ST. PAUL - Jeanne Smith admits that when she received her first cancer diagnosis in August of 2019, she was emotional and recalls being in a state of shock. But, determined to get through it, Smith relied on her strong religious beliefs, her family, and community as she went through the process.
By the spring of 2020, Smith would wrap up the last of her breast cancer treatments. The process had gone well, and she was told it was unlikely there would be any other complications.
"I was supposed to be the star patient," she says.
The risk of the cancer spreading into her bones was a possibility though, so Smith decided to take a zoledronic acid injection as a precautionary measure. So, when Smith started experiencing headaches and vomiting this past winter, she attributed it to the injection.
But, after a couple of weeks of severe symptoms, which also included losing her balance, Smith would find herself in the Emergency Room a handful of times. She was eventually sent to Cold Lake for an MRI.
That test found swelling on the brain, and Smith would make her way to Edmonton for further tests. In the mean time, Smith would be placed on a steroid to help control the headaches, which did work. But, the treatment also made it hard for Smith to sleep.
It was in these moments of being awake that Smith says she "felt like the Holy Spirit was really speaking to me about a whole bunch of things. . . but they were good things.”
Once she arrived in Edmonton, the process "went very fast," recalls Smith. After further testing, she was admitted into the University of Alberta hospital where she would undergo surgery for a brain tumour on Feb. 25. After the surgery, doctors were able to confirm that Smith's previous breast cancer diagnosis was connected to the tumours found in her brain.
While Smith again recalls feeling shocked by her new diagnosis, she also remembers feeling a sense of ease throughout.
"I felt like God was in this all the way," she says, adding, she met a number of amazing health care workers as she went through surgery and treatments, and says she marvelled at their dedication to their profession.
She recalls one specific nurse who walked her to the shower on day, and spoke about how he simply wanted to help people.
The tumour that was removed surgically was located on Smith's cerebellum. Doctors notified Smith that the risk of stroke was a possibility due to the surgery, but once again, she decided to rely on her strong religious beliefs to get her through.
"That was a little scary," admits Smith, when speaking about the surgery. "But, I brushed it off. I thought 'nope, not going to happen.'"
After returning home, Smith says the outpouring of support and prayers she's received have been amazing. Smith was a long-time teacher in St. Paul, most recently working as a substitute teacher within St. Paul Education.
Staff and students at Racette Jr. High School kept Smith in their prayers, and Smith says she felt "amazing strength" knowing she had their support. She also felt support from her church community, with Pastor Dwayne Grant of the Bethel Family Worship Centre stopping by to check on her a number of times.
When she would log onto her social media, there were many "beautiful and kind" messages coming from throughout the community.
And of course Smith's own family has been a huge source of support. She remains very close to her two adult daughters, and her husband.
"My husband really wanted me to be well," she says. And her daughters have proven to be upbeat and supportive throughout, sharing in their mom's strong faith.
Smith also has a close group of friends that she relies on for support, and whenever she is feeling down, they are there to lift her back up.
Four more tumours, still fighting
And while things are looking up, Smith still has some fight ahead of her.
An MRI done after her brain surgery revealed four more tumours, which have been treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery. The technology has only been available at the U of A for about a year. The process takes about four to six weeks, and Smith will know in June if it was successful.
"I was very fortunate that the medical technology is so close to us, and that it was available," she says
She will also be going for a bone scan in June, to watch for any signs of the cancer spreading. Smith will also continue to be monitored every few months, for the rest of her life.
Although she does have a clear and strong sense of faith, Smith admits there are still moments of doubt that creep up on her.
She sometimes still gets headaches, which can be tough. But, she reacts by going out for a walk, which is becoming easier to do with the nicer weather. She says she also makes an effort to stop negative thoughts when they do creep up.
When asked if there was a message she would like to pass on, Smith says simply, "You don't know what tomorrow brings."
She encourages people to consider having a church or religious network to rely on. As someone who made an effort to lead a healthy lifestyle, Smith says she never thought she would be diagnosed with a brain tumour.
But, she's chosen to draw closer to God, and believes he will draw closer to her.
