2010 2(37) - UCWLC

Women’s HealthFrom Victimto SurvivorBy Olga StefaniukЗдоров’я жінокIt is with great sadness thathaslearned that Olga Stefaniuk passed away on May 17, 2010.Her story will live in the readers’ hearts. Вічная Пам’ять!It was 24 years ago, in April1986, that my life changed forever:at the age of 42, I wasdiagnosed with breast cancer. I wasdevastated, knew very little aboutthe disease and was terrified ofdying. Little did I know what Godhad in store for me.Around the time of my diagnosis,I heard an interview with a personfrom a cancer support group inVancouver. He told of people whosurvived cancer under incredibleodds. That was exactly what I neededto hear, and it was the beginningof my healing journey. I went to hisworkshop and learned the importanceof setting goals and to nevergive up hope. I was so inspiredby the message that I, along withtwo other ladies, founded a supportgroup and education centre in Saskatooncalled HOPE Cancer HelpCentre. We launched retreats forcancer patients in the prairies and Iam proud to say the centre is stillgoing strong to this day.Ten years later I was diagnosedwith liver cancer (for which I tooksix months of chemotherapy). Nomatter what came my way, I triedto stay positive and never lost hope.I did regular meditations and visualizations.I surrounded myselfwith positive people. I reached outfor support (starting support groupsif there weren’t any). I asked myfriends to pray with me and for me.I asked for help and hugs when Ineeded them. I requested the doctorsnever tell me how long I hadleft to live, but instead, tell mesomething positive at every meeting—nomatter how small it was.Recently I found that the cancer hasspread to the bones and the liver.Staying positive was a healingtechnique I learned through HOPEworkshops, retreats, and from myeldest daughter, an oncology pharmacistin Toronto. When I had lostmy way and sunk deep into depression,she presented me with a challenge:“You have two choices,”she said. “You can choose to be avictim or you can choose to be asurvivor.” What an impact thosewords had on me! Of course Iwanted to be a survivor. It is easy tothink positive when you are feelingwell, but it is difficult to rise abovenegative feelings. That is where thehard work comes in. Now I knowwhatever comes my way, I can handleit.It is now 2010 and I have facedbreast cancer with metastases to thebones and liver. I am on a threemonthbreak after 22 consecutivechemo treatments, and I have neverfelt more alive.Cancer changes one’s life in aprofound way, and I feel blessed forhaving had the chance to learn whatI have. After my initial surgery,a nun in the hospital told me Godchooses special people to be an exampleto others. Now I see what shemeant: cancer gave me the chanceto become who I was really meantto be. I have learned about my ownstrengths, weaknesses and whata person can accomplish with encouragementand support. With thehelp of my friends, my faith in Godand my goals, I found strength I didnot know I had. I have learned whatit means to never give up hope, andI have discovered what I am reallycapable of. I realize how preciouslife is, and how each of us shouldbe living each day as if it were ourlast.As a legacy for those who comeafter me, I wrote a book about mylife and cancer experiences: A RoseGrows… Fighting Cancer, FindingMe. I am grateful and humbled thatmany people have said they havefound my story inspiring. Evenstrangers have come forward to saythank you for the lessons I teachsimply by living life with a positiveattitude. Hearing what I havegone through, all with a smile onmy face, makes them realize whatthey can do too. We all have thepower to overcome adversity—wejust need to stay positive. There isalways hope.Olga Stefaniuk is the best-selling authorof the 213-page book A Rose Grows…Fighting Cancer, Finding Me, available for$16.95 at McNally Robinson Bookstores.32 Íàøà Äîðîãà ëiòî/2010