Warrior Song

This song... it speaks volumes!

These are the Weapons we Fight With...

and these words... they are part of the Battle plan...

Staring down the face of fear

Gotta keep breathing

When the negative is all you hear

Gotta keep believing

'Cause in the dark there is a light

Your truth it keeps on burning bright

Brave enough to fight the fight

And shout the battle cry

{Chorus}

You'll never stop me I'm a warrior

When I fall down I get stronger

Faith is my shield His love is the armor

I'm a warrior

I'm a warrior

I'm a warrior

{Verse 2}

Every scar on my skin

Is a beautiful reminder

Of a moment when I didn't give in

And I walked through fire

'Cause in the dark there is a light

Your truth it keeps on burning bright

Makes me brave to fight the fight

And shout the battle cry

{Chorus}

You'll never stop me I'm a warrior

When I fall down I get stronger

Faith is my shield His love is the armor

{Bridge}

I will keep the hope alive

I will find the strength inside

I will keep the hope alive

I am a warrior, I will survive

I will keep the hope alive

I will find the strength inside

I will keep the hope alive

Warrior

You'll never stop me I'm a warrior

When I fall down I get stronger

{Chorus}

You'll never stop me I'm a warrior

When I fall down I get stronger

Faith is my shield

His love is the armor

I'm a warrior

I'm a warrior

Jesus, make me Your warrior

I will keep the hope alive

I will find the strength inside

I will keep the hope alive

Warrior

Prayers lifted in Grace today for each Warrior
facing the fight of their lives...

Shoulder to Shoulder
Heart to Heart,
You never walk alone.

In Grace, Always,
                Jane

The Weapons we Fight With!

In yesterday's post we shared about The Cost of this Pancreatic Cancer Journey...

Since writing that post, over 120 people have lost their battle with this beast.  120 Loved Ones have fought for their lives against a ferocious opponent... and lost... in the last 24 hours.

Pancreatic cancer does not play fair.

In that same time, 150 people have been devastated hearing the words "You have pancreatic cancer," and they are just beginning the fight.

The burdens are heavy for those walking this road.

The way I see it, there are 2 choices.

Give up.  Or Fight.

And I am not really Warrior material or anything... Fighting has never been my go-to.  I'm pretty much non-confrontational, you know, the peace-maker of the bunch. But when cancer came to call at our home, something rose up inside me.

For a solid year, we warriored harder than ever before.  Mom's pancreatic cancer diagnosis wrecked us... and we fought it like crazy people

We researched, we prayed, we pleaded, we sought 2nd opinions, we trudged through treatments, we tried alternative methods, we refused to give up.

This is what fighting a cancer diagnosis can look like.  And if you're here, then you already know that.  Everyone fights a little different.  We all pick up the weapons that fit best and here are some of the best we've found:

1.  Knowledge.  We've said it over and over... Knowledge is power.  Know your cancer.  Know your options.  The place to start is at one of these pancreatic cancer associations:

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

Lustgarten Foundation

Pancreatica

2.  Gather your medical team... persevere until you find a doctor you trust... they will be holding the line for you when the chips are down.

3.  Know your Tumor.  Ask.  And ask again.  Badger your doctor if you must. But apply to have your tumor tested with the Know Your Tumor protocol.  Seek information on your tumor to find the most effective treatments.

4.  Explore Clinical Trials.  They are our best hope for finding a cure.  It just takes one break-through to change the course of this battle.

5.  Surround yourself with your people.  Loved ones, family, friends.  Let them help, lean on each other.  I can't say it any plainer... let love carry you through when the hard overwhelms.  For some this will be easy, for others not so much.  But find your tribe.  When you do, amazing things begin to happen...

    - Run, Bike or Walk to Support Pancreatic Cancer Research

    - Attend a Purple Light Vigil to raise awareness of Pancreatic Cancer... We Honor. Inspire. Remember...

    

    - Write a Cancer Manifesto... trust me, you'll want to read this Love Story from Jen Hatmaker!

    - Find a need and fill it... like ChemoCar or Developing an Early Detection Test for Pancreatic Cancer or maybe even finding a tiny place on a website to Encourage and spread Hope.  When your passion and your purpose collide, lives will be lifted up and forever changed.

