The Faith Walker story, Part II I will never stop fighting!

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

I collapsed to the floor and was rushed to the hospital, what they told me completely blew my mind…”

If you are just joining us, Toronto Caribbean Newspaper had the chance to sit down with the prodigious soul that we call Faith Walker. This is a woman empowered by her strength to fight a disease that has defeated many. Part II of her story will detail her life after the discovery of breast cancer, and when she was again hit with a devastating life blow.

“I knew when this doctor came in the room with a sad look on her face that something was definitely wrong. I didn’t really like this doctor, and she didn’t necessarily like me, but that day her face was so sad. It was almost like whatever she was going to tell me was beyond her personal feelings for me.”

“What was the news Faith?” I asked anxiously. “Well, they told me that I had fractured my spine, and the reason I had done so was because tumours had been growing around my spine and had weakened my bones. The cancer happened to be estrogen sensitive, which meant that being pregnant, actually caused them to multiply and grow. It was stage 4 cancer, and they had given me anywhere from one to twenty years to live. I really thought this was all done, I really thought I had paid my dues. I found out from my mom that they had a secret conversation with her, and told her that they were only giving me one to five years.”

“So, you are 24 weeks pregnant, what are they saying about the baby?” “ I was restricted to a bed, and they pumped me full of medication I was a little frightened because the medication caused me to feel like I was losing my mind. I was hearing voices, and I swear I was cross-eyed for a bit. They had to do all of this because I had to wait until I was 32 weeks in order for it to be safe to have my son.”

“This must have been difficult for you?” “It was,” Faith replied. “So difficult that one night I did something that nearly cost my life. You know when they say pride commeth before the fall? Well that happened to my quite literally. One night while in the hospital, my pride allowed me to think that I was okay enough to go to the bathroom on my own. When I was in the bathroom, I fell, and I swear, it felt like every bone in my body shattered. They had to use a crane to scoop me off the floor. The worst thing about it was that I was only 27 weeks, but the baby had to come out. My son was born at 2 pounds and 5 ounces; he could fit in the palm of my hand he was so small. “

“Oh my gosh! That is really small. Were there any complications? What did they have to do?” “Well, first thing we have to understand is that at 27 weeks most babies do not make it. I remember thinking that this child was strong; I had felt his strength even when he was inside of me. They rushed him off to McMasters Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, and I didn’t see my baby for a month. I do want to take this time to thank the staff at McMasters; they did a great job of keeping me in the loop. I didn’t have much time to think on it because I was rushed in for a nine-hour back surgery the next day. I remember waking up in so much pain, and thinking, this is going to be a process.”

“What were the next steps of your recovery process?” “I had to go through physiotherapy and actually learn to walk again. It was really hard going up and down stairs, a task that I had taken for granted before. It is funny how life works sometimes. “

“What was happening with your baby boy?” “He was returned to me after a month, but what I found interesting was that now that he was close by in the same hospital, my anxiety began to peak, and I would have full fledged anxiety attacks. I really wanted to be there for my son; I knew that he needed me, but the anxiety continued and got really bad.”

“How did you finally deal with your anxiety?” Faith chuckled, “I practiced meditation, and also a visualization exercise that still makes me laugh to this day. I would visualize stomping out the cancer cells, just stomping them into the ground. It helped because my anxiety stopped. I spent three months in the hospital, and I realized that I had to get my life back together. I devised a plan on how I was going to get everything done. Of course the social workers and doctors were very hesitant and resistant to the idea of me being home alone with three children. They questioned how I was going to take care of them. I finally convinced them, and 2009 New Years Day, I was home with my family. It was the most joyous day of my life.”

“How has life been for you since then?” “I have had to relearn how to live life. I had to learn how to drive my car with two legs because I never know if one leg will give out on me because of the surgery. I have turned to alternative medication, practicing meditation and researching how I can take better care of myself. I just received news that the cancer has spread to other parts of my body, but I swear I am not going to stop fighting. I am never going to give up because my children need to see that their mother is a fighter. I have a purpose, and it will be fulfilled.”