A Brief History Of Robyn's Cancer Journey: Going For A Miracle

Robyn was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer 4 years ago.  Her response when the doctor told her was "We're not cancer people!"  But true to her character she tackled cancer with her same energy and thoroughness and faith she's applied to other challenges of her life.  She said, "I feel there is a miracle in store for me."  My Dad jumped in with both feet, standing by her side through each decision and each step.

She underwent surgery just before her 50th birthday.  Soon after she began chemotherapy.  She included us all in the adventure of shaving her head, and collected wigs so we could all stand with her in solidarity.  She even admitted her wig was her "best hair cut ever."  Each of her daughters and her sisters had a chance to come and help with a round of chemo.   Meals, gifts, service, hugs, emails, letters, prayers, faith and love all poured in from every corner of the globe from family and friends.  This created a beautiful spirit for our family during this time.

The chemotherapy gave her about a year of reprive during which time she worked hard to change her diet and try a variety of other treatments.  She always loved the picture of her father with one foot in one solution, another in a different one, something around his shoulders, trying several different treatments at once. She kept the same open mind that there was all sorts of truth out there--she was willing to try all sorts of things.  She began reading books--books about healing, books about cancer, books about nutrition, books about just about everything.  Her cancer book library now stacks up to over 2 1/2 feet high.  She tried several other things which helped extend her remission.  In the process she taught many of us about nutrition and started a green smoothie revolution around her as well.    Most importantly this time was a precious gift during which she could enjoy lots of family time with her immediate family as well as her extended families, time with friends, put on a wedding, see the birth of two grandchildren, teach relief society and nutrition lessons, play tennis with good friends, enjoy hiking and being outdoors, sing and enjoy all the people and things she loved.

Around September of that year her cancer had spread quite extensively and again she said, "I'm not afraid to die, but I don't feel it's my time."  Although things look critical she again rallied her faith, and courage, and energy and did another round of chemo simultaneous with some other treatments.  During her second chemo she planned two more weddings!  It was a hard road, but interspersed with some beautiful miracles, lots of love and service to our family.  People washed her vegetables, planted our front flowers, came to take the trash out, brought meals and the if you could weigh and measure the quantity of faith and prayers that went upward in her behalf I'm sure it would far outweigh all the organic vegetables that floated through the house during her last four years--and that is saying a lot!    During the next few months she helped with the birth of another grandchild, had more time to go on walks and enjoy my Dad, and more time to raise her children still at home.

She kept her sense of humor during this time as well.  One Christmas, true to tradition, we all marched into our parents room with instruments to coax them out of bed to open presents.  When we jumped on the bed and threw back the covers we realized the lovely locks were just two of mom's wigs and my mom and dad were hiding in the bathroom as joke on us.

As it became apparent that the cancer was spreading again, she began some new treatments.  She had a severe reaction to some of them--which threatened to take her life.   She was in intensive care for several days.  My dad sat by her bedside holding her hand and hardly left.  We weren't sure if she was going to pull through--but she did.  Our family felt that God preserved her life.  The doctor said she shouldn't have lived through it.  Her oncologist called her her "miracle girl."  The hospital happened to have a very rare drug on hand and available to treat her quickly, another miracle.    After a slow recovery, she regained enough strength that this summer she was hiking Angel's Landing in Zion's park, and doing flips on a giant trampoline during our family reunion.  The treatments had reduced the cancer enough to give her a beautiful summer.  We were able to gather as a family in Utah, and she was able to enjoy a trip with her sisters, enjoy family reunions and savor her grandchildren.  She enjoyed another summer of rigorous tennis games, and sweet conversations with sisters and friends.  Her motto this summer was to really live and focus on the people and things that mattered most to her.  And she did even though the cancer was slowly growing again.