    - If you are the Caregiver, then Be the Gift... you are a Meal Bringer, a Hospital Sitter, a Card Sender, an Appointment Keeper, Insurance Organizer, Attentive Listener, Kleenex Provider and Love Giver.  You are Blessing in this nightmare... never doubt your ministry over the Cancer Warrior!

6.   And finally, Just Breathe... take a deep breath and get centered.  Let Hope settle over you like the answer to prayer it truly is ... God's strength as He holds us close will always, always give Grace enough for the journey.

Warriors rise up... Choose the Fight... It is past time to end the terrifying reign of Pancreatic Cancer.

We do this in Honor of and in Memory of the Valiant Heroes in our midst...

The Cost of this Pancreatic Cancer Journey

Over these past years it has been the most humbling privilege to walk alongside so many extra-ordinary, amazing people on this journey....

We've shared their stories... often.  And always, I am reminded of the heart that beats behind every pancreatic cancer diagnosis.  It beats strong and, without fail, it bears testimony to the love that makes life so infinitely precious.

There is Julie... passionate, strong and inspiring!  After losing her father to pancreatic cancer just 35 days after diagnosis, she turned her grief in to action.  And the Marathon Goddess was unleashed!  She is well on her way to fundraise $1,000,000 to find a cure.

And there is Ted.  His story could be written by so many pancreatic cancer patients.  The diagnosis, the treatment, the wrestling with living life well in the shadow of a terminal illness.  And yet, he chose to be an encouragement to others in the midst of the struggle.

Here is Jeanne's story... A nurse, just like mom, Jeanne was a passionate advocate for the Pancreatic Cancer community.  To honor her memory, her precious family rode in Purple Ride Minnesota in her memory just one month after she passed.

Kathryn pegs the cancer journey perfectly in her interview; "Cancer is not for wimps."  And she is first and foremost a Cancer Warrior!  Her story is inspiration and hope for every pancreatic cancer sojourner.

Michelle honors her husband's memory with grace and love, as well as shares her thoughts on a sensitive topic at My Big PINK Soapbox.  She speaks to a deep place and I love her for it.

The Beauty of Gayle's story... and her Sweet Inspirations...  Gayle braved a horrific diagnosis with a confident joy that speaks volumes and just completely undoes me...

And I could not love Glenn and Cheryl more... theirs is the sweetest love story... losing Cheryl to this despicable cancer was a blow that still hurts..  And yet Glenn honors their lives together with a costly and steadfast faithfulness.  It is a true picture of grace in this journey.

There are so many more... Pancreatic cancer is just taking too many precious lives.  It has to be stopped.  Together we can be the most formidable foe pancreatic cancer has ever met.

Join hands with me?

We take a stand, united...  choose your weapon and let's fight until no one ever has to hear the words...

It is pancreatic cancer and there is no cure.

We warrior on... Together!

The Cancer Warrior

Anyone who has faced a cancer diagnosis will have strong feelings about being called a Cancer Warrior.

As we begin our 31 Day series, I feel the need to clarify and speak softly over a tender subject...

The Cancer Warrior.

I used it often as a term of endearment for friends struggling with a cancer diagnosis.  I used to think it was an encouraging word... but that was before Pancreatic Cancer came to tear up our family.

The Cancer Warrior.  This month we will find many in our cancer circle using words like warrior and fighter to express their heart.

It's true that some will rally to the Fighting Call of the Cancer Battle and embrace the Warrior in themselves...

Just as many will cringe at the Label and refuse to be coerced into the Fight.

It is a subject that mom and I talked about many times.  She was willing to fight, and she fought harder than anyone I know, but to be called a Cancer Warrior left her feeling exhausted.

She shared that more than being a warrior, most days she just felt as if her body was a battleground.  No heroine here she would say...

The doctors, the treatments, the cancer - each one brought its own misery...

The pancreatic cancer fight is daunting and ruthless.  Every cancer patient fending off treatment side-effects, pain and fatigue can understand.

At times the call to be a warrior is simply too much.

