If you’ve attended church or done any kind of studying of the Word of God, then you’re probably familiar with the significance of the number 7. God created the world in 7 days. The number 7 often symbolizes fullness, completion and perfection. God’s completion of the world also marked the beginning of Biblical history which we see come full circle in the book of Revelation . I never really thought much about the significance of the number until now.

In 7 days, my whole life changed. In 7 days my “life as usual” ended and I began walking fully in the purpose God has for my life; I guess you can say my purpose was painted pink…

DAY 1 –Friday, November 14, 2014: It has been 2 years since I lost my grandmother. My grandmother was one of the strongest women I’ve ever met in my life. She was a true fighter and fought her battle with breast cancer with so much strength while remaining rooted in faith. On this night, like many nights since her passing I had a dream that I was sitting on the edge of her bed while she sat in her wooden  chair with her blanket over her legs and her Bible in her lap.

I’m not sure what we were talking about. I just remember her looking at me and saying ” you need to remember that sometimes the things you go through aren’t even for you, it’s for somebody else so you can help them.” I frowned and asked her what she meant. I recall my grandma giving me a reassuring pat on my hand as she had done so many times before and I woke up.

DAY 2–Saturday, November 15, 2014: While sitting on the couch watching movies and joking with my boyfriend, I felt it. We felt it together, there was a lump on my left breast. Immediately my heart dropped. The first thing I thought about was my mother and my grandmother and their experiences with breast cancer. I shut myself in the bathroom and stood there looking in the mirror and feeling the lump. I did the only thing I knew to do; I prayed. Fighting back tears, I just prayed.

DAY 3–Sunday, November 16, 2014: I woke up hoping that I’d just had a bad dream the night before, but the lump was still there. I told my mother and she suggested that I go to the Dr. first thing Monday morning. I sat in church, my mind all over the place the entire service. However, I know God was speaking directly to me as my pastor preached on the topic: ” Chill out, it’s in the plan,” based on Romans 8:28-31. While sitting in church that Sunday, I knew God was preparing me for what was coming.

DAY 4–Monday, November 17, 2014: I went to urgent care and had the lump briefly examined and as I suspected, they told me to make an appointment to have a mammogram done. That night, I read my devotional as I do every day. The prayer for that day read: ” Lord, You know me inside and out. You see my strengths and weaknesses. I trust you to be working and equipping me to face the challenges of today and tomorrow. Help me to be brave, knowing that You are with me. Amen”  This was the day that it was confirmed in my spirit that I had breast cancer.

DAY 5–Tuesday, November 18, 2014: I couldn’t believe at the age of 28 that I was going in to have my first mammogram. It was a quick process and not as painless as my mom had described. I had an ultrasound done during this appointment as well. The mammogram only showed that there was a mass on my left breast, but it still wasn’t clear exactly what was going on, so I was given another appointment to have a biopsy done.

DAY 6–Thursday, November 20, 2014: I was nervous, I had knots in my stomach. The Dr. explained the procedure to me and the next thing I know I was gripping a nurse’s hand while the Dr. stood over me. For a minute everything fell silent and I just watched the nurse and Dr. go back and forth. Was this really happening? It all happened so fast that I don’t think I fully processed it all. Once the procedure was done I was told I would have the results as early as the next day. Although, I already knew what the results would be, I don’t know that I was ready to hear it.

DAY 7–Friday, November 21, 2014: That whole day I kept my phone sitting in front of me on my desk. I was thinking I wouldn’t hear back until Monday as the day went on and I hadn’t received a call. Around 2:45, it happened. I was sitting at my desk finishing up an email when the Dr. called. The only thing I remember about that call was a deep sigh followed by ” well…it’s cancer…” I can’t tell you what she said afterwards, I just said a quick ” ok thank you” and hung up, I’m pretty sure she was still talking, but the words ” it’s cancer” echoed over and over in my head.

I sat back down at my desk and closed my eyes. All the office noises that previously seemed so loud fell silent and all I could hear over and over in my head was “it’s cancer.”

All I could do was pray. I prayed for strength. I prayed for my loved ones. I didn’t know how I was going to tell my family I had breast cancer but I knew that God was with me, I knew that there was a purpose and a plan for it all, I just didn’t know what it was…