Cancer Survivor Through Faith: Based on a True Story!

By Sarah Elisabeth Anderson

At the age of 18 years old, four months pregnant, and senior year of high school, Sarah was diagnosed with stage 4 head and neck cancer. Being told she had to go through surgery, chemo, and radiation therapy she really didn’t understand that her entire life was about to take a drastic turn. While receiving this news all she could do is wonder how she and her baby could survive this terminal diagnosis. Sarah was stuck in a hard place and knew the only person she could turn to was her God in Heaven. Sarah underwent a 23 ½ hour surgery, 38 rounds of radiation, 2 rounds of chemo and even had a health baby girl which so happen to be born 6 months, premature. Sarah defeated the odds. She lives today to tell how she overcame a diagnosis meant to take her out. It is through faith she LIVES!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781546266358

Sarah Elisabeth Anderson

Sarah Elisabeth Anderson, the youngest of three children, was born in Indianola Mississippi to Leroy and Carol Washington Anderson. Sarah, whose name means “Princess Consecrated to God”, was brought up in the church and was taught to always trust God in everything. In 2000, Sarah and her mother relocated to Chicago. Since coming to Chicago, Sarah has stolen the hearts of most of her teachers, principals, and even her Pastor, Superintendent Michael Eaddy. Her genuine spirit and love for God often draws others to her without a sweat.

Book preview

© 2019 Sarah Elisabeth Anderson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/28/2019

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6636-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6635-8 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Introduction

The Beginning

The Pain

The Doctors Visit

The Diagnosis

The Delivery

Surgery Time

The Surgery (BEWARE Graphic Photos)

The Recovery

The Helmet Fitting

The Talk with God

Chemo & Radiation Therapies

The Depression

Last Days of Treatment

The HEALED call

Restoration Plan

Road to Confidence

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to my beautiful baby girl Navayah L’Faith Mayfield. If it wasn’t for me being pregnant with you, I wouldn’t have been here today. Thanks for saving my life! God knew exactly what he was doing when he allowed you to grow in my belly. Not only did I have to with stand the test you did too. Because we were both connected and God knew you before you were even born He knew that you would match my BLESSED. Thanks for being strong while growing in my stomach! Even now as a young girl your brilliance continues to amaze me. I appreciate you for being the other end of my strength. When I wanted to give up I not only looked to God but he gave me you to look too, which reminded me every time that I needed to pass this test and show you the greatness of the Lord. Daughter, I love you and if I could give you anything in this world, it would be my FAITH in God. Whenever it seems that things are not going the way you think it should or could go remember to always Faith your way through it.

INTRODUCTION

A s a little girl, I always dreamed of becoming a model, massage therapist, gospel singer, and be the best lovable person I could be. As I look back on my life, I can honestly say my mom made sure her children were safe and had everything we needed. Notice I am emphasizing " needed ". We were well fed, dressed, and attended church every Sunday. Growing up in St. Luke Church of God in Christ, in Moorhead, Mississippi, I sang in the children’s choir where, Mother Lela Howard made me lead my very first song, Thank You for Your Love by the Mississippi Mass Choir. Although I felt nervous, it only assured me that I never wanted to sing in front of anyone any more. I was a very shy child, believe it or not. At the age of nine, my mom and I moved to Chicago so that my mom could fulfill the purpose God had for her life. I did not fully understand the role God played in the lives of His people until I became an adult and had to face my own trials and tribulations. My childhood and mid-teen years were great times. I knew I was loved. My life was great and filled with a promising future. I was blessed to get an all-expense paid trip to Ghana, West Africa because of my academic excellence at Marshall High School. I was often viewed as the favorite where ever I went, whether school, church, doctor’s office, or just a gathering with friends. Despite all the good times, my personal tribulations and trials were about to take me into a new realm of experiences. This is where my faith story begins.

THE BEGINNING

W hen my parents named me Sarah Elisabeth, I never imagined that I would receive an assignment that would cause me to live out the calling of the meaning of my name. Sarah means princess in Hebrew and Elisabeth means consecrated/devoted to God in French, Greek, and American. It now makes sense to me why naming of children is so important. However, I don’t believe my mom and dad, Carol and Leroy Anderson, even knew that we, as a family, would encounter the experience through which God was about to prove himself faithful. Nonetheless, this Princess Consecrated to God was being prepared to go through an unimaginable challenge. It was a life or death situation that could have turned out a whole lot differently than it did in the minds of many who may not understand the supernatural existence of Jehovah God. I advise every new parent to consider the meaning of their children’s names because it points them in the ways of their destinies. Oftentimes we, children, will act like what we have been called. I know I tried my very best and was treated like who my name said I was, but that’s another story for another book.

Ecclesiastes 12: 1 (KJV) admonishes us to Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;". As noted earlier, my mom had my brothers and me in Church every Friday, Sunday, and Sunday