Hooyah..!! GOD is GREAT..!! My name is Jackie (Rambo) Hackney. I am a 47-year-old beautiful woman from the small town of Kaufman Texas. I am 5’8 and weigh 130 soaking wet. I went my entire life feeling healthy and in shape. I did not go to the doctor unless I had the flu.
One day a pain started in my belly. It did not go away. I decided to go to the doctor to get it checked and was diagnosed with Diverticulitis. After taking meds for that with no results, I went back to the doctor. An MRI was ordered. Results were a little kidney stone and a little fibroid tumor was seen. I was told they were small and should go away. Well, the pain did not go away, but got worse. I decided to go to a big hospital in Dallas to, once again, be checked. The doctor there could see the fibroid tumor that was half in and half out of my uterus. He set up day surgery to remove it.
I awoke in a hospital room with the news slapping me in the face that a fist size cancer tumor was sitting behind the fibroid tumor. My carefree world crashed down. The cancer had spread outside of my uterus on to the tube that drains my kidney into my bladder. Doc was worried about closing up. Another day surgery happened to insert a tube into my back to drain my kidney into a bag I had strapped to my leg. I had radiation five days a week with one day of the week being hooked up all day with an IV pumping chemo into me. I did not see an end! I was not realizing it would end. Depression set in.
After about a month, I woke up one day with a whole new outlook. There is an end!!! The anger and depression I felt was gone. I had been so incredibly angry that something like this was happening to me. But from that day forward, I smiled and laughed. I started helping other beautiful ladies who have not realized yet ”there is an end”. My treatments became a breeze to handle. My need to help others get through became my focus. My humbleness of how many friends and family I have was visible.
Now, today, I am done with treatments. No tumor to be found. And my attitude is strong, along with my body. I still have the tube in my back but so what, I AM ALIVE!!! The tube is like everything else, it will also not last. I now talk and tell every woman and young lady I meet to get a pap smear YEARLY!! I preach it!! I brought this on myself for thinking I was invincible and healthy, not knowing what was growing inside me.
My advise to others is always keep your mind positive and healthy, and your body will follow. My future is now going to be stressing to women the importance of annual check-ups and helping as many ladies as I can get through this experience.. Cancer did not take anything from me. It gave me appreciation for everything and everyone in my life. LIFE IS GREAT. Fight like a girl, ladies..!!!
Love,
Jackie
Texas
Submitted 1-02-12
The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
This article is intended to convey general educational information and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
the mind is a powerful thing…..how you think and how you react can definitely improve your outcome…you knew something more was going on and you were proactive!!! being in tuned to your own body is more important than what any doctor tells you….good luck good health and fight like a girl every day!!!!
What a wonderful testimony of faith! Have a wonderful life!
Jackie, you are truly an inspiration!