True courage: Mrs. Johnson's battle with breast cancer

¶ … True Courage; Facing Breast Cancer

When we think of courage it is easy to look at heroes that are portrayed in the media; individuals who may be seen as an inspiration because they have faced difficult situations, often where there is a significant amount of danger, putting the needs of others before their own safety. There is little doubt that this is courage, but it is only one form of courage. If courage is defined as facing fears and have the resolution to overcoming difficulties there are many types of courage that may go unnoticed as they do not attack headline news or gossip. It can take courage to stand up to bullies, especially if they are larger or more powerful than yourself, to stand up for what you believe in even if others disagree and to overcome a phobia. These all require courage, as they involve facing a fear and moving forward despite being afraid. When I think of courage one person in particular comes to mind; my parsons wife Mrs. Johnson, she has faced and overcome fears, with her courage manifesting not only in her own actions in facing and overcoming fears, but the way in which she has been able to inspire and support others at the same time.

In many ways Mrs. Johnson is a typical parson's wife, if such a thing actually exists. She is highly supportive of her husband and his parish, always here for others with a shoulder to cry on, organizing and contributing community projects as well as looking after her own growing family. When Mrs. Johnson was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer I cannot imagine the feelings the emotions she must have felt. Speaking to her later, she talked of fear, confusion and even guilt for thinking of herself when she believed she should be thinking of others. She had already lost several family members to cancer, including an aunt to a late diagnosed breast cancer, so she fully understood the potential prognosis. She not only faced and eventually beat cancer; she decided to do it in a very public way. Cancer is typically a taboo subject, those suffering from it often hide their condition, frequently using wigs to cover hair lose from the chemotherapy, Mrs. Johnson faced the cancer and also helped others face the impact of cancer. When she was diagnosed she took what appeared to be a pragmatic approach. The cancer was not caught particularly early, but she still had a chance of survival with an aggressive course of treatment. She spoke openly about her disease and the treatment and when she lost her hair did not wear a wig. While activity living her life she also openly made arrangements with other parishioners to help with her husband and children, and to take on her various parish duties if she were to die. She faced the condition head on, never showing the fear and uncertainty that she faced.