Testimonials:
Please join us in motivating and empowering women across the world with your story of inspiration and victory. Share your journey of how you confronted your challenges and defied all odds. These stories are not limited to the ones mentioned in our company message. We believe that all aspect of life’s odd in a woman’s life is worth sharing.
Defy All Odds Feature Story
Edwina Flynn's story:
I would like to nominate Mrs. Edwina Flynn who lives in Maryland. Edwina is the
oldest of five siblings, all grown and quite prosperous. However, both of Edwina's
elderly parents, who spent their entire life ministering to the needs of others,
now need to be ministered to. The father is deaf and very ill; the mother is
blind, just recently fractured her back and is extremely ill.
Edwina has been
taking care of them single-handedly for the past two years or more and her siblings
have not lifted one hand to help her or offer any relief, neither personally or
financially. The stress has been so great on Edwina that she has suffered blindness
in one eye. She often goes without sleep, and because her parents are blind and
deaf, they do not trust others to care for them, which offer her no relief. One
can only imagine the strain this endeavor puts on her marriage as well. The one
thing that is so amazing about Edwina is that when you speak with her she is ALWAYS
upbeat and jovial. One would never know the trials she is enduring.
Words cannot
adequately describe the trials and efforts undertaken by Edwina to help her parents
survive in their final days, but it is nothing short of miraculous. Her courage and
the Christ-like spirit of unselfishness that she displays are true inspirations to
all who know her. It is for this reason that I hope you will chose Edwina to
receive a special gift. She is highly deserving.
Written by: Eleanor Wharton
Edwina received these special gifts from Defy all Odds and Self Indulgence with thanks from her dear friend Eleanor.
Gifts from Defy all Odds Gifts from Self Indulgence
 
GI cap, Special Edition tee, bandana Moisture booties (cotton/lycra)
and silicone bracelet and Healing Salve
Defy All Odds Feature Story
This is a story about a woman who represents the meaning of Defy all Odds. I introduce to you Elaine Samuel who has been a breast cancer survivor for 13 years. She is a devoted mother and an inspiration to others.
Elaine celebrated her 70th birthday this past week and today, July 14th, she celebrates her 13th year of recovery from breast cancer.
Growing up in the Caribbean, Elaine's first desire was to be a teacher at her
Alma Mata. She realized her dream but she spent only two terms teaching as she decided to pursue a position in the Civil Service. This proved to be her niche and she went on to spend 40 years in Government service. Starting from the bottom, she emerged to the top, holding such positions as acting Financial Secretary and the coveted Civil Service position.
Now retired, Elaine spends her time relaxing, doing crossword puzzles, listening to the radio, and reading keeping abreast of world affairs.
In July of 1994, to her surprise, she discovered a lump in her right breast. She immediately visited her doctor in Antigua to report her findings. However, as a precautionary measure, she sought a second opinion from her doctor in the United States.
When Elaine was diagnosed with breast cancer, she said one of her toughest moments was telling her mother. She recalls going to her mother with tears streaming down her face like a running faucet. Her mother provided words of encouragement and repeated a biblical quote which reads "Do not cry, for with Christ in the vessel, you can always smile at the storm". This is exactly what this resilient woman intended on doing.
With a positive outlook and a fighting attitude, Elaine prepared herself for what would prove to be her most challenging battle. However, this was a battle that she would not face by herself. She maintained a strong relationship with The Lord Almighty and he was ever present in this battle and others to come. Also, her mother, her three sons, nieces and nephews, extended family and friends were all in her corner.
Her ordeal began with the mastectomy of her right breast. Then several tests of the liver, heart and bone scans were conducted to ensure that there was no additional spread of the cancer. This was followed by six months of chemotherapy. Then came the Radiation treatment for seven weeks, five days per week.
During this period, she confessed to a range of emotions as well as days when she was sick to her stomach. She remembers the days when it was even hard for her to fathom showing up for her therapy sessions. However, she knew that if the therapy courses were not completed the surgery would have been all in vain. There were also the physical side effects of the therapy such as hair loss, difference in taste buds, and skin darkening.
Ultimately, through perseverance; faith and trust in the Lord; the support of her family and sheer determination, she successfully completed her therapy. In the back of her mind, but close to her heart, were those words that brought so much inspiration, "Do not cry, for with Christ in the vessel, you can always smile at the storm".
Throughout our conversation, Elaine conveyed several times that she never felt self-pity nor questioned the Lord by asking,” why me?” Her faith was boldly put on display when she returned to work for three more years before retiring at the mandatory age of 60.
These past thirteen years have been filled with trials for Elaine. Her mother passed away only two years after she was diagnosed in 1996. Elaine has lived through the passing of several close friend and family with the culmination of her beloved second son’s sudden death in August, 2004 while on vacationing with her back home in the Caribbean. He was only 40 years old.
Today, Elaine struggles with arthritis in her knees and ankles and cataracts and glaucoma threaten her sight. Nevertheless, she stands as tall as a mahogany tree that has survived several hurricanes and maintains her personal relationship with her God, believing in His healing power.
Elaine is grateful for life and appreciates her time spent on earth going through life's trials and tribulations, its peeks and valleys, and emerging victorious each time. She reflected on a brief period when her cancer diagnosis was like a death sentence because of her limited knowledge of the disease at the time. Now, she is pleased with the advances in medicine and technology and the wealth of information that is available today. Each of her days is taken in stride and her smile remains ever bright in the face of every adversity. She prays daily that a definite cure is found for this disease.
Interview conducted by Akeem Jackson |
