My Story by Lori Leach

“As soon as I walked in to the hospital I felt hope for the first time.”

My name is Lori Leach and this is my story. Two years ago I discovered a lump under my armpit that concerned me. My worries were put to rest when my doctor said my lump was probably related too a ingrown hair. A few months later my family went to Iowa to spend the holidays with my side of the family. The “ingrown hair” was growing at a unexpected rate and my worries were once again laying heavily on my mind. I decided to show my sister, Tammy, who is a cardiologist. My hope was she would reassure me that there was nothing to worry about but the reaction was far from that. She instructed me to get to the doctor as soon as I got back to Austin. The next day we took the first flight home and my daughter and I went to my appointment. Two appointments later I found myself waiting anxiously in a waiting room surrounded by cancer patients. That was when it really hit me.

The next week was a blur of disbelief and unsettling emotions. I had four kids, a new grand baby and finances I needed to provide for. At this point we knew it was cancer but didn't know what type or how bad.

About 4 days later my daughter and I went back to the the oncologist in hope of goods news. But unfortunately it was the worse news yet. I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma. He also told me that because of the size of the mass we would need to basically do whatever we could to prolong my life.

The next few weeks consisted of getting me into M.D Anderson. As soon as I walked in to the hospital I felt hope for the first time. I was surrounded by people who truly cared and I knew I was on the road to recovery.

After 3 rounds of chemotherapy, hundreds of people praying for my health, and the best doctors I could wish for I am finally able to spend quality time with my family, experience my grand baby growing up, and I am finally back at work.

As you can imagine this year has been tough on me emotionally, physically and finically but by the grace of God I am here today. I have learned through all of this that my life isn't mine, it is God's and he is in full control of what happens.