{"id":11846,"date":"2018-10-26T01:42:49","date_gmt":"2018-10-26T07:42:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelink.harding.edu\/the-bison\/?p=11846"},"modified":"2018-11-02T08:57:58","modified_gmt":"2018-11-02T14:57:58","slug":"think-pink","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelink.harding.edu\/the-bison\/2018\/10\/26\/think-pink\/","title":{"rendered":"Think Pink"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to breastcancer.org, 1 in 8 U.S. women develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. This Breast Cancer Awareness month, two Harding faculty members reflect on their experience battling the disease.<\/em><\/h3>\n

Sharon Williams<\/h1>\n

Written by Jed Myers<\/p>\n

Sharon Williams, administrative assistant to the president, dons an inspiring story \u2014 one that becomes especially meaningful in the month of October.<\/p>\n

Williams was first diagnosed with non-invasive ductal carcinoma in 2013 and was treated through six rounds of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation. In May 2018, Williams was diagnosed again and had a double mastectomy. At the time of her first diagnosis, Williams said she was disappointed but not shocked because of the steps taken to further her initial testing. She immediately began considering what her next steps would be.<\/p>\n

\u201cI learned to enjoy things,\u201d Williams said. \u201cYou take a lot of things for granted, and every day I took in everything I saw, making every day count. I started to see the good in everything, and now I try to make my days count toward helping others to do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams said she came back to work quickly because she felt she had to stay busy and not focus so much on her situation. While she was receiving treatment, her perspective changed to finding the positive in each moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Harding community was amazing with cards, food, phone calls and prayers,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n

Breast Cancer Awareness month is important, according to Williams, because there are so many women who have died from the disease. Awareness of the disease and its treatment is invaluable, as it encourages women to be proactive and be checked themselves. This year, Williams participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, an event she also participated in before her diagnosis, and was involved in Harding\u2019s Relay for Life and Survivor Lap.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter my diagnosis, this event had a whole different meaning,\u201d Williams said. \u201cTo see the other people that go through this disease and survive \u2014 it\u2019s an emotional time. People with cancer are almost inducted into a club they did not want to be in, but it is a club of support and family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cindy Hunter, executive assistant to the president, has worked with Williams for over a year, but has known her for a while. Hunter said when she learned of Williams\u2019 first diagnosis, she hated it for her, noting her youth and beauty. After Williams\u2019 recent diagnosis, Hunter said it was devastating for everyone in the president\u2019s office because she had just reached the five-year mark of remission from her first diagnosis.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe has handled her situation amazingly,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cShe always has the best attitude and knows that God is in control. She may not feel good all of the time, but unless I was this close this to her, I would have never known it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Monte Cox, dean of the College of Bible and Ministry, where Williams worked as a receptionist and office manager from 2001 to 2017, said it was painful to watch Williams go through such a painful experience for so long. Cox said even in the middle of her ongoing cancer battle, she put a smile on her face and did her job. While she may have been anxious at times, her colleagues saw no change in her demeanor.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is tender but tough,\u201d Cox said. \u201cShe is very conscientious, extremely responsible. She is serious about keeping her commitments because of her abiding faith in God that I think has only grown stronger.<\/p>\n

Amy Adair<\/h1>\n

Written by Erin Floyd<\/p>\n

Amy Adair, assistant professor of the college of education, was diagnosed in August 2015 with breast cancer. After four months of chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, Adair was cleared with \u201cNo Evidence of Disease\u201d (NED) in December 2015.<\/p>\n

Throughout her treatments, Adair said her family of four was very supportive. Her oldest son moved home from a different part of Arkansas to be with her, and her daughter and younger son also helped care for her by running errands and supporting other needs of the family.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy husband went to every treatment, every surgery. Anything that I had to do, he would do it with me,\u201d Adair said. \u201cHe was so convicted that he needed to be with me, that he would not even let me say, \u2018I have a chemo treatment,\u2019 he would say, \u2018we have a chemo treatment.\u2019 \u2018You don\u2019t have a doctor\u2019s appointment, we have a doctor\u2019s appointment.\u2019 That just meant so much to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adair said her community at Harding was also very supportive of her and her family during her cancer treatments, offering to fill in for classes, grade assignments and help in other areas as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the biggest thing,\u201d Adair said. \u201cAnything that came up. I just had people continually saying, \u2018If there\u2019s anything I can do\u2026 If I can teach a class or help you grade let me know.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Adair said the awareness it raises is important because it pushes fundraising and support for important cancer research through events such as Relay for Life.<\/p>\n

As she went through her cancer treatments, Adair said that the real battle wasn\u2019t a physical battle, but a spiritual battle. When patients are diagnosed with cancer, they often go through about a year of chemotherapy, radiation or surgeries, during which they are constantly thinking about how to get better, according to Adair.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not against the cancer,\u201d Adair said. \u201cMy battle is staying faithful to God \u2026 The battle is getting your mind right, staying faithful, … and in the end, if cancer leads to my physical death, then I will not lose the battle to cancer. I will lose the battle to cancer if I\u2019m found unfaithful when I finally pass from this earth. But I will not lose the battle with cancer simply because I pass away.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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