My Family’s Strong Support During My Experience With Colon Cancer

Carla Deschamps is now a survivor of colon cancer after receiving her diagnosis in February 2020. Read her blogs here!

Brad Henry once said, “Families are the compass that guides us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.” This quote signifies how I view family.

When I was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 34, I was extremely petrified. I did not know what lay ahead of me. The unknown and/or uncertainty made me feel very vulnerable. Yet, my family was my No. 1 support system. Family means the world to me. Without them, I would not be the woman I am today. They are and will always be my compass that guides me. My inspiration to dream big and my comfort when I have moments of hesitation towards life. 

In this blog, I would like to share a few of my moments that I encountered with my immediate family after being diagnosed with colon cancer. I want to start off with my younger brother. During that time, my brother was completing his residency to become an emergency physician. I was lucky enough to be in the same hospital that he was working for. When I was hospitalized for two weeks, my brother was constantly checking up on me along with communicating with my doctors to ensure that I was recovering to the best of my abilities. I was grateful knowing that my brother was by my side. Especially from a doctor’s perspective. I knew that I was in great hands due to having an amazing group of physicians and nurses that were taking care of me. That alone inspired me to do everything in my power to have a successful recovery.

Next, I would like to share moments with my sisters. They are two powerful, brilliant women that I admire and respect so much. I am blessed and thankful to have them in my life. During that time, one of my goals was to incorporate more physical activities, which included joining the gym. Both my sisters were by my side pushing and encouraging me to exercise four to five times a week. I must admit that at the beginning, it was challenging due to the fact that I have never been the athletic type. I disliked doing exercises. However, my sisters knew what I was capable of. For this reason, they helped me reach my limits, and now I am physically stronger because of it.

Finally, my parents were an essential component towards my recovery against colon cancer. They were my compass that guided me in the journey of triumph. As a child, my father instilled in me to be a fighter and to never give up on my dreams. He always motivated me to have a strong, optimistic outlook in life. As a result, I knew that being a cancer survivor was my ultimate goal.

As per my mother, she has always been very loving and nurturing. She made me feel calm and serene during my recuperation, especially during chemotherapy. Her love and dedication with me have made a tremendous impact on how I engage with life’s challenges. Both my parents have been my rock throughout this adventure and I love them unconditionally.

Indeed, I am forever blessed and grateful to have an extraordinary family by my side.

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