Interview with Yvonne Ortega, author of Finding Hope for Your Journey Through Breast Cancer  

 Cancer shattered my world. I wanted a book with Scripture, prayer, and hope, one that would assure patients and their families God would never leave them nor forsake them. I also wanted a book that, with honesty and boldness, would address the emotional roller coaster cancer patients, even Christian ones, endure.

 I asked God to help me keep my sense of humor. The day my hair started to fall out, I went to work with wet hair. My colleagues thought I had a power outage. I told them I was afraid to blow dry my hair, because I might blow it all off and arrive looking like a Buddhist monk. I laugh now about how angry I was with God. I thought he had made a mistake. Now I understand he used the cancer for good in my life and the lives of others. I laugh every time I reminisce about George, my radiation therapist. He entertained me with stories about his childhood adventures.

 In God's economy, nothing is wasted, not even cancer. I prayed God would use my battle with cancer to his honor and glory and for furthering his kingdom on earth. I never dreamed he would do that through the publication of my book, TV and radio interviews, and speaking engagements.

I've learned to listen to my body. When I get tired, I rest. When I'm thirsty, I stop and drink water. I don't put off my dreams because "next year" may never come. I signed up for a phone package with unlimited long-distance to call my family and friends any time. I appreciate the little things in life-walks to enjoy God's beautiful world, a ride in my friend's convertible, and sunset at the beach.

I left teaching to become a full-time substance abuse counselor because I felt God leading me to do so. I put the fleece before the Lord. He confirmed his leading in three ways, and I became a counselor. I never looked back.

When God called me to become his full-time speaker and freelance writer, I prayed, sought God's counsel through the Bible and discussed the decision with my dad and two prayer partners. We all agreed. Six months later, I answered God's call to write and speak for him. I would never have made such significant changes in my life before cancer.

 I played praise and worship music and watched videos and DVDs by Christian comedians. I planned the party I would have after completing my residency and obtaining my state license. I selected the music for the dance my friend and I would perform. I dreamed about the sheet cake with white icing and hot pink roses with "Yvonne Ortega, LPC, To God be the glory" on the cake. I chose the Bible verses for my party invitations. After my diagnosis, I accepted an invitation to present a workshop on writing devotionals at the Maine Fellowship of Christian Writers conference the following August. I prepared for my workshop and looked forward to the reunion with fellow writers and meals with delicious Maine blueberries.

 After my second treatment, my blood counts dropped to 500. Normal is between 4,000 and 11,000. My doctor hospitalized me. She said she would release me when my counts rose to 1,000. My counts dropped two days in a row. I called my parents to come see me, but Dad's heart condition prevented them from doing so. I feared I would die alone in a military hospital more than an hour from my home.

After my final chemotherapy treatment, I thought I'd never stop vomiting. I experienced a weariness that made my bones ache. I kept reminding myself it would soon pass and in a few months I would travel to Maine.

I experienced denial. If I didn't talk about the cancer, maybe it would go away.

I experienced anger at God, the Food & Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the exposure to second-hand smoke, televangelists who preached health and wealth, and anyone who told me Christians couldn't be angry with God.

Fear overwhelmed me after my diagnosis and at times during treatment.

When I found out the cancer had traveled to one lymph node and adjacent to another, depression forced me to my knees in prayer.

 Listen without judging them. Expect cancer patients to ride an emotional roller coaster. Send cards or e-mail greeting cards, especially humorous ones. Phone and visit them. Keep phone calls and visits short. Prepare a meal and take it in a disposable container. Help with yard work and house work. Run errands for them. Take cancer patients to their chemotherapy and radiation treatments and pray with them and for them. Never tell them to call if they need anything. Be the one to call and suggest chores or errands you can handle for them.