Sylvia McLeod
I am living with cancer—the important word in that statement is—LIVING!
My first encounter with this evil disease is when my sweet, shy, humble husband was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Seven months later he was gone at the age of 51. My touchstone mother passed away four months before Jimmy. I was devastated by both of their deaths.
After my husband’s death, I knew my own health was very fragile. I weighed 325 pounds and decided I would not die like my mom whose death was due to the co-morbidities of being overweight. So I sought out an excellent surgeon that had been performing gastric bypasses for many years. A year later I weighed 130 pounds which I know saved my life.
18 months after Jimmy passed, my brother, Tim, encouraged me to get out of the house and find a companion. Luckily, I met Jeff McLeod, an attorney, who I call “my knight in shining armor.” We dated for three years and during that time I was tired and had trouble walking up hills and stairs, even though I was the healthiest I’d ever been at 130.
I decided there was definitely something wrong. At my next GYN appointment, I asked my physician to set me up an appointment for a colonoscopy. After the procedure, I heard those dreaded words, “you have cancer and you’ve had it for many years.”
Onward to my surgery, my surgeon took a photo of the tumor because it was larger than his hand. I knew then that the prognosis was not good and indeed it wasn’t. He told me I had stage 4 colon cancer and had 3 months to live. He didn’t realize that I was a warrior and I was not going down without a fight. But I’m also a Christian and told God if He was ready for me, then I’m ready.
Then 3 days later, my newly acquired oncologist, Dr Rajeev Malik, walked into my hospital room with a different prognosis. He declared that he’d seen my file, the tumor photo, my tests and the surgical notes and that I was going to live many, many years. Can you imagine your life changing in a single second? Well, mine did because Dr.Malik gave me HOPE. He explained that I would need 6 months of intense chemotherapy and an additional operation with a surgical oncologist in Winston Salem, NC. My reply was a resounding, “yes, I can do that.”
That first surgery was January 22, my brother’s birthday, and on Valentine’s Day Jeff gave me a beautiful ring and asked me to marry him. Jeff and I married after 3 months of chemo and took 2 honeymoon trips. Then on August 11, Dr. Levine performed the life-saving surgery at the North Carolina Baptist Hospital Cancer Center. 17 years later, I’m still here and living life to the fullest!
Sadly, I lost Jeff on December 24, 2019 as he sat beside me on a plane as we were returning from a trip to Las Vegas. I was in shock for weeks, months and I still cannot believe it happened. It was so surreal. My sweet husband died of sepsis. COVID 19 was upon us 3 months later.
Six months before my husband passed away, I was in the clutches of this evil disease. And it’s stage 4 metastatic colon cancer in both lungs with 7 tumors so it’s inoperable and incurable. For the past 6 years I’ve been on a regiment of an oral chemotherapy, Xeloda.
Again, God opened another door for me, and 4 years ago I met Jeffery (Coach). We agree that God put us together. Coach takes such good care of me that I’m able to live my active normal life, as well as, still travel the world and enjoy the beautiful planet that God made for us. Coach makes me smile all day, laugh and I can honestly say I’m living my best life together with him. I have the support of family, many, many loyal friends, Coach and the Cancer Association of Anderson (CAA). I am a very LUCKY girl.
CAA has been an integral part of my life for 17 years. Coach and I volunteer at fundraisers, attend support group meetings and cheerfully donate our financial support. Coach also serves on the CAA Board. I cannot tell you what this nonprofit has done for me and thousands of cancer patients, survivors and caretakers. Angie Stringer is the Executive Director, and is an angel on earth. Because of her vision and hard work, we are about to begin building a much-needed additional building to our campus that will provide even more services.
I am so humbled to be one of the “Warriors” for the C3 Race to Maine. This is such an honor and I look forward to celebrating with other warriors the racers who have helped so many cancer patients, survivors and caretakers. Thank you for this honor and opportunity.
I relate my story to not only cancer patients but to anyone who wants to listen. I truly believe this is the reason God has given me these additional 17 years. By telling about my journey, it gives others HOPE. And my life is an example of “NEVER GIVE UP!” I live every day—no, every moment with gratitude and all of the hundreds of others who have walked this long journey with me. You are all my HEROES!
Sylvia is sponsored by Angie Stringer.
God Bless You!
Sylvia
