I was diagnosed with Epilepsy in 2002.  I suffered from Grand Mal seizures and I suffered silently. Those close to me knew what was going on but I did not really speak about it and I think those were the most terrifying and fearful years of my life.  Two of the worst seizures I suffered, was on on a plane to Vegas. I had two back to back, and they called for paramedics to meet the plane when we landed.  I remember just wanting to go home and curl up and skip all the excitement. I was truly afraid, I did not walk with the Faith I walk with today. I lived alone at the time and I remember thinking that if something happened to me it would be days before someone would find me.  I was fearful, not because I was not a believer and not because I did not go to church but because I did not have the  relationship I have today with God. My eyes had to be opened and when I look back now I realize that back then I was just attending church. During that time, doctors had me believing I would never work again, drive again, or have kids.  I felt that the seizure medications caused me to have a poor quality of life.

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I remember thinking this cannot be it for me.  I am too young to live like this.  I knew I had to do something to get my life back.  Against all doctor's orders I decided that after talking to God I was going to come off medication in 2004. I prayed about it and made lifestyle changes in my diet and exercised.  God showed me that I was going to be fine and that I would work and that I would drive and that I would have children and I did. 

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In 2006, after going through a myommectomy and 5 1/2 hour reconstructive surgery for what the doctors and specialists called "the worst case of uterine fibroids they had seen in over 20 years," I had a beautiful baby boy Zachary Ali Nelson, whom I drove to day care, and theme parks and all over the city despite being told neither would happen for me. My uterus and fallopian tubes had to be totally reconstructed but My Zachary was destined from God.  Not only did I return to work but I graduated with my MBA from Nova Southeastern University while working full-time.

I had no idea that my biggest challenge would come in 2009. I went to do a routine mammogram December 2, 2008. I felt pain in my right side, to the point where I could not sleep on that side at night. I remember everyone telling me you have nothing to worry about. If you feel pain it probably is not cancer. It is more likely to be a cyst. Well I did the exam then headed for a long needed vacation in Jamaica to see family. The pain subsided and a few weeks went by. I kept  wondering where is my test result. My friends told me "No news is good news, trust me if something was wrong they would call you."  So I let it go figuring they were probably right.

IIn April 2009 I got an ear infection. I suffered from them all the time so I knew I just needed to call the doctor to get some anitbiotics. Thank God this was not one of those times I decided to self-treat my ear infection with drops of warm olive oil.  For some reason this time it was really severe so I decided to call the doctor. I called and set an appointment to go in for meds. Right before I hung up I said to the receptionist, "by the way I have not gotten my mammogram results yet. Can you check my file and tell me if you have them?" The receptionist put me on hold for about a minute and came back and said "Oh yeah the doctor needs to see you right away." My heart sank to my toes. I thought to myself, "What did she just say?" This cannot be. One thing I can say, an ear infection saved my life.

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Needless to say that after a whirlwind of tests, biopsies, scans etc. I was not diagnosed until July 2009. I will never forget that Friday afternoon I got the diagnosis of Stage III Breast Cancer. By this time it had spread to the lymph nodes, there were small spots on the lungs and spots of the ovaries. When I finally met my oncologist I asked her, "In your professional opinion, was there a lot of change in this tumor from December til now?" Her reply, "Yes, your cancer is very aggressive and it is very advanced, the next step it would have been in the blood, we are catching it just in time."

​I must admit that in the first 5 minutes of the doctor saying the words "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you have cancer." My life flashed before my eyes and the first emotion I felt was guilt. I thought to myself. How could I do this to Zachary? I waited so long to have him and I felt like I was letting him down because how could I get cancer. What does that mean, does that mean I won't be there for him, I won't see him graduate, get married, have kids?  What about the other child I want to have? 
 

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