And the truth is, that when the cancer wins, the warrior has lost.

Mom didn't want that to be her legacy.  So we rarely called her Warrior.

But every moment she fought that cancer, she was fighting for more time with us, and that will always make her the most beautiful Warrior in our eyes.

When she laid down that last time, her body so fragile and ravaged from the cancer, we just held her and called her loved...

If you are walking this cancer road today, please know how entitled you are to fight this beast in any way you choose..  If the thought of being a Cancer Warrior is more than you can bear, we so understand.  May you offer your family and loved ones the grace to call you Beautiful Warrior, for that is exactly what you are to them.

Fighting cancer means fighting for more time with those you love... that will be the legacy that matters most when all is said and done.  It is the sweetest of privileges to cheer you on each step of the way.

You will always be a Warrior to us...

... and so very, very Loved.

Stories of Love ... And how Cancer Shapes the Journey

Years ago I became enamored with a news series called Everybody Has a Story.

It was anchored by Steve Hartman and featured amazing, ordinary-extraordinary men and women with moving stories.

What made the series so riveting to me was how Steve found these stories... Each week a dart was thrown at a U.S. map and Steve went to the town so chosen, scrolled through the white pages and randomly picked a house.

Once at the house, he and his cameraman succeeded in convincing the homeowner that they were not crazy, or stalkers or serial salesman, and proceeded to uncover the story... a story that most of those interviewed demurred, insisting that they didn't have a story to tell.

Just ordinary, everyday people... no heroes, or celebrities, or superstars.

And yet, week after week, the stories that emerged were inspiring, poignant and heart-warming.

Like the shy, young veteran who spoke for a nation...

or the story of Suzie who believed she was boring, yet brought me to tears as her selfless story of love played out in real life . . .

Steve has shared that "working on this project has forever changed how I look at people.  It's impossible now to walk past anyone and not realize that every single person is unique and has something worthy to say."

Powerful stuff right there...

Through the years, I have become a believer in the truth that Everybody has a Story... and I have also learned that cancer can shape and change that story.

Each journey is unique and different.  Yet they each carry a strong thread of hope, and love and determination.

This month we join with thousands of other writers over at Write 31 Days to share these powerful stories of Love and Resilience and Hope in the face of a ruthless Cancer diagnosis and how it can shape the journey... the grief and sorrow and pain, yes, it is part of this hard road, but the love and power and heart, they are so very much a part of the struggle as well.

It all shapes the journey and carves out the story of our lives...

Join with us over the next 31 days to be encouraged by the amazing, very-extra-ordinary men and women who humble me, inspire me and motivate me every single day!

You just might find it changes how you live out your story too...

Day 1    Stories of Love Intro
Day 2    The Cancer Warrior
Day 3    Now this is Hope!
Day 4    Turning your Cancer Team Upside Down
Day 5    Defying Pancreatic Cancer and Embracing Life
Day 6    Living Proof!
Day 7    Sunday Inspired ... Hope
Day 8    When our Cancer Journey Doesn't End with Happily Ever After...
Day 9    ChemoCar and the Bolster Family
Day 10   Frank Germano Survives Pancreatic Cancer
Day 11   The Cost of this Pancreatic Cancer Journey
Day 12   The Weapons we Fight With!
Day 13   Warrior Song
Day 14   Sunday Inspired ... Courage
Day 15   Worth Fighting For
Day 16   The Celebrity Faces of Pancreatic Cancer
Day 17   Our Favorite Housekeeper ... and a Lesson from the Bees
Day 18   Fear is a Liar
Day 19   Honoring a Memory...
Day 20   Borrowing Trouble from Tomorrow

Day 21   Sunday Inspired ... Love
Day 22   When you Want to Run Away from Monday...
Day 23   Standing up to the Schoolyard Bully!
Day 24   Brave New Endings!
Day 25   Never, Ever Give Up Hope...
Day 26   Waging Hope Together
Day 27   A Bride's Story of Love...
Day 28   Sunday Inspired ... Grace
Day 29   Redeeming the Pain...
Day 30   Mom's Story... And a Humble Bit of News!
Day 31  You have Been My Story of Love