Christmas 2001 I spent in the hospital. My husband Al had to tell me Christmas Eve that I had cancer. When I was only 25 I had a hysterectomy and everything was removed except my one ovary. But was told it would most likely have to be removed someday because of the scar tissue, Well through the years I had trouble with sever cramping and when I would ask if it might be that ovary I was always told most likely it was gas and they could never feel or see anything? Finally a doctor felt something that should not have been there and they gave me a sonogram and my ovary now was the size of a small soccer ball. I was scheduled within a few weeks to have the tumor removed; I was going to spend my holidays in the hospital. When I woke up from my surgery my husband was standing there. I said everything okay right but with tears in his eye he told me no the tumor was malignant and I would need to go through chemo. I had already lost a brother to cancer who had a brain tumor. I watched him go through chemo and radiation and then die. I swore I would never go through that. But I had my husband Al. He was there through it all. He was the one who shaved my head when I had nothing left but clumps. Saying whoops I think I might have cut it a little too short and telling me how great I looked and we should have done it sooner! He was the one rubbing my back when I was lying on the bathroom floor. He was the one who would just lay there holding me. I know he was the one who was really worrying about what might happen if I die. Now I know that Christmas I received the greatest gift that anyone could have ever given me. I learned the true meaning of love and caring. I saw a man that would not leave my bed side and a look in his eyes that I will never forget. We fought cancer together and we won. I made it past my 10 year mark and now this Christmas is my 11 year. But I really believe the real survivors are our husband and wives and families.

Signed,
Della Kersting