Another Special Life in Christ

These testimony lives are not stories of "role models". Jesus is the role model!
These are lives wonderfully touched & changed by Jesus!

Paula Hodges Miles:

I had a very surprising conversation with Paula years ago. She is the sister (living up in New Hampshire) of my close friend and coworker, Margaret Stevenson, our cytology supervisor into 2014. I had reviewed Paula's biopsy pathology slides shortly after she got news of the dreaded "C" word on her own self (began chemo 22 Oct. 1997). As a pathologist, I seldom get to talk to patients. Being especially involved in breast cancer, I've been very surprised to see the disease send at least several women into a much higher quality "orbit" in life. Paula told me that breast cancer may have been the best thing that ever happened to her! I recently asked her to give me her story...as a Christian testimony:

Subject: Surviving Breast Cancer, letter of  September 19, 2002

"Dear Dr. Shaw:

"It's been five years this month that I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I found a lump on my breast and had a mammogram in August, 1997. The first week of September I had a biopsy under general anesthesia on a Friday. I prayed very hard that weekend that the pathologist would find the lump was benign. Monday evening my surgeon called and told me that it was cancer. God doesn't always answer prayers the way we want Him to.

"Strangely, breast cancer is not like other diseases in which you feel sick and go to the doctor who makes you feel better. With breast cancer, usually you feel fine, then you find a lump and start to worry. By the time you visit the doctor, you are scared of what he or she will say is wrong with you and what you are going to have to do about it. Then you have the biopsy  and either are immensely relieved that the lump was benign or you are  devastated by the news that you are one of the one in eight who do have cancer. Usually you still feel pretty well physically, but emotionally you are a wreck because you dread the additional breast surgery, the radiation and/or chemotherapy, the uncertainty of the long-term prognosis, and the change in your body image from being a "whole woman" to having just one breast and being bald while undergoing chemotherapy. You go from being a healthy, happy individual to a patient who has to undergo all kinds of blood tests, procedures, and consultations with specialists.

"There are difficult decisions to be made about types of surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy treatments, and follow-up medications. All of this can be overwhelming if you do not have faith in God that everything happens for the best. I believe that my bout with breast cancer would have been much harder to bear if I had not had the prayers and moral support of so many family members and friends. When I found out my diagnosis, I got right on the telephone and enlisted everyone I could think of to start praying for me  and my husband. (He never even liked to visit friends in the hospital. I could not imagine him in the role of caregiver.)

"In some ways breast cancer is harder on the husband than it is on the patient because he feels so helpless. Fortunately, my husband responded in a very caring way. He was with me during every one of my consultations and stayed with me until I was taken to be prepped for my surgeries. He drove me to the clinic to receive chemotherapy treatments. I think his strong faith in God helped him to care for and encourage me.

"Our faith in God helped sustain us during those difficult times. My husband and I continue to attend church every week, just as we have done since we met  forty-one years ago. I pray daily and read the Bible frequently. Many of our friends and the members of their churches prayed for us. I kept a list that filled several pages of individuals and groups who were  praying for my recovery. I cherish the memories of the outpouring of love and caring shown to me when I was undergoing treatments. My family grew closer as we corresponded about my treatments.

"This July we celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary with our three children and most of our six grandchildren. It was a milestone I have secretly hoped we'd make. It has been five years since my breast cancer surgery. People say, 'Oh, five years, that means you are a cancer survivor.' I prefer to say that I have no signs of cancer now.

"Before my breast cancer diagnosis, I took my faith in God, my health, family, and friends for granted. Now I appreciate all extra time that God has given me. God does work in mysterious ways. It took a serious brush with death to make me fully appreciate life.

"Sincerely, Paula Hodges Miles

"P.S. Please feel free to use any parts of this e-mail that will be helpful on your web site. It is long, so just edit it as you see fit."

UPDATE: Paula continues well as of August 2015!

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(posted 23 September 2002; latest update 30 August 2015)

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You have just read a very brief example of the powerful, supernatural transformation of a person's life which is possible through the acceptance of Jesus as your savior. Are you tired of life as it now is for you? He will accept you just as you are right this second! Consider accepting Jesus now [check it out]!