My name is Cheryle McLaughlin and I am a survivor of Cancer.  I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in January 2008. I was 36 years old and I thought I had the world at my finger tips. My husband and I were planning on starting a family when I received a phone call from my doctor. She asked me to come in and have my husband drive me. When we got to her office she informed me that we would not be able to have natural children, but most importantly, that I would have to have surgery to take the cancer out right away. I was informed that there was no guarantee what stage or grade I had. There was no guarantee that all the cancer could be taken out. In a minute all my dreams and my husband’s dreams of having children ended. And so the beginning of living with cancer began.

I had surgery in February of 2008. The surgery was successful, but I am now in the “high risk” category where I have a mammogram once a year. Because I am in a “high risk” category I have to have other tests pertaining to possible cancer growths.

I have been inspired by cancer survivor stories, and even those who have lost the fight and left us behind. When I was first diagnosed I reached out to the American Cancer Society and they helped me connect with a group who had the same type of cancer I had. I talked with two survivors, who helped me emotionally live with this disease, surgery and the healing.

I was asked to Co Chair for Our Promise 2008 (formerly CSECC) for Office of Legislative Counsel, which helped me have a voice to give back my survivor story. I have worked at the Office of Legislative Counsel, Legislative Data Center for 3 years. I was able to share how non profit organizations like the “American Cancer Society” through Our Promise helped me inform people on how lonely it was to be diagnosed with cancer, and the American Cancer Society helped me find someone who really understood what it was to go through cancer. This meant the world to me. Not only do these non profit organizations help us survive while fighting this disease but they put the fire on the candle that is burning in each of our hearts called “Life.” Our Promise helps educate our employees on how beneficial these non profit organizations are in all of our lives, when least expected. You can use my age of 36 as an example; I thought the world was at my fingertips, and I could have never imagined it happening to me.

I will forever be thankful to non-profit organizations through Our Promise for the fire that lit my candle and keeps it burning in my heart.

THANK YOU