Jeanette Leone, my Grandma, battled stage four Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for one year at the age of 41. Throughout that year, she battled through chemotherapy every three weeks for 12 months. Throughout the course of her cancer treatment, she had a 40% chance of living — she was never scared of dying or never scared of anything. She explained to me that most people would be scared for some reason she never was. She just thought that if it was her time to go then she was fine with that. The odds of her living were not very good but she battled through the cancer and ended up successfully beating the cancer that she had.
Jeanette Leone says, “I was quickly diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a form of blood cancer.”
During Leone’s trip home after vacation, she received an unexpected cancer diagnosis. She experienced an odd sensation in her throat during her plane ride home, a slight lump that at first appeared unimportant. Like many of us, she initially thought it wasn’t something to worry about. But it was a watchful friend who convinced her to take it seriously and get help.
Leone immediately called her doctor after realizing how important her friend’s advise could be, and she was pleased to be given an appointment just a few days later. The important days that followed her doctor’s appointment were a blur of feelings and medical tests. After several rounds of testing, Leone received the devastating diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which changed the course of her life. Her life’s journey took a deep and unexpected turn when she suddenly went from being on vacation to having to deal with a serious medical problem. This turning point would ultimately lead her to strength and perseverance. This unexpected turn of events emphasizes the unpredictable nature of life and the value of paying attention to the health-related advise of kind people.
Leone’s story challenged what was accepted in the face of that alarming lump and pain that a cancer diagnosis creates. Her incredible lack of physical discomfort throughout the course of her disease marked her path different. This particular aspect of her experience was explained by Jeanette, who said,”What was surprising to me was that I was never afraid, sad, and had very little pain. I was very sick but never had any pain from it.”
The amazing strength demonstrated in her ability to accept the diagnosis without fear or sadness, but it was also clear from the fact that she was able to suffer her illness without the horrible pain that usually comes with such battles with cancer. Given that many cancer patients face severe pain throughout their battles, Leone’s story stands out as especially lucky in the world. This surprising absence of pain turned out to be an advantage in her hard battle. It serves as a structure to her strength and the unpredictable nature of the cancer journey, reminding us that even under the most trying conditions, there can be unexpected times of a break and grace.
The doctors began a thorough investigation to identify the reason for the cancer that had suddenly entered her life. They went through an array of tests and research, but they could never find the real solution. The causes of this strong disease can be strangely buried in mystery in the world of cancer. Her courage and the victory she achieved in the face of difficulty, however, shine through this shield of suspense.
Although the diagnosis itself was confusing, her unstoppable character and commitment of her medical team finally won over the mystery of her condition. Nobody really knows because the doctor showed there was nothing that could have caused it, she says as she looks back on this experience with the perspective of a survivor. The lesson here, in the end, is that she was unable to stop this unexpected chapter in her life. Her amazing strength and the care she got were her lights of fortune, guiding her through the darkest days of her life and showing the way to survival. She was simply dealt a bad hand.
This was very scary times for all of her family around her, but she was never scared. Jeanette says, “It affected my family not only emotionally but in their everyday living as for they cared for me.” Even though her entire family was scared she said that not once was she ever scared, even when she knew she had a 40% chance of living.
