Her Battle, Our Fight–we are all in this together. If you have been following One Heiress Lane on Social Media, or if you are subscribed to our newsletter, then you know we wanted to support breast cancer awareness by showcasing Boss Women gracefully battling or who have battled Breast Cancer.
Afflictions have a way of making it seems as if no one else in the world feels the way you do. In a way you’re right—no one can feel exactly like you do. It sometimes helps to know that many mothers, fathers, husbands, teens, children, family, and friends, have someone they are connected with who is battling or has battled cancer.
This interview may help others sort out their feelings and remember, they are not alone. My hope is to highlight any interesting parts of her personal life and journey which may show adversity she made have had to overcome to gain her results. Watch her interview here.
Her Battle: Jackie Spikes
Jackie is not only a beautiful woman physically, but she is just as beautiful inwardly. I know Jackie through church–we both are members of the same church. Each time I see Jackie she always greets me with open arms and a smile. Even while battling breast cancer, she remains the same. Here’s her story.
I have always thought the storm was coming, the alert has been sounded, now you have to pick out what kind of tree you will be.
Jackie Spikes
Q: When were you diagnosed?
A: I was diagnosed August of last year and got the call back February of this year.
Q: What stage were you diagnosed with?
A: They caught early. It was between a one and a one in a half. The type that I have is really progressive.
Q: How did you feel when you first received the news?
A: When you first hear your kind of in “Lala land”. For me with my experience with cancer before it was not unbelievable—I wasn’t at shock.
As my doctor began explaining the process and what to expect she paused and with a puzzled look she said “You’re just taking it so at stride.” My response was “I mean what do you do?” I didn’t cry or anything like that, because I did not get the feeling, from the Lord speaking to me, that I was going to die.
Q: Have you ever had cancer before?
A: I’ve had a hysterectomy before when I had fibroid tumors that were cancerous. Fortunately, they were able to cut them off before it attached to any of my organs. I did not have to go through chemo, and that was a blessing.
Q: How was the cancer initially detected?
A: Through a 3-D mammogram. A lot at doctor offices will recommend that. For me it was my gynecologist that put in the recommendation. When I got to the organization that does the mammograms, they did not want to do one on me. My response was “my doctor said I should.” It was a good thing that I did.
Q: Is faith an important part of your foundation?
A: It is the only foundation for me, because you have to believe that everything is going to be alright, and that you’re going to come through. For me the first thing I said to myself is you are going to beat this. It is a another chapter in your life that you have to deal with.
Many women have it, so you are not the only one, you have to make up in your mind that you’re going to be a conqueror. In my Sunday school class my teacher has been talking about being a conqueror and how things are going to workout for the good. I’ve heard people say before “Either you are in a storm, or you’re just coming out of the storm, or you’re getting ready for storm.” I guess this is just one of my storms.
Q: Tell me about your treatment process.
A: That was the worst thing that I have ever had in my life. I had what they call the red kind of chemo, it is the worst. It makes you sick—sick on your stomach, diarrhea, and nausea. I could hardly walk at times; it makes you so weak. When I took the first dose I was fine the day afterwards, but that Saturday I started feeling week. That Sunday when I got up I had to hold onto the wall just to walk. I was so dizzy. I thought that I was going to church, but I just couldn’t make it. I was told that I will feel my worst between the 4th and the 10th day of my treatments.
I have never been able to really talk to anyone who has been on chemo before except for my cousin, but that was a really long time ago. I was still uncertain as to what she was going through on the day-to-day basis, because she was so faraway.
I have seen people, such as my grandfather, on chemo back in 1975. I saw the reaction he had when he was on chemo, so I was prepared because I knew that it was more or less a poison I was putting in my body. There were times while visiting him that he would never blink his eyes the whole time I was there. If I had not had that experience with him, I would not be as prepared to understand what he went through. It was really rough, I tell you, I would not wish this on my worst enemy.
Q: What kind of obstacles did you have to face?
A: My biggest obstacle was the fear of what would happen.
I still worked while I was on chemo. Some days I could and some days I couldn’t. Every time I would go to work I was afraid I was going to get sick on my stomach and have to pull over. I was very concerned that if I did so, would I be able to pull over in time from here to Winston Salem. Every time I left I would have to say a prayer. My biggest fear was I’m going to be in the middle of a whole lot of traffic and I’m going to get sick.
My other obstacle was falling, getting weak and falling.
Q: Where did your support comes from?
A: My support came from my choir, my Sunday school, and my church family. With them being all there for me, it made my journey much easier. I received so many text messages, call, and others would hand me money. Just knowing other people were walking with me, reassured me that I was never alone.
There’s my mother, who’s 88 years old, she was there all the time for me for all my chemo sessions. When you go to chemo session and look around you see people in every chair. It gives you a different sense. Everyone is friendly. It has nothing to do with race, or what side of the track you are from. It’s about us all fighting on one common ground—to survive.
Q: What message would you like to provide women in the community?
I know they tell Women to start mammograms at a certain age, I would agree. I would say pay attention to your doctors. Perform your self examinations and pay attention to if you feel something out of whack, get it checked. Keep your mind on Jesus and stay in constant prayer—that’s all I can tell you. There were times when chemo would make me so sick that it would knock me to the floor. I had to pray for strength just to get up.
I have always thought the storm was coming, the alert has been sounded, now you have to pick out what kind of tree you will be. I decided I would be a palm tree, because a palm tree roots goes so deep into the ground. The only way that you will make it through a storm is if you are rooted and grounded in the Word. If you are not there with Jesus, you going to get there with this.
All women, in regards to what they have not gone through, need to get closer to God—it is the only way that you are going to make it. You have friends that get closer to Him just because they are watching you overcome your struggle.
Never give up, and always fight.
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