Published: September 29, 2009 09:46 pm         

Personal story: My desire was to live - by Terri Cisco

My name is Terri Cisco. I am a 12-year survivor of breast cancer. I was 41 years old when I found the lump but did not think much about it. Turned out to be stage 2.5 with 7 positive lymph nodes. I was in shock! My twin daughters, Kaci and Kristen, were in the fourth grade and my husband Ken was so supportive. Pastor Marilyn Murray ministered to me about believing God for the best in everything on this journey.

We visited three oncologists before we made our decision. I had the best doctors in Dr. Dexeus and staff; Dr. Shreck, Dr. Worrell, who had just moved to Enid; Dr. Rivers; and Dr. Rumph; I could not wait to get the cancer out of my body. My father-in-law, Jack, is a barber, and I begged him to shave my hair. He could only do a burr, but the following week came back and shaved it.

I got on vitamins, which Cancer Care Tulsa recommended. I taught third grade special education at Monroe. The staff was amazing. I took off work every Wednesday afternoon and came home to sleep. I was able to teach school the whole time. There were 12 families at First Assembly that were called each time to pray for me every time I took chemo. The day of chemo my husband and I took communion. I had some of the chemo in the office and the rest I went home with a pump, so it would slowly be put in my system. I requested this so I would not get so sick at my stomach. I went through eight rounds of chemo.

It is overwhelming how many times you need to visit a doctor, especially when there is reconstruction involved. Through faith in God and the prayers of others, I went on this journey with little complications. I would see Dr. Dexeus out shopping too! I kept my regular schedule and tried to laugh as much as possible. That Christmas when I was wrapping the gifts I forgot to put name tags on the gifts. That was a real treat. I had my moments where I felt all alone, but my desire was to live and not die, but declare the work of The Lord.

Terri Cisco, Enid