memorable day. In fact after Spalding’s head got shaved a few of her sons decided to shave their heads as well so she could feel more comfortable with herself.

            Being a breast cancer survivor has forever changed Spalding’s life. She is incredibly grateful to all her family and friends that stood by her and helped get her through this horrible disease. She lives every day to the fullest. Spalding said “I try and not let the little things get to me; I try and stay as positive as I can because I believe that’s how I battled this cancer.”

            Spalding is going on six years of being cancer free, she continues getting checked every six months to make sure nothing has come back along with getting yearly mammograms. Even though she is cancer free Spalding keeps involved with the breast cancer society. She has done the three day/60 mile breast cancer walk two years in a row along with the breast cancer walk on Mothers Day. When asked why she involves herself in these certain fundraisers she respond, “I want to help find a cure for this horrible disease. Too many women are losing their lives at such young ages. I do not want families to have to deal with the loss of a loved one. Every bit helps get closer to the cure and I want to know that I helped out the most I can.”