“I’ve learned that while cancer really took everything — my job, where I was living — it look a lot, but what its given me — the joy of life, the ability to enjoy life as fully as I can, I could not be more blessed in that arena,” says ovarian cancer survivor Robyn Smith.
When she moved to Denver, Smith didn’t know many people and her work required her to travel often. So, when she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer, she didn’t have much of a support system to help her through treatment. According to Smith, the friends she did have distanced themselves from her after the diagnosis, and one friend who visited her in the hospital never visited again after seeing her.
Not one to ask for help, Smith kept quiet about her disease from her church. However, after sharing her diagnosis with her friend Debbie who was visiting, Debbie informed the pastor of Smith’s church that she needed support. The pastor then rallied volunteers to help Smith during her treatment, whether it was bringing her home cooked meals or just keeping her company. Smith says the pastor and church volunteer’s support was never something she’d ever ask for herself, but it turned out to be a life-saver.
“It’s amazing how things turn into what you need, you actually get,” Smith says.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
“I’ve learned that while cancer really took everything — my job, where I was living — it look a lot, but what its given me — the joy of life, the ability to enjoy life as fully as I can, I could not be more blessed in that arena,” says ovarian cancer survivor Robyn Smith.
When she moved to Denver, Smith didn’t know many people and her work required her to travel often. So, when she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer, she didn’t have much of a support system to help her through treatment. According to Smith, the friends she did have distanced themselves from her after the diagnosis, and one friend who visited her in the hospital never visited again after seeing her.
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Not one to ask for help, Smith kept quiet about her disease from her church. However, after sharing her diagnosis with her friend Debbie who was visiting, Debbie informed the pastor of Smith’s church that she needed support. The pastor then rallied volunteers to help Smith during her treatment, whether it was bringing her home cooked meals or just keeping her company. Smith says the pastor and church volunteer’s support was never something she’d ever ask for herself, but it turned out to be a life-saver.
“It’s amazing how things turn into what you need, you actually get,” Smith says.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
