Survivor: A Widow’s Tale of Strength Stephanie McClure

SURVIVOR:

A WIDOW’S TALE OF STRENGTH

Nonfiction by Stephanie McClure

Inever dreamed of becom- took care of her property. It was not expecting nor understanding a widow at 28 years of an exceptionally hot summer ing. Apparently, medulloblasage. More than that, I never that year and he spent most of toma—his cancer—was mostly dreamed of being a widow it outside. He did this regardless common in children. More hoswith a six-year-old daughter of the incredible headaches he pital staff quickly came into the to raise. began to endure. It became a room and everything become a My husband, Chuck, and I daily thing and more intense. blur. Things after that seemed had just lived through a sum- He didn’t really complain of any- to move rather quickly. mer that, up until then, was the thing else. He had his first surgery that toughest time we had endured. The day came that we had summer. They told us he would

Chuck’s grandmother was put to bury his grandmother. He be ok and healthy, and he was on hospice and we came and promised me that once he bur- out of the hospital a few days spent the summer taking care of later. He was then back to work her in her final days. We spent a few weeks later. We went on our time making her comfort- with life as normal. However, able, being together, and play- six months later, the headaches ing at the lake. He really enjoyed returned. He had his second jumping from the cliffs. We surgery the following summer. thought life following her death Immediately after dischargwould be easier. ing from the hospital, the daiChuck and I met when I was ly radiation treatments began, only nineteen. Chuck was nine ied her, he would have his head- followed by chemo. Chemo years older than me with three aches checked out, so we went was brutal to say the least. His daughters. My parents thought to the ER. The medical staff did immune system was so weak

I was absolutely insane, yet they several scans and didn’t appear from all the treatments, and he supported me fully. To me, it was to be alarmed by anything. We became very ill very quickly. It a fairy-tale in the making. I didn’t never thought in a million years was one thing after another. He think I was ready for love at such that it was anything more than was a strong healthy man, but a young age, yet here I was. I be- a pulled muscle, and waited for the chemo just overpowered came a wife and stepmother of the expected results. his body. I thought the shingles three at a very young age. Two Unfortunately, we were were going to be the worst of it. years later, we welcomed our wrong. The doctor came in and Little did I know what was soon daughter together. We spent it took only a split second for to happen. the next nine years becoming things to get serious. I knew We had a rough winter one big, happy family. our lives were about to change. that winter. We had snow! He When his grandmother be- Standing in that hospital room, wanted to play outside with come ill, we knew we had to hearing the words out of the our daughter. Everyone had be there for her. He worked so doctor’s mouth, was the scariest so much fun that day. Unfortuhard to be make her final days moment of my life: tumor, brain nately, the days that followed happy and comfortable. He not cancer, surgery, radiation, che- brought on symptoms of pneuonly took care of her, but he also mo. These were words we were monia. I kept pressing him to let

“To me, it was a fairy-tale in the making.”