A scar means I survived....

Wednesday, January 29, 2013

This morning I am working on a new personal project ....that being trying to get all the small scraps of paper with notes that I've jotted down from time to time....of books I think I want to read, quotes, ideas for books I might want to write, directions to somewhere, people's birthdays, addresses etc. etc. onto something more permanent like into files on my computer.  I actually hate doing this, because I like the feel and look of those little pieces of paper.  I've held on to them for so long...I can scramble around on my desk and know where they are, but I'm trying to get more organized so that I will not feel guilty about writing or reading for several hours a day (more on that subject can be found on my latest post on my other blog www.whimseys-writings-thoughts.blogspot.com ).

Anyway, this morning in going through one of my little marbled journal books...I came across a quote out of a book I read several years ago, called  Little Bee by Chris Cleave.

When I read what I had written down....I was amazed at how (although it was not written in the book as this context), it was so relevant for those of us who have had breast cancer....

The passage is:

“I ask you right here to agree with me that a scar is never ugly. That is what scar makers want you to think.  But you and I, we must agree to defy them.  We must see the scars as beauty.  Okay? This will be our secret.  Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying.  A scar means  ‘I survived’".

That is so important for us to remember.  After my husband passed away and I had recovered from my first breast cancer in 2002, I remember thinking (or wondering) who will ever love me again with this horrible divot in my breast and the scar from the port and the long scar from where they took 21 lymph nodes....who would want to look at me and be able to see any beauty there....

But somehow by the grace of God, I did eventually find someone who loves me just for who I am and not for what I look like.  

This time the scars are not as bad.  The surgeon I had this time, Dr. Watson at Scott and White, was amazing and I am sure that as time passes, I will barely have any noticeable scars on my right side....and what matters most is that I have learned to love the scars on the left side.......because they do mean that 'I survived'....and that is beautiful.

I think about the men and women who come back from war with limbs missing....yes it is tragic, yes their lives have changed forever, yes they will have to learn how to get around a new way, yes it will be a challenge.....but they are survivors....and their scars are beautiful because they gave of themselves for our freedom.  

Never pass up a chance to tell someone serving in the military how proud you are of them and thank then for their service...........and never forget to tell someone who has survived cancer or who is still battling cancer to never stop fighting....that they are beautiful...scars and all.