When the Call Comes: My Journey Through Cancer – and a Call to Compassion
ghm-globaladminIt’s hard to believe that just a year ago, I received that life-shattering phone call with the words,
“Your results are in, and the doctor would like you to come in to discuss them.”
I still remember vividly the cold feeling that washed over my skin and the lump of dread that settled in the pit of my stomach. I knew what those words meant. They were words no one ever wants to hear.
Sure enough, they marked the beginning of a journey I never expected.
At first, I kept saying,
“No, I am not claiming this.”
And then the realization came – I had no choice. It was what it was. I didn’t know why. I still don’t.
But as a woman of faith, I made the decision to accept it – and to lean on my Higher Power for guidance. There was no other way to get through it.
So I pinned a smile on my face and traveled the journey – with my Higher Power and with a whole team of supporters I never knew I had.
That first consultation set off a whirlwind: scans, diagnostics, six rounds of treatment, more follow-ups, eleven more treatments, consultations… and then that awful day when I knew what I had to do.
The most dreaded thing for any woman to face.
I sat in front of the mirror and had my hair shaved off.
And then came the new me – scarves, turbans, and always my lipstick.
Then surgery.
And now, a year later, I’m here – passing with flying colors.
Still walking with my Higher Power.
Gratitude and Awakening
As I look back, I realize how blessed I was.
● I had access – to doctors, nurses, and specialists who cared deeply.
● I had insurance that opened doors to treatment.
● I had family, friends, and community to hold me through the storm.
But what about the millions of women around the world who are battling this same disease without support, without access, without hope?
What about the woman in a rural village in Honduras, who finds a lump but has no clinic nearby for breast cancer screening or follow-up care?
Or the mother in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where cervical cancer is the leading cause of death from tumors in women, yet preventive checkups are almost nonexistent because of economic and cultural barriers?
Or the women in rural Jamaica, working hard in agricultural communities to support their families – yet afraid to be screened for cancer because they fear what they might find, or what they might lose if they cannot work?
These are not distant stories – they are our sisters, our mothers, our daughters.
And this is where Global Humanitarian Mission (GHM) steps in.
Turning Pain into Purpose
At GHM, we believe that health is a human right – not a privilege.
Our mission is to bring compassionate care, preventive education, and life-saving screenings to women in underserved communities.
● In Honduras, our women’s health outreach offers breast cancer screenings and follow-up care so that women can receive early detection and treatment.
● In the Congo, we are increasing awareness and cervical cancer screenings, adapting care to meet the cultural and economic realities of women who are too often forgotten.
● In Jamaica, we are working to build trust and education programs so women can overcome fear and take proactive steps for their health – for themselves, and for their families.
Each project begins with one act of compassion and grows into a network of healing and hope.
How You Can Join the Mission
This Cancer Awareness Month, I invite you to turn compassion into action.
- Pray for women around the world who are still fighting for their lives without access to care.
- Share this message – awareness saves lives.
- Give to support Global Humanitarian Mission’s cancer prevention and women’s health programs.
- Partner or volunteer with us – together, we can bring health and hope to women everywhere.
Together, we can make sure that no woman faces this journey alone.
Together, we can be the hands of healing - one act, one life, one woman at a time.
Join us this Cancer Awareness Month – because love in action changes everything.
