Margaret Zackery

My name is Margaret J. Zackery and I reside in Hamden, Connecticut with my husband, Webster “Zack” Zackery, Jr. We have two children, Jamie and Webster III Zackery. I also have two stepdaughters, Dione and Inez Zackery, and several grandchildren.

My journey began on February 18, 2009 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. There are no words I can use to fully express my feelings when I heard those dreadful words! I was asked to come in with my husband to meet and discuss my options with my surgeon, Dr. Paul Barcewiz.

On March 2, 2009, I had a lumpectomy, followed by four cycles of chemotherapy treatments with Dr. Johanna LaSala and six weeks of radiation therapy with Dr. Suzanne Evans. The treatments were very devastating on my body. Along with killing the cancer cells, the treatments also kill the body’s good cells.

One of the toughest moments of this journey was telling my mom because she had received the same news around 20 years ago when my sister, Kathleen Marable, was also diagnosed with breast cancer.

I thank God for giving me the strength to endure all of my treatments to the end. I am thankful for my phenomenal husband who traveled this journey with me. Zack came to every doctor’s appointment and to every chemotherapy treatment. He was my greatest supporter!

Through this journey, I chose to be private during my diagnosis, only talking to my immediate family and a small circle of friends who all were very supportive and prayerful. I thank you all!

I thank Pauline Simms and Sharon Aiken for inviting me to a Sisters’ Journey meeting, which has helped me greatly, and it also has helped me to begin sharing my story with others.

I thank you Heavenly Father for my total healing!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. To God be the Glory!