Laura's story

 

Loosening Fear's Grip

As she turned around and looked again

What she could see had changed

No longer carefree, instead the big C

Cast its shadow and rearranged

The part of her mind that looks behind

And into the future too

Filled with regret, sadness and loss

Each day she felt fear as it grew

 

A lumpectomy followed, radiation took place

But still that wasn’t sufficient

A new tumour grew within the same breast

It was removed; she felt totally deficient

A new one was made but didn’t look like

The one the knife took away

The nipple and skin she’d had since birth

It wasn’t possible for them to stay

 

Three more years passed until the day

Her internal dread became real

Breathlessness, weight loss, silent fatigue

Fear became what she could feel

Horribly quiet and yet very loud

Signaling the spread of disease

Breast cancer cells had seeded themselves

She was never again to know ease

 

Unable to cope and a mental decline

Fear’s intensity broke her heart

Every day became an enormous challenge

She watched as her world fell apart

But here she still is, she eventually found

A new way to turn to the light

This is not a battle to be won or lost

Nor is it some kind of fight

 

Dignity, grace, courage and grit

They are present, breathing all of her soul

Her world is now seen through different eyes

She works hard to make herself whole

And although her time here will definitely be shorter

Nothing takes away her resolve

She chooses not to let fear hold her breath

Holding hands with others, she emerges and evolves.