He Gave Me Beauty for Ashes

He Gave Me Beauty
for Ashes
(Isaiah 61:3)
Olayinka Akingbade
A Journal on my Triumph Over Breast Cancer

CONTENTS
Preface ....................................................................................................7
The Pains And The Sorrow ....................................................................9
Thanksgiving .......................................................................................11
Highlights ............................................................................................17
EL ME DIO BELLEZA EN LUGAR DE CENIZAS
Prologo .................................................................................................37
Los Dolores Y La Pena ..........................................................................39
Agradecimietos .....................................................................................41
Refl ejos ................................................................................................47

7
PREFACE
This journal was written as part of the healing process during my battle
with cancer, and as an inspiration to others. I am not an experienced writer;
however, jotting everything down along the way, not knowing how it was
all going to end, seemed adventurous for me. Encouraged to write by my
niece Dr. Omolara Thomas Uwemedimo and my friend Natalie James
while I was sick, I did not realize how effective and helpful this journal was
going to be.
Some of the proceeds of the sale of this book will go to support the
American Cancer Society, in the hopes that more patients may be placed
on Abraxane, the chemotherapy medication which helped so much during
my recovery process, that, although seemingly inescapable, I did not need
to have a Mastectomy after all!
THE PAINS AND THE SORROW
While composing this work, I recalled certain feelings that I experienced
but had not included in the journal: The very first time I received
chemotherapy, I felt weak, nauseated, and quite aggravated from the
pain on my chest. My doctor had warned me that this was going to be
very strong chemotherapy, and my heart had to be strong in order to
withstand it. I vomited several times, and almost vomited on my visitors!
And there were times when the pain was so strong, it would hurt if I cried
or laughed. Any movement was excruciatingly painful; all I could bear
was to lie down on my side.
I just wanted to be left alone. In fact, I remember instructing my older
son I did not want to speak to anyone, including "Big Mommy", (the
term of endearment my son had given to my sister Abosede Thomas, his
Godmother). She had traveled from New York to Florida with her friend
Yvonne Charles within 72 hours of hearing that I was admitted to the
hospital, diagnosed with breast cancer. Being a competent nurse, she did
nothing but shower me with care, yet I felt annoyed with all the attention.
I recall her asking me if I was going through depression . . . I'm sure I was.
I also remember sending away my friend Lourdes ...