Hello, Champion!: A Journey of Faith, Healing, and Recovery from the Perspective of a Cancer Survivor and Overcomer

By Lashelle Farmer

After being unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer, author Lashelle Farmer shares her journey with the world through stories, journal entries, prayers, and more. Her mission is to provide hope and comfort to fellow chemotherapy patients and anyone else who may be faced with challenges and who may struggle to overcome them.

The story delivered in Hello, Champion! will help you:

• fight despite the odds;

• overcome fear and anxiety;

• find purpose in your challenges; and

• believe in God for the impossible.

Farmer’s story encourages you to face your toughest battles. Wherever you are, whoever you are, there is a winner in you. You can overcome any adversity and live a life full of joy and peace by trusting God despite the odds.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: May 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9781664297562

Lashelle Farmer

Faith in God changes your perception of things, which ultimately determines the impact that life’s challenges have on you as an individual. Ms. Lashelle Farmer is an author, educator, entrepreneur, creative artist, and two-time cancer survivor. She was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She graduated from Florida International University in Miami, Florida, with a bachelor of science in early childhood education as well as a master of science in early childhood education. She is an educator for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. She is also the owner of The Love Gift Shop, which specializes in creating custom greeting cards and creative artwork. In addition, Ms. Farmer is a member of Believers of Authority Ministries, Inc. in Miami, Florida. She enjoys art in various forms, journaling, exploring new places, eating plant-based food, and spending time with friends and family. She also loves to use her gifts, talents, and expertise to motivate, inspire, and bring hope to the lives of others. Website: Hellochampion.co Instagram: @hellochampion Facebook Page: Hello Champion

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Copyright © 2023 Lashelle Farmer.

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.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

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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 Getty Images are

models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Interior Image Credit: Brothersoul Films LLC

ISBN: 978-1-6642-9755-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-9757-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-9756-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023906776

WestBow Press rev. date: 4/27/2023

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked ESV taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked AMPC are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

CONTENTS

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1 Columbus Day

Chapter 2 The Diagnosis

Chapter 3 Amazing Grace

Chapter 4 Phase One Complete

Chapter 5 Phase Two and Recovery

Chapter 6 Healing Is a Process

Chapter 7 2021 at a Glance

Epilogue

Tips for a Champion!

Counseling Sessions from the Summer of 2020

About the Author

DEDICATION

To my Forever King, Daddy, Heavenly Father, Abba,

The Lover of my soul, My Everything and more,

I love you and thank you for being with me,

and always keeping me together.

This is my way of providing hope and encouragement to fellow chemotherapy patients (past and present) and to anyone else who may be faced with challenges and who may struggle to overcome them. May my story serve as a reminder that we are never alone because God is forever with us.

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT)

Champion (noun): A person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition; a fighter, winner, victor, overcomer, warrior

—Oxford Languages and Google

Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

—James 1:12 (AMP)

And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death.

—Revelation 12:11 (AMP)

PROLOGUE

Sunday, August 19, 2018. I remember it like it was yesterday. I stood at the front of the church, eyes closed, and ears attentive. Our leaders were praying for teachers and students to have a successful school year. Summer was officially over, and the first day of school was tomorrow. I knew I had worked hard to prepare my classroom for my new students. I spent several days arranging, rearranging, organizing, and decorating my classroom for my students. The word wall was up (in which I stood on top of the classroom counters to hang up), materials covered the desks (purchased with my own money), and bulletin boards were filled with important information. The only thing missing were the students. I was looking forward to the first day of school.

As I stood there, head down, eyes closed, I felt something happening in my body. Something strange, weird, unusual. Something was troubling me. I didn’t know what it was. So I started to do a self-inventory. Is this the Holy Spirit manifesting Himself? But why don’t I feel peace? Why am I worried and afraid? It was not noticeable, but on the inside, I was shaking uncontrollably. I kept asking myself, What is going on? What is this? I knew something wasn’t right. The longer I stood, the more I felt off balance. It felt as if my legs were going to give out. I tried so hard to stand firm, but it felt as if I was about to fall over. I started to focus on keeping my balance. I moved my legs a little and looked forward to the end of the prayer. I knew I needed to sit down. Now, I have had a stirring in my spirit before and knew when the Holy Spirit was present, but this particular experience was different. It was confusing. I knew something was wrong with my body. I didn’t feel good about this at all. So, after the service was over, I drove to the hospital near where I lived and checked into the emergency room. What I thought would be a short visit ended up being a five-day hospital stay.

When I checked in, the hospital staff had me fill out paperwork and took my vitals. I was asked the reason for my visit and explained what I had experienced earlier that day. After answering additional questions, they suggested I see a nurse in the triage department. The triage nurse asked more questions as he examined me (my eyes, neck, and so on). He noticed my eyeballs were slightly bulging out of their sockets and dark bags starting to appear under my eyes. He asked about known family/hereditary health issues. At this point, I did not understand why he was asking me these particular questions. He asked if anyone in my family suffered from thyroid issues. I remember calling my mom to ask her. She said no. Eventually they sent me past the waiting room so that further tests could be run. They took blood samples, did an EKG test (heart scan), and had me provide a urine sample. After waiting for some time, they returned with my test results. I was shocked. They told me that