Let's give Him some Praise!
~ Praise Break Report ~
The following is Part 2 of Jacqui Ingram’s testimony, having going through multiple rounds of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with Stage 3 Triple Negative breast cancer, to find out that chemo had not shrunk the tumor enough to have surgery. Jacqui faced the options of a mastectomy or a third round of chemo:
“After many tears, I moved forward with another round of chemo before surgery. I felt a fool for making a big deal over my “last day”. I was so arrogant with the guy who does the blood draw, like “LAST DAY!!! PEACE!!!,” and he didn’t acknowledge my happiness at all! I was thinking, “THAT’S RUDE!,” but now I know why. Three weeks later I was sitting right back there in his chair getting my blood drawn before a chemo session. I felt like the biggest idiot. He didn’t even acknowledge that I was back and just said, “Roll your sleeve up”. One session was scheduled the week before Thanksgiving, and I was just grateful that I was able to come in BEFORE the holiday.
I remembered those hard days during my first two rounds of chemo and felt so defeated. Everything “they say” about cancer is true. Even though the doctors will give you everything you want and need to manage the side effects, there came a time, for me, when NONE OF IT WORKED! Those times all I could do was call on the name of Jesus! I would lay as still as possible and repeat over and over, “By Your stripes, I am healed. By Your stripes, I am healed.” A calmness fell over me and before I knew it, it was the next morning. I also created an “I AM HEALED” music playlist and put it on repeat whenever I was feeling low and sing myself happy. Tamela Mann’s “Potter” was the song I first heard after my cousin shaved my head bald. I was lying in bed so sad and scared to look in the mirror. Then I heard these lyrics:
“But while you're going through, let Jesus work on you
There's nothing else to do but be still and know
He is God alone, He came to make you strong
Though it hurts for a moment, let Him work on you”
At that moment, a wave of peace washed over me. I knew then that everything would be OK, and that “this too shall pass”. I recalled the Apostle Paul’s prayer to remove the thorn from his side, and God said no. He didn’t take the pain away, but promised Paul grace and strength to get through it. 2 Corinthians 12:9 never rang so true and became one of my go-to Scriptures.
After the 3rd treatment during my 3rd round of chemo, I got very ill and went to the emergency room. My red blood count dropped extremely low. I was admitted and needed a blood transfusion followed by a magnesium infusion. This happened during one of my fasting periods, and when they bought breakfast, I was like, “Should I?’ But I didn’t, I pressed on through! When I was discharged, I was determined that the chemo was doing more harm than good, and it was time to take the tumor out!”
Find out how the Lord brought turnaround to Jacqui’s situation in the next Praise Break Report!
