My name is DeeAnn. I am a nine year survivor of triple negative breast cancer. When a doctor tells you that you have cancer, it brings all new meaning to the belief that your life is in God’s hands. After having a double mastectomy followed by 8 rounds of dose-dense chemotherapy and more Neupogen shots than I could count, I am truly a changed person both physically and emotionally. Everyone would understand if I wondered why God had cursed me with this horrible disease. But I believe that God blessed me. While my physical changes are obvious, my emotional changes are just as obvious to those who know me. I am a stronger, happier, more patient, compassionate and content person than I ever was before. I have been able to understand and commiserate with others going through what I have been through. The best part is when I help them laugh. Some of my biggest fears in life were of how people would think of me. Would they like me? Would they accuse me of something I hadn’t done? Through my battle with cancer I realized that really wasn’t important. In fact, I have had betrayal and accusations that would have devastated me before, but I have survived them and shown grace in doing so. Most of all, as a former control freak, I came to understand that in this life there is precious little that I do have control over, but I can absolutely trust the One who does have control. I have peace that I never knew before. So if you are reading this and have found yourself in this battle, I hope that I have been able to give you hope. No matter what happens, good things are on the other side.

DeeAnn Harrington
Montrose, CO