Ida Birmingham: Faith in God will sustain us
I am Ida Birmingham, resident of Atlanta, Texas, and a 17-year cancer survivor.
For years, women have been holding hands. We consider the opportunity to join hands with one another a true blessing from God. I praise God for each Race for the Cure woman’s hand I hold.
In June of 2001, while performing a self-breast exam, I detected a little knot about the size of a pea.
I waited a few weeks hoping it would go away. It didn’t, so to the doctor I went. I had a biopsy and was told I had breast cancer. I was diagnosed June 10 and underwent surgery on June 13. I didn’t need to wait.
Daily, I shouted it loud and clear that the best protection is early detection.
From the beginning, I remained positive, and so did my husband and children. They were the best support anyone could ask for, always assuring me that all was well.
Some men cannot deal with the cancer scene. But thank God my husband of 37 years at the time was a rock for me. He would say, “Honey, remember that with the help of God we will be all right.”
With my husband and our three adult children LaSonya, LaTricia and LeRodrick, I was surrounded with so much love.
The morning of surgery, my family and several girlfriends gathered around my bed. They whispered a prayer, looking kind of worried, but I told them I would be fine.
Long before my breast cancer experience, I had been a stronger believer in the miracle working power of God. My longtime devotion as church pianist was a big concern. I didn’t know how long I would not be able to render services. Love and devotion from my pastor and church family and deep faith from within played a huge part in my quick recovery. Within five to six weeks, I was right back on the piano playing, singing and praising God.
So many times I am asked what advice I would share. I would respond quickly saying every woman and man should know that breast cancer is not prejudice. It will jump in anybody’s chest. All men must know that they are not ever beyond getting breast cancer.
Let us all know that when breast cancer comes, God is greater than anything that could ever happen to us. As long as we keep our faith and our focus in and on God, he will sustain us.
This year marks 17 years I have participated in the Komen Race for the Cure. I look forward to being there each year. What a blessing.
I am sure every survivor counts every blessing for each race we attend. We will continue holding each other’s hands in love. Women as survivors are phenomenal.
By the way men, you are special and exceptional too. That’s why God gets the glory.
On Dec. 19, my husband and I will celebrate 54 years of marriage. Thank God for being in our lives and marriage.
“Let us all know that when breast cancer comes, God is greater than anything that could ever happen to us. As long as we keep our faith and our focus in and on God, he will sustain us.”