Michael Eugene

My wife's name was Christine Eugene. She was a Christian woman who loved Jesus Christ. When she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, we couldn't believe it; we were in shock. She cried all the way home from her doctor who had just nonchalantly told her, "You have breast cancer." We felt totally abused, and not knowing what to do next, we both cried. We immediately prayed for healing and asked for others to pray for us, as well.

Christine had a radical mastectomy and started chemotherapy right away. After she finished her treatments, she was considered clean of cancer or in remission for about three years. Then it returned to her back, affecting three vertebrae. She was in constant pain; it pained her to walk, ride in the car ... our lives were totally changed. Her oncologist seemed helpless in our battle. I wanted my wife to enjoy her life, but I felt helpless. There was nothing I could do to help my wife.

For the cancer in her back, the treatments were radiation and chemotherapy. But, nothing seemed to help the cancer; it kept growing, eventually spreading to her lungs. She now experienced breathing problems as well as the constant pain in her back. We changed oncologists hoping we could find someone that could help us. The cancer continued to grow, spreading to her liver. Eventually, the second oncologist called me and said, "There's nothing more I can do." He told me to take my wife home and let her enjoy the few weeks she had left.

By this time, my wife weighed only 89 lbs., she had problems breathing, and we thought we were at the last few weeks of her life. Then we went to Cancer Treatment Centers of America, where they helped extend my wife's life for another year. First, the doctors dealt with her pain. She immediately felt good enough to go shopping! They began treatment the following day, and by the second visit, she felt well enough to forgo a wheelchair. In one month's time, she was well enough to travel and visit family. Our life was back for a full year, before the cancer spread to her brain, and Christine passed away six months later. At first, I was so grieved over the passing of my wife; I couldn't understand why my beautiful wife had to suffer the way she did. I didn't understand why she died, at such a young age, but I did know that I desperately needed to feel close to God.

While my wife spent her last six months with me, I was laid off from Lucent Technologies. Strangely, I was glad to be laid off at that time, because it meant that I would have more time to spend taking care of her. But now Christine was gone, and I needed to work and do something to support myself. I sent out hundreds of resumes to many companies, even those for which I was over-qualified for the position. But, there seemed to be something wrong. Why wasn't I getting any interviews? My future seemed gloomy.

Realizing no one was offering me a job, (in fact, I only had two interviews), I knew I had to draw close to God, lean on and trust in him. I needed to go to my God and share my pain and grief. I had a desire and urgent need to be close to my God and freely share my thoughts with him. My days were spent sending out resumes, researching different job opportunities, studying my bible, praying and fasting once a week. It was during my studies and praying that I began to recall the idea Christine had shared with me - it was as if God brought it back to my memory.

I scheduled a meeting with Rev. Percy McCray and gave a presentation of our ideas. This started Alongside Ministries, which now has been changed to: Our Journey of Hope. While sharing my ideas, the president of the hospital, asked how I was supporting myself. Two months later, I began working at Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

Having a website like this was an idea of Christine's; she wanted to reach out and support other cancer patients and their families, to be an ear, a voice in the midst of the lonely nights. To have many patients around the world joined as fellow brothers and sisters in fulfillment of Christine's vision, gives me so much joy! I have learned that life is a beautiful thing and much like the entire creation around us, God only wants the best for us. Even when there is something that at first glance that seems very awful and terrible, very good things can come from our trials.

I have learned so much from my wife through her illness, and, to this day, I am still learning. Now my Savior is teaching me the value of love, the value of trials and the value of trusting in him. We are one family, and we must come to the aid of others as they are battling their disease. We come to pray, support, be a voice in the still of the night, be an ear, lend our heart, our compassion, and to encourage our large family. We are here to walk alongside each and every patient and their loved ones in their battle against cancer. We want to use the challenges of our lives for good, and allow the difficult times in our lives to be a catalyst to great things in the future. Let this disease be an opportunity for us to draw together, and to help each other in our walk on this earth.

Let us join together in love with genuine compassion for our fellow cancer patients and their families around the world.

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