A Strong Faith and a Lot of Love
In every single
person’s life, there are moments that we look back on and think, how did I get
so lucky. In Jordan Baileys case, she as well as her family, found themselves
to be more than lucky. Through interviewing her, I found that she values
nothing more than her family. This family is as close as it gets. Any family
who has survived this much trauma would undoubtedly be extremely close. Jordan
is an unbelievably strong and resilient person who has suffered more than most
19-year-olds.
I think one of the most important aspects of Jordan’s life is her religion. Jordan grew up in a Christian household. Jordan has an extremely close relationship with her faith and with Jesus. I go to church with Jordan almost every week, and you cannot help but notice her undying love for Jesus! I believe that it is Jordan’s faith that helped her mother through her cancer, and Jordan through her tumor.
The other extremely important aspect of Jordans life is her family! Her entire family was a huge support system for their mother and Jordan. I think support is so important when someone is going through an illness or a disease. If they are surrounded by the ones that they love, and are surrounded by positivity, I think anything is possible. It is truly amazing what a close family bond can do. I think Jordan is made up of a strong faith and a loving family!
When Jordan was
younger, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. For any young child, this
is a life altering moment. This is when I think Jordan first experienced true
fear and true sadness. In one of my articles, Psychological distress
of cancer patients with children under 18 years and their partners—a
longitudinal study of family relationships using dyadic data analysis", the authors discuss the idea that when a parent is
diagnosed with an illness, the children and other family members can be
affected in many different ways. They can either all become very distant and
are then filled with anxiety, or the family becomes even closer. In the Bailey
family, they chose to become a closer and stronger family. They all grew
together as people and supported their mom through her fight. Because of this
amazing support from her family, Jordan’s mom successfully beat cancer!
Unfortunately, Jordan’s story does not continue on this happy
path. When Jordan was about 16, she noticed a lump in her breast." I remember being at nationals, and I just remember saying hey mom, something doesn't feel right in my breast. I was uncomfortable asking my mom but I was in pain. My mom told me to just let it go away." In December, the lump had grown so much and that was when they decided to go see her pediatrician. Her pediatrician referred her to a breast care specialist that her mom had seen.
When they were finally able to get into a doctor’s office, Jordan got an ultrasound. " I remember waiting in a room. They put you in this robe and you are sitting in this room with a bunch of other women who are all going through similar things as me, and you're basically naked." Jordan was sitting in this room filled with anxiety about what the doctors would say. I cannot even begin to imagine what she was feeling. She was sitting there surrounded by other women who have the one thing she feared, cancer. Her mother was sat next to her, holding her hand. The doctor finally came and got Jordan. She was taken to a room where she got her ultrasound. " The doctor showed me the lump, and it was huge." The doctors could not confirm exactly what was wrong. The only option for her was to have surgery. Not knowing exactly what was wrong was extremely scary considering she was only 16 and her mother had breast cancer. The doctors told
Jordan that this lump was extremely rare as she is so young at it grew
so fast. The only option at this point would be to remove it.
" The idea of having cancer and not knowing scares the crap out of me." Jordan was terrified at the idea of having cancer. She was completely heart broken. She felt defenseless in the moment. The results would not come back until after surgery. Jordan went into surgery feeling extremely scared and anxious. What if the tumor grew back? What if it was cancerous? What if I don’t get through this? She had a million thoughts going through her mind. Any young girl would be extremely fearful at the thought of having breast cancer. Jordan was sat in a chair when she arrived at the hospital. It was a large chair. Her mother was the only one who was allowed to come back with her. Jordan was given an IV of medicine to make her drowsy. "I remember feeling extremely cold. They gave me blankets." There was a nurse with Jordan. She continuously reassured Jordan that she would be ok. She told her she would get through this and that she would be with her the entire time. After the surgery, Jordan woke up alone. She was scared to be alone because she didn't know what had happened. A nurse came in a little while later. She saw Jordan was awake. " The surgery was successful. You are free to go if you would like, or you can rest some more." Jordan wanted to get out of there as quick as possible. " My mom came in and within five minutes i was in a wheel chair leaving the hospital." All that was left to do now was wait for the results.
" The idea of having cancer and not knowing scares the crap out of me." Jordan was terrified at the idea of having cancer. She was completely heart broken. She felt defenseless in the moment. The results would not come back until after surgery. Jordan went into surgery feeling extremely scared and anxious. What if the tumor grew back? What if it was cancerous? What if I don’t get through this? She had a million thoughts going through her mind. Any young girl would be extremely fearful at the thought of having breast cancer. Jordan was sat in a chair when she arrived at the hospital. It was a large chair. Her mother was the only one who was allowed to come back with her. Jordan was given an IV of medicine to make her drowsy. "I remember feeling extremely cold. They gave me blankets." There was a nurse with Jordan. She continuously reassured Jordan that she would be ok. She told her she would get through this and that she would be with her the entire time. After the surgery, Jordan woke up alone. She was scared to be alone because she didn't know what had happened. A nurse came in a little while later. She saw Jordan was awake. " The surgery was successful. You are free to go if you would like, or you can rest some more." Jordan wanted to get out of there as quick as possible. " My mom came in and within five minutes i was in a wheel chair leaving the hospital." All that was left to do now was wait for the results.
About three weeks later, Jordan’s mom received a phone call from
her doctor. The doctor called to let them know that the tumor was not
cancerous. The entire family was so relieved to hear this. Jordan was extremely
relieved as well. For the first time in a long time, she could breathe again.
Jordan showed so much strength during her breast tumor and her mothers battle with cancer. She never gave into fear, but instead choose to let it motivate her to grow in her faith. I
think she is so strong because of all that she had to go through. Her mother is also very strong. Jordans entire family shows their strength through their faith and through their love for each other. I think strength
is so beyond important in everyone and I think everyone had the ability to have strength within them! It is such a beautiful quality to have.
Fear is such a strong emotion that Jordan and her entire family felt. Jordan had
so much to fear in her life with her mom having cancer to her having a breast
tumor. Fear is such a real and raw human emotion. I think as humans we do not always show fear because it makes us feel weak. I think anyone who can say that they are afraid is not a weak individual, but in fact an extremely brave person.
I think Jordan is a very strong and brave person. She is a lot of love and faith. Her family and her faith are everything to her! She has fought through so much and she made it out on the other side! Her experiences with these traumatic events have changed and shaped her into the person she is today. She no longer takes anything for granted and she always makes sure to tell her family she loves them everyday!
I think Jordan is a very strong and brave person. She is a lot of love and faith. Her family and her faith are everything to her! She has fought through so much and she made it out on the other side! Her experiences with these traumatic events have changed and shaped her into the person she is today. She no longer takes anything for granted and she always makes sure to tell her family she loves them everyday!
Comments
Post a Comment