Darlene Langley

I was diagnosed with breast cancer on November 14, 2019 and had a bilateral mastectomy on January 3, 2020. I had just retired, so this was not exactly how I had intended to start my long awaited retirement. I started chemotherapy (a total of 6 infusions every 3 weeks) on February 10, 2020 and will have my last infusion on May 26, 2020. After that I will have 25 days of radiation. Reconstruction will begin six months after that. So, 2020 has not been the year I hoped it would be. My ordeal combined with the corona virus / Covid 19 pandemic has been surreal. But through it all, I have had great support from my family and friends. I had a whole group of people waiting during my five hour surgery – all my family had to travel from out town. My mother-in-law and then my sister stayed with me for several days, as my husband had to return to work. I have a good friend who volunteered to take me to appointments and even go to chemo with me – what a blessing she is! My sister and brother (again from out of town) had visited me when I have felt like it, but the pandemic stopped that. So, they and other family members and friends call or text regularly. I so appreciate the fact that people are thinking and praying for me daily. And not to forget, right after my surgery, my good friend organized a meal train at my husband’s workplace. It was so helpful and while they knew him, I had not met the majority of the ones that brought food. People are really great and the food really helped us out. At my former workplace, I received a wonderful gift basket filled with snacks, lotions, and over $300 worth of gift cards. I have had down days, but my husband has been here for me through thick and thin. My family is so supportive – I don’t know what I would do without them. And above all, God is the one I turn to every day and hand this all over to him.