Benefit of the Doubt

There’s not a day that passes that I don’t miss my mom, especially the way the world is today. I can say it is her spirit that follows me to continue on with fighting the fight. We all understand that tomorrow is not promised, which is why I sing that to the mountains in accomplishing all that I do.

Lung cancer for so many is a brutal partner. This partner lies on your lungs to become a pest. When the news hits of a diagnosis...what now? Who should you tell? What should you do? It’s a lot to carry and bear; you may even wonder what is left? Well, let me tell you, fighting is a key factor. Okay, what’s the point, and who's really benefitting? Well, let’s talk...

What about having a positive mindset?

Having a positive mindset despite the obvious or unforeseen works miracles...it really does. No one says that you won’t have negative thoughts, but seeing the semi-clear picture helps one move on with what is in front of them.

So here it is lung cancer and thinking about the first time you may have had that unsettling cough. Now in no way shape or form does it mean a cough can be a result of lung cancer, but a persistent cough should obviously be looked at.

Hindsight is always 20/20

However, do we all move forthrightly when our health becomes questionable? How long does a cough turn into something else, or is it something else? When my mom told me much later that she was spitting up blood, after the fact; well, that was disturbing to hear. Later pounding my head as to did she know earlier and possibly disregarding the possibilities?

I don’t feel we spend enough time adjusting to our situations and many tend to push back what may be in front of us, worst we battle the grounds alone without telling or showing our feelings. I knew something must be going on with her, but again if those questions are disregarded, well we pray that it’s not obvious. In my mother’s case, it was the benefit of the doubt.

Lesson learned from my mother's journey

Last year I was hit with back to back viral infections, losing my voice was obviously questionable. For so long my voice left me weeks at a time, quite different from any other time, and too lengthy. Instantly I thought of my mother and how she may have rationalized why certain signs were occurring prior to her lung cancer diagnoses.

Luckily, after being examined and re-examined they could not find anything dismal. The question also comes to mind would I want to know and face forces that are if it came to that? There are so many questions and I take them as lessons learned based on my mother’s journey. The coughs, aches, hoarseness are not taken lightly as I’ve seen the course through my mother’s lens, not taking the benefit of the doubt.

The time to fight is now, with integrity, grace, hope, and a smile...when you feel like it