Fifth column October 3rd 2007

Last week The Sentinel announced the news that ‘breast cancer sufferers live longer if they continue taking the drug Herceptin once the disease relapses.’ For those who aren’t aware, Herceptin was approved for use on the NHS thanks to the work of Dot Griffiths and the North Staffordshire-based Women Fighting For Herceptin campaign!

The significance of the determined, courageous work that Dot has pioneered is personally very close to my heart. In November 2005 my Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. Anyone who has had a close family member suffer with the big C will know the emotions and thoughts you have to work through. The morning of my Dads phone call saw me howling as I shared the news with my husband. This was the morning of the Citizen of the Year awards, at which Dot became the 2005 Citizen of the Year.

My Mums cancer turned out to be Her2-positive (the aggressive form of breast cancer), meaning she would need Herceptin. It is thanks to Dot that my Mum didn’t have to fight for the drug and didn’t have the added stress of having to finance it herself!

That Saturday morning I was on my knees praying words from the book of Job in the Bible ‘though he slay me, yet will I hope in him’. For Jonathan (my husband) and I, it was the beginning of an incredibly hard year which saw both our Mums with cancer, both my Grandads dieing, plus a number of other hard circumstances. For us Jesus is a Rock in life to stand on, one that never changes and is higher and more powerful than all the storms of life. He is someone to be praised through the dark times as well as the good; He is an ever present help in times of trouble; He is the greatest comforter I know and someone who gives the strength and hope for each day.

When I was faced with the thought of losing my Mum, it was frightening and painful. Mortality is a funny thing; the one sure thing in this life is that at some point we will all die, yet for most of us, we live our lives oblivious or ignoring this truth. Facing our mortality though, can also be a blessing in disguise! It’s something that brings everything into its right perspective, helping us gauge what’s valuable and what’s not; it brings to light how much you really do love those close to you and what they mean to you. For me it is something I believe is very important for each of us to consider. Jesus came to forgive all our wrongdoing that in turning to Him we are assured of eternal life with Him. Knowing where you’re going when you die certainly brings comfort!

I’d like to honour Dot Griffiths with this column. In the Bible, there are the following lovely words…‘whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.’ For this column, my thoughts are with Dot who has in her actions done an excellent and praiseworthy thing, something admirable and in her care for others, something which is right! Thank you Dot.

 More in Faith Column in local Sentinel Newspaper..

• Faith Column in local Sentinel Newspaper home
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• Second column January 3rd 2007
• Third column March 21st 2007
• Fourth column July 18th 2007
• Sixth Column December 5th 2007
• Seventh Column February 13th 2008
• Eighth column May 21st 2008
• Ninth column August 13th 2008