Simone Mason
I am a native of Chicago and one of three children. In fact, I am the middle child. I have been a Connecticut resident for 20 years, living in Hamden since 1995. I am divorced and the mother of Noel B. Lewis, Jr.
My scripture to live by is James 5:13-16. “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
My life was sailing along at a roaring clip. I was just starting the job that I always wanted with the City of New Haven. My retail boutique in Clinton, CT was doing well and the world was my oyster. Maybe I was stress driven; call it what you will.
There was no a family history of cancer, certainly not breast cancer. At 36 years of age, this was not supposed to happen to me. Not now, if ever!
I had fallen down a flight of stairs and sustained a lot of contusions and bruises. I had nearly sheared off my left nipple. Then, there was blood work, exams, mammography, pokes, prods, and pushing. Finally, a tumor that was malignant.
A lumpectomy, reconstructive surgery, and chemotherapy were all necessary. I did not want to concentrate on me and what I was going through. I just wanted to complete the chemotherapy and get on with my life. Angry, afraid and determined to survive so that I could live!
Through much prayer, the support of my best friend, I did not focus on me. Just the future.
God brought me through what I found to be a devastating disease for a reason, to help others. To focus on what is really important in life, a soul. Today, I am living for someone else. His name is Jesus. I always knew Him, but did not make Him a priority. Today, not only is He a priority, but so is spreading the good news of the Gospel to others as a living witness. Now, I know what I was missing. I was not living, until now. I survived so that I may live through Christ Jesus!