Cancer survivor speaks at RPL
The month of March has come to a close, and with it ends Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Ashley Cummins, director of Russellville Public Library, and Anna Duncan with Relay for Life didn’t let it end, however, without hosting an event to recognize and raise awareness for the cause.
March 29 RPL hosted colorectal cancer survivor Vickie Riddle, who told her story and provided inspiration and words of wisdom to those who attended.
Riddle was diagnosed and underwent surgery in the early months of 2015, when her doctor found several growths in her intestines.
“He said he had never seen anything like it before,” Riddle said.
She was 57 years old and had avoided getting a colonoscopy for years, even though the recommended age to have the procedure is 50. Riddle said she had no symptoms or signs that anything was wrong, so she ignored her doctor and even the insurance company when they kept pressuring her to have it done.
“My husband and other family members were having health problems, and I didn’t make the time for it,” she said.
After receiving her diagnosis and discovering the extent of her cancer, Riddle said she wished she had paid attention to the warnings sooner.
A surgeon removed sections of her colon, and she was able to avoid going through chemotherapy. She was able to continue the healing process using a home healthcare service. It took her several months to completely recover.
“Vickie is a walking testament to the importance of early screenings and how God has a part in all of this,” Duncan said.
Riddle shared her belief that God has His hand on her life and the lives of others, and she shared how she discovered her purpose through her experience.
“I kept hearing about others going through the same thing and how they were suffering more than I was. I just kept thinking ‘Why me?” Riddle said.
She expressed her survivor’s remorse to her pastor one day, and he told her she had a purpose in all of this. After that, Riddle said God spoke to her and showed her that she was well equipped for His purpose for her, which she said was to be a voice for Him to help save people from this preventable cancer.
Since then she has given many speeches and spoken at places like churches and Relay for Life events, as well as hosted fundraisers for the cause.
