Sharing a voyage Christine Beato, Fenton

We love stories of survivors.. every day women

I am one of three sisters who have each been diagnosed with breast cancer within a three-year span. One of these sisters has since passed on. I believe that cancer is a vicious and evil enemy. However, much to my surprise, I found the path of cancer in my life to be a most sacred journey. My life is forever changed, not by the scars that mark my body, but by the journey that has marked my soul.

I am grateful that the journey of cancer taught me to treasure each day, to live fully engaged with an exuberant zest for merely being alive. I’ve discovered the freedom of forgiving and forgetting, the value of needing others and being needed, and the humility of admitting my own weaknesses and human frailty.

I am grateful that the loss of my healthfulness created in me a deep appreciation for every good I’ve experienced — the support of family, the kindness of friends and a growing relationship with God. I’ve learned to say “I love you” often and earnestly, and to offer the words “I’m sorry” to others as an expression of empathy and concern. I am grateful that the journey of cancer has made me a more caring person for the hurts of others, and a more vocal advocate of God’s love for all people. Throughout cancer, my emotions were anguished and my body was suffering, but my soul transcended to a deeper love. I have found that the sufferings of life can mold us into quite selfless and useful human beings. This transformation comes at a great price through the experience of deep sorrows and abundant tears. But without these, we would never really be able to understand the sacred. And without the sacred, suffering has no hope.

Christine Beato

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