Loretta Swan

Kellyville, OK

Lung Cancer Survivor

I don't like to draw attention to myself, but when I realized the Lord had played a major part in my healing from stage 3 lung cancer, I ran the gamut of feelings and wondered what I could possibly do for Him in return. What I heard Him say in my heart was, "Just be yourself. Youre my miracle."

I'm a mother of three, grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of three, and a native Oklahoman. I've lived my whole life in and around Kellyville and worked at the county courthouse for 27 years.

I'm a fairly healthy person, but, in October 2004, I was experiencing a great deal of sinus congestion. No matter what the doctor prescribed for me, nothing seemed to help. When I began coughing up blood, he diagnosed pneumonia and admitted me to the hospital. After running a number of tests, he told me he'd like a friend of his, a physician he trusted who worked at CTCA, to come out and check the tests. That consult resulted in my husband and I leaving the hospital and coming to CTCA to meet with Dr. Daniel Nader, a CTCA pulmonologist. Within a short time, I learned I had stage 3 adenocarcinoma of the lung and that it had spread to some of the lymph nodes in my chest.

I was scared to death. I thought my life was over. I'd seen my sister die of stomach cancer, and whatever life I had left, I wanted it to be a good quality. I was very leery of chemotherapy, but Dr. Nader, along with a team of doctors and other practitioners, worked out a treatment plan for me that included Tomotherapy®, Brachytherapy and chemotherapy. It was tough, but I could sense God led me here to this place and these people and that He was in this plan.

From the beginning of treatment, I asked my doctors and nurses, as well as others, to pray for me. I've been a strong believer in Christ most of my life, but cancer has drawn me even closer to the Lord. I look back at my whole cancer journey and see His hand directing every aspect of it. And, at CTCA, I was reminded of Him everywhere. One of the nurses gave me a bloodstone to remind me, every time I touched it, that I was covered by the blood of Jesus. Staff quoted Scripture to me; everyone was always saying encouraging things to me. They wouldn't let you get down.

When I finished treatment in January 2005, tests showed no sign of cancer in my body. I was so grateful. I take nothing away from my doctors. I know they have great skill and knowledge, and I know God directed me to them, but it's God who gave them their abilities, desire and understanding. Here I was, thinking life was over, and God was giving me a second chance ... a chance to help my granddaughter raise her babies ... a chance to be faithful to Him every day I was given.

Having cancer doesn't just happen to you. It happens to your family and friends as well. It helps you get your priorities straight. You learn each day is important and how you spend it. And God has used my cancer to show people what He can do. CTCA used me in one of their television commercials, and Ive had so many people tell me, "I've seen you on TV. You look wonderful." It's made an impact on their lives that I survived.

My husband and I both feel like we gain spiritual strength when we come back to CTCA for check-ups. We believe the peaceful feeling we and others feel when we enter the building is the result of the Scriptures written on the floors underneath the carpet throughout the facility. I don't know where you could go and find people who care more about you than they do at CTCA or where you could find more hope. There's a spirit at that place ... a good feeling. It gives you strength.