Hello, Champion!

Lashelle Farmer

Description

This spirituality book shares the author’s story of being diagnosed with cancer and how, with her faith, she battled to survive.

After being unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer, author Lashelle Farmer shares her journey with the world through stories, journal entries, prayers, and more. Her mission is to provide hope and comfort to fellow chemotherapy patients and anyone else who may be faced with challenges and who may struggle to overcome them.

The story delivered in Hello, Champion! will help you:

• fight despite the odds;

• overcome fear and anxiety;

• find purpose in your challenges; and

• believe in God for the impossible.

Farmer’s story encourages you to face your toughest battles. Wherever you are, whoever you are, there is a winner in you. You can overcome any adversity and live a life full of joy and peace by trusting God despite the odds.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Christian Living
• Inspirational
• Philosophie et théologie
• Illness
• Healing
• Chemotherapy
• Health
• Trauma
• Cancer

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 02 mai 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664297562
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

HELLO, CHAMPION!
A JOURNEY OF FAITH, HEALING, AND RECOVERY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A CANCER SURVIVOR AND OVERCOMER
LASHELLE FARMER


Copyright © 2023 Lashelle Farmer.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.
 
 
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
Interior Image Credit: Brothersoul Films LLC
 
ISBN: 978-1-6642-9755-5 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-9757-9 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-9756-2 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2023906776
 
 
 
WestBow Press rev. date: 4/27/2023

 
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.
 
Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
 
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
 
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
 
Scripture quotations marked ESV taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
 
Scripture quotations marked AMPC are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
CONTENTS
Dedication
Prologue
 
Chapter 1Columbus Day
Chapter 2The Diagnosis
Chapter 3Amazing Grace
Chapter 4Phase One Complete
Chapter 5Phase Two and Recovery
Chapter 6Healing Is a Process
Chapter 72021 at a Glance
 
Epilogue
Tips for a Champion!
Counseling Sessions from the Summer of 2020
About the Author
DEDICATION
To my Forever King, Daddy, Heavenly Father, Abba,
The Lover of my soul, My Everything and more,
I love you and thank you for being with me,
and always keeping me together.
This is my way of providing hope and encouragement to fellow chemotherapy patients (past and present) and to anyone else who may be faced with challenges and who may struggle to overcome them. May my story serve as a reminder that we are never alone because God is forever with us.
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. (2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT)
Champion (noun): A person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition; a fighter, winner, victor, overcomer, warrior
—Oxford Languages and Google
Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
—James 1:12 (AMP)
And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death.
—Revelation 12:11 (AMP)
PROLOGUE
Sunday, August 19, 2018. I remember it like it was yesterday. I stood at the front of the church, eyes closed, and ears attentive. Our leaders were praying for teachers and students to have a successful school year. Summer was officially over, and the first day of school was tomorrow. I knew I had worked hard to prepare my classroom for my new students. I spent several days arranging, rearranging, organizing, and decorating my classroom for my students. The word wall was up (in which I stood on top of the classroom counters to hang up), materials covered the desks (purchased with my own money), and bulletin boards were filled with important information. The only thing missing were the students. I was looking forward to the first day of school.
As I stood there, head down, eyes closed, I felt something happening in my body. Something strange, weird, unusual. Something was troubling me. I didn’t know what it was. So I started to do a self-inventory. Is this the Holy Spirit manifesting Himself? But why don’t I feel peace? Why am I worried and afraid? It was not noticeable, but on the inside, I was shaking uncontrollably. I kept asking myself, What is going on? What is this? I knew something wasn’t right. The longer I stood, the more I felt off balance. It felt as if my legs were going to give out. I tried so hard to stand firm, but it felt as if I was about to fall over. I started to focus on keeping my balance. I moved my legs a little and looked forward to the end of the prayer. I knew I needed to sit down. Now, I have had a stirring in my spirit before and knew when the Holy Spirit was present, but this particular experience was different. It was confusing. I knew something was wrong with my body. I didn’t feel good about this at all. So, after the service was over, I drove to the hospital near where I lived and checked into the emergency room. What I thought would be a short visit ended up being a five-day hospital stay.
When I checked in, the hospital staff had me fill out paperwork and took my vitals. I was asked the reason for my visit and explained what I had experienced earlier that day. After answering additional questions, they suggested I see a nurse in the triage department. The triage nurse asked more questions as he examined me (my eyes, neck, and so on). He noticed my eyeballs were slightly bulging out of their sockets and dark bags starting to appear under my eyes. He asked about known family/hereditary health issues. At this point, I did not understand why he was asking me these particular questions. He asked if anyone in my family suffered from thyroid issues. I remember calling my mom to ask her. She said no. Eventually they sent me past the waiting room so that further tests could be run. They took blood samples, did an EKG test (heart scan), and had me provide a urine sample. After waiting for some time, they returned with my test results. I was shocked. They told me that my TSH (thyroid) levels were out of normal range and that they would need to admit me into the hospital. They diagnosed me with hyperthyroidism. My thyroid was overproducing hormones and causing me to experience the tremors I was having. My blood pressure was also surprisingly super high. One of the TSH levels was dangerously low, while the other was too high. They said they had to keep me. I asked if I could go home and bring some clothes. They would not allow me to do so. I started to panic as they explained that if they did, they would be liable if something were to happen to me.
At this point, I was shocked, confused, and frustrated. I had no change of clothes or overnight bag. I ended up calling my mom and a few friends to inform them. I had to have someone go to my apartment and pack a bag for me. What upset me the most was that the first day of school was the next day, and I would not be there. After all the planning and preparing, I was going to miss out on welcoming my students to school on their first day. What a shock this was for me! After admitting me, the doctors mentioned the possibility of doing surgery. I was a bit nervous. Surgery? What do they mean? It all seemed so surreal to me.
I was placed in a room located in an area of the hospital where patients were recovering from surgery. I did not realize until later how the room I was placed in was orchestrated by God. I would end up not needing surgery, which was a big relief to me, and making friends with my roommate, who was a Christian as well. She played an important role during my stay at the hospital. She ended up providing moral support. She encouraged me and we ended up laughing and making the best of our stay. They immediately gave me an IV and placed me on fluids to keep me from dehydration. I instantly felt better after being placed on fluids. After being released from the hospital, I fol