About Me

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Rayne, Louisiana
You've got to be kidding me, I have Breast Cancer? My name is Madelene Boudreaux. I just had my 51st birthday and my present was cancer. Although it wasn't the present I was expecting, I have decided to embrace it as such. My life as it existed is changed. Even though my diagnosis is that I have the most common breast cancer you can have (80% of the women who get breast cancer have this one) and the actual tumor was only 1.2 centimeters and there was only a microscopic spec in one lymph node... things just changed overnight. I feel confident that I will be healed with all the surgery, chemo and radiation, as well as the prayers, the shift in lifestyle and health changes, all of this with God as my Healer overseeing the whole plan. Most importantly, sunsets are more beautiful, my children are more precious and I cry for everything. Such clarity prevails, where life was blurry. I know my healing will come gently through trusted medical professionals, faith in a loving God and prayerful friends. I am surrounded by love with my family of eight kids and a great husband and a community of kind spirits!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Perspective!





My, its been a while! Life has certainly been full and hectic lately. Just finished a round of great check ups. That is always a relief! Have been feeling about as back to normal as I probably will get! Thank you GOD!
When I finally started feeling normal, I began to reclaim my old energetic spirit! So I brainstormed this local, Acadiana wide community fundrasier for the Miles Perret Cancer Services. It is a nonprofit, service center that caters to the needs of any cancer patient in our area! I, myself, have reaped the benefits of this wonderful place, where everything they offer is FREE, no charge to the patient! So Paint the Town Pink has kinda been my way of saying thank you! Many schools, businesses and individuals participated and it was deemed a great success. The donations are rolling in, so we don't have a tally yet of the actual amount. I had a goal of $10, 000 in my head, but I am certain without a doubt, that we exceeded that! It was quite a fun event and we will be certain to do it again next year! Above you can see my group of gal pals that helped me celebrate "pink style!" And then there is Audrey picking out her PINK DONUT!
I was also invited to participate in the Acadiana Breast Symposium, which included modeling in a style show, so if you know me well, I was all over that!!! I spent the whole day in the divine company of 29 breast cancer survivors and we were treated ever so royally that day. We were driven around in a limo, treated to a phenomenal meal, a hair and makeup appointment and bags and bags of goodies! It was a great day and as we were riding in the limo the women began to share their cancer stories, and up until that day, my own story was the only one I knew personally! I had always thought that losing my breast would be the ultimate horror of breast cancer, so when I was able to KEEP MY BOOBIES, and just have a lumpectomy and chemo and radiation, I felt relieved. As one of the ladies shared her CHEMO story, a young survivor said, "I can't even imagine the trials of chemo, I was so lucky to have JUST a double MASTECTOMY!" So... PERSPECTIVE, people, it is truly how each of us look at something! We create in our own head and our own mind what WE perceive the truth to be ! SO we can choose to view our "lot" how ever we want to see it. A life lesson for me, from way back, but especially since cancer, is to look at the glass HALF FULL...always, yes always! When I looked at each survivor, one of which was a 3o something year old mom, in stage 4 terminal cancer, and saw the LIFE that exuded them, I swore I would live, live, live life to the fullest. It was an amazing day! I was blessed to be a part of it! ...
Things are a little different around the house lately. WE have opted to take Haley and Maddie out of there normal high school setting. That decision being made after much prayer and a need to have them feel comfortable with each average day! They are presently being home schooled in a classroom setting, taught by a qualified teacher, (NOT ME!) They began in the middle of September and I am happy to report that it is going extremely well! It was a very difficult decision, yet we felt sure we were being led in the right direction! Life can be so challenging, especially when it comes to our kids, but I am certain my cancer experience makes these life choices much easier than they used to be! I am learning to trust that God is always leading us right where we need to be. Learning to make peace with the bumps along the way is getting a little easier every day! My God is a God of abundance who will never be outdone with his generosity! And I am learning to trust that! May God's abundant blessings be with all of you!