Almost everyone at one time or another has thought or said the words WHY…WHY ME? Beverly Russell in Murfreesboro is no exception, especially during the last ten years. She has undergone the fear, the frustration, the pain and the recovery from five significant and different cancer surgeries.
Her cancer journey began in 2016 when her doctor became suspicious of a swollen nodule on her throat. The endocrinologist confirmed that Beverly had thyroid cancer…and that the dreaded disease had spread throughout the gland.
Beverly was not overly concerned, thinking that the thyroid would simply be removed, and she would get on with her life. No further treatments were required.
In 2017, while on a family cruise to Alaska, she felt a lump in one of her arm pits. Not wanting to spoil the special event, she kept the thoughts to herself, but after returning home, Beverly sought medical help. Stage 3 breast cancer was the diagnosis, and a double-mastectomy followed.
The doctor tried to be empathetic, saying, “This is probably the worst thing that has ever happened to you.”
Beverly responded, “No the worst news I have ever heard was when my 27-year-old daughter died unexpectedly.”
Beverly said her daughter, Jill, had a 16-day-old boy that Beverly was helping to babysit. One day some devastating news arrived. Jill had died. An autopsy revealed that an enlarged heart contributed to her death…most likely from her recent pregnancy.
Beverly cried out to the Lord, “You are faithful. You can do anything, even raise the dead. Help me deal with this.” She then remembered that God promised to help her endure every situation…not necessarily removing the challenge…but helping her get through it.
A native of Missouri, she came to know the Lord at age 12. Like most young people, she had many questions, but as an adult, Beverly staked her faith on 1 Corinthians 10:13: No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful so He will not allow you to be temped beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape, also so that you will be able to endure it.
On July 2, 2022, Beverly was working in her backyard, and began to feel like she would pass out. She sat down, trying to regain her composure. Her daughter Chrissy, who lives next door and another daughter, Heather, visiting from Oklahoma came over, saw their mother in distress, foaming at the mouth, talking in a gibberish manner. An ambulance was called; immediate diagnosis suggested a stroke or seizure. Doctors at the hospital confirmed a seizure, the result of brain cancer. Surgery was completed, removing all forms of the cancer. Beverly was told that often breast cancer will show up later in the brain or bones.
Four months later during a scheduled checkup, doctors discovered that Beverly had cancer in one of her lungs. She believes the checkup was “A God Thing” …discovering the disease before it had spread further. The surgery and recovery were successful.
Then last year, 2024, during a brain scan, doctors discovered an abnormality. Surgery number five (5) proved to be only scar tissue. Beverly prayed, “Thank You Lord.”
She said, “My prayer now is for God to show me what I can do to honor Him. I have spent many years doing my will instead of God’s. I have made lots of mistakes …but God’s grace saved me…forgave me of the past, present and future sins. Psalm 46:10 reminds me to ‘be still and know’ that the Lord is God.
“John 3:3 tells us that anyone not born again will not see the Kingdom of Heaven. I thank God for bringing me through those trials and tribulations. His grace is sufficient…as His strength is made perfect in my weakness.”
During all those times of surgery, chemo and radiation, she would quote Scripture verses to help “build her up” in the Lord. She added, “Don’t get me wrong. I know many people have suffered more than me. I hope that this article will be encouragement to readers, and they’ll be reminded that our Creator knows us better than we know ourselves and that He loves us more than we even love ourselves. Nothing is impossible with the Lord.”
At this writing, she is CANCER FREE. Family members and some church friends suggested that Beverly should write a book to tell further about her struggles and how God has remained faithful, getting her through the bumps in her journey under the sun. That is for another day, POSSIBLY.
Meanwhile, she is willing to share her testimony when and if churches would invite her to speak. Beverly may be contacted at bevjrussell@hotmail.com
Beverly is looking forward…as in Philippians 3: 13-14… forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, pressing on for the prize of God in Christ Jesus
Ralph E. Vaughn
