Supporting Devon: Surviving More Cancer Surgeries

Here we ALL go again Doodlebug!

How can I say ‘we’ when only ‘You’ know what it’s been like the past 4 years. The ‘WE’ is the love and support of your family, friends, B4BC team and numerous people and acquaintences who have stood beside you, supported you physically, emotionally and financially.

After two cancer findings you remain defiant after 4 surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation. Now due to damage from the radiation you start again with 3 surgeries ahead to repair, replace damaged skin and muscle and relieve stress it’s causing on your heart and spine. Tomorrow begins with simultaneous front and back surgeries, then after healing another follow up surgery.

Being present through Dev’s surgeries has forced me to become stronger watching her ‘man’ the pain and continue to fight the fight, battle the demons Cancer brings both physically and emotionally. Devon, being a single independent woman, asking for help doesn’t come easy.

Just as she is starting to feel healthy, getting her feet back on the ground, she’s going to be back down for another three or four months as the last surgery cannot be performed until 2-3 months later to allow for the healing of the first two. 

As an action sports and venue photographer many of you know Devon’s work requires heavy equipment and travel of which will be near impossible while healing.

It humbles me as her Mother in my retirement years to reach out and ask for help . . . yet . . . know my first ‘job’ is to be with her through this fight. Because Devon’s cancer is estrogen positive she is being kept in ‘perpetual menopause’ . . . I cannot even imagine . . . to keep the cancer from returning.

The side effects of treatment and drugs are numerous yet when she gets thrown back down in the trenches she fights to rise again keeping that spirt of hers of loving and living life. It has been both hard and humbling for Dev to ask for help . . . . Hence I am asking for her.

Being declared cancer free as she prepares for her surgeries we hope and pray the ‘New Year’ brings her new beginnings of a healthy future and outlook on her life forward.

Devon couldn’t have gone through or survived without all of your love, friendship, assistance and financial support and as importantly her service dog, Asa who saved her life finding the cancer the second time prompting her Doctor to recommended the hospital publish her story. 

Doodles, we Love You! We are here for you and remain positive and supportive in your days ahead.

Thank you everyone for supporting Devon then and hopefully now. It takes a Village.

As Importantly Thank you for choosing to make a difference in a life worth saving.

Humbly,

Her Mom, her Friend, her Reinforcement,

- Jaque Steigerwald