There are moments when fear rises so high, it feels impossible to move forward.
For Wanda, that moment came with a diagnosis of stage 1 breast cancer caused by calcium buildup. While her diagnosis had not spread and did not require a full mastectomy, the fear she experienced was overwhelming.
When asked what scared her most, Wanda didn’t hesitate.
“The surgery… not waking up… being put to sleep. Mainly the word cancer. When I heard it, it felt like life was over.”
Those three things brought a deep fear of death, especially since she had never been put to sleep before.
The fear wasn’t just in her thoughts. It settled into her body. It created anxiety, uncertainty, and moments where it felt difficult to face what was ahead.
But even in that fear, something began to shift.
A Voice That Shifted Everything
In the middle of her fear, Wanda received words that would change the direction of her journey.
“You’ve got to do this. Have the surgery. Put your big pants on, stay positive, stop worrying, have faith, and believe in God. Go into the operating room with a positive attitude.”
Those words reached her.
“I want to live… I can do this.”
The tears stopped. Her spirit calmed. She walked into surgery not led by fear, but by faith.
The Room She Feared
Radiation brought a different kind of fear.
“The radiation room was scary. It’s a big room with a huge machine and a very narrow table. You have to lay on your stomach with your face inside a mold. The cancer side is exposed to the radiation, and you have to lay there very still.”
“The table moves up in the air like it’s going inside the capsule… but it doesn’t. It takes you up to receive the radiation.”
It was unfamiliar. It was intimidating. It required trust.
But she kept showing up. Through 18 treatments, five days a week.
What Kept Her Going
“My conversations with Cheryl helped me, and I had to develop faith and trust in God. I also had a great doctor and radiation staff at Northside Hospital.”
Support surrounded her. Faith carried her. Step by step, she kept going.
A Moment of Victory
The bell represents endurance, courage, and completion of treatment. A moment where fear no longer leads and life takes its place.
Life After Fear
“I feel blessed, relieved, and I value life differently than I did at first.”
“I felt really good on the inside. I felt happy and at peace.”
Why Wanda’s Story Matters
There is someone right now who is afraid. Afraid of surgery. Afraid of being put to sleep. Afraid to walk into that radiation room.
Wanda’s story is for them.
A reminder that courage does not always look like confidence.
Sometimes it sounds like,
“I want to live… I can do this.”
Support the Next Story of Hope
If Wanda’s story touched your heart, help us support another patient currently facing treatment. Your donation helps LIVED2TELL provide care packages, encouragement, and direct support to individuals navigating cancer alone.