A Cancer Survivor’S Physical and Spiritual Journey

By A. Hodges

A. Hodges had been in excellent health for fifty-five yearsuntil 2004 when she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare cancer of the blood with a life expectancy of up to five years. Not only was she facing a terminal diagnosis, but she was also paralyzed from the waist down due to a tumor in her lumbar region, uncertain if she would ever walk again.

As Hodges details the moments before, during, and after her diagnosis, she shares a glimpse into how quickly life can change in an instant. Determined to put one foot in front of the other and courageously face whatever came her way, Hodges reveals how she coped with her disease by maintaining a positive attitude, refusing to let hopelessness prevail, and steadfastly believing there was a reason for everything that occurs in life. As she moved through treatments, Hodges details her subsequent spiritual journey where she learned to trust in the Lord and appreciate the inevitability of Gods plan in every phase of her life.

In this inspirational memoir, a multiple myeloma cancer survivor shares the personal story of her courageous battle with a terminal disease and how she learned to rely on Gods wisdom for strength.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Aug 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781480835641

A. Hodges

A. Hodges grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, and, after working for the local power company, became a flight attendant for American Airlines. She holds associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. Now retired, she resides in the Atlanta, Georgia, area, where she enjoys the climate and spending time with family and friends.

Book preview

A Cancer Survivor’s Physical

&

Spiritual Journey

A. Hodges

31065.png

Copyright © 2016 A. Hodges.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Archway Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

ISBN: 978-1-4808-3563-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-3564-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016912928

Archway Publishing rev. date: 8/22/2016

Contents

Preface

INTRODUCTION A Brief Autobiographical Account

CHAPTER 1 Diagnosis, Surgery, And Treatment

CHAPTER 2 The Transport To Atlanta: Antibiotic Therapy And Hardware Removal Surgery

CHAPTER 3 Continued Oncology Care With Bone Therapy Treatments

CHAPTER 4 More Radiation Therapy And Chemotherapy Treatments

CHAPTER 5 The Spiritual Connection

CONCLUSION A General Review

About The Author

Endnotes

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A special acknowledgment to close friends and family members who have been with me throughout my difficult journey with this complex cancer.

Beginning with my 2004 cancer diagnosis in Springfield, a note of thanks to all the medical