I am that Unlikely Success Story!

March 2000. Office of Dr. Kandell, Gastroenterology, Wellesley Hospital, Toronto.  “I have good news and bad news for you. The bad news is you have cancer. The good news is there is only the one tumor and it has not spread.”

March 2000, Dr. Breirley,  Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto .

Has anyone talked to you about radiation and Systemic Scleroderma? Because we don’t do radiation on patients ,like yourself, who have S SC and the difficulty is that the surgeon you’ve seen will not do the operation to remove the tumor without radiation first.”

Systemic Scleroderma is a rare auto immune disease that  can affect heart, lungs and kidneys.  Radiation causes an exacerbation of the disease.  I was lucky. Another surgeon took up the challenge.

April 18, 2000   Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto. Surgical team led by Dr. Zane Cohen.  Seven hours of surgery to remove the tumor from my rectum, and other working parts it had attached itself to.  I was reworked and rewired.

At this point in time my dream of riding a horse at the international level of Prix. St. George and Intermediare 1 seemed highly unlikely.

March 2018  I competed with  my horse Biasini in the Intermediare 1 and had competed with him in the Prix St. George the previous year.

I am that unlikely success story.

Never give up your dreams.

While there is life there is hope.

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This is my response to this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge “unlikely”.To see other responses click here. https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/unlikely/

 

Comments

48 responses to “I am that Unlikely Success Story!”

  1. Avery Avatar

    <3 keep sharing your story!

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      I will. I know that there are others struggling with a tough diagnosis so I want them to know that there is always hope !

      1. Avery Avatar

        Indeed! ❤️❤️❤️

  2. Juli Hoffman Avatar

    Congrats! What a fantastic story. 😀

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you Juli!

  3. raynotbradbury Avatar

    Omg 😮 it makes me believe everything is possible and that the God sees good hearts 💕💕🙌

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Oh my goodness Ray that is a wonderful comment. Thank you! ❤

      1. raynotbradbury Avatar

        💙💙

  4. dray0308 Avatar

    Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often.

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you for the reblog Danny!

      1. dray0308 Avatar

        You are welcome!

  5. Chimène Avatar

    I wish I can afford a horse 😅. Lovely post

  6. Emma Cownie Avatar

    Fantastic, Anne. Only you know how just much effort you have put into all this. I was just reading this morning about how exercise (and horse riding is very energetic) is so important in helping people who are undergoing cancer treatment and recovery. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/may/07/cancer-if-exercise-was-a-pill-it-would-be-prescribed-to-every-patient

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thanks for this link! Very interesting.

  7. thinkinkadia Avatar

    Reblogged this on thinkinkadia and commented:
    I have been following Anne Leueen for a while now. I admire her for being passionate about making her dream come true in face of adversity. Having had some experience with horse riding myself, I know it’s a lot of work, and to be doing that competitively at the age of 68, “Hats off!” I hope this story inspires you to pursue your dream!

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you for the reblog! If my story can inspire someone who is in the thick of the struggle with a bad diagnosis or health upset then I am happy!

      1. thinkinkadia Avatar

        You are most welcome Anne! I am positive your story will inspire for health issues and more. So many people need to hear personal successes like yours. Congrats once again.

  8. Subbashini Meenakshi Sundaram Avatar

    So wonderful and inspiring

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you!

  9. Charlotte Gomez Avatar

    I wish you all the best, you and your horse are such a fantastic partnership! Such beautiful photo’s.

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you for the good wishes Charlotte. I appreciate it very much.

  10. roamingridersite Avatar

    Inspiring! Thank you for sharing. It’s amazing what people can do when you put your heart and mind to it

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you! I have been very fortunate.

  11. whippetwisdom Avatar

    Such an inspiring story Anne and so glad you and Biasini found each other ☺💖 xxx

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      I agree! Thank you for commenting. I hope you are enjoying a pleasant weekend.

  12. Nurul Fitri Lubis Avatar

    What an inspiring story, Anne. Stay cool and be the star always..

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you Nurul. I’ll just keep on keeping on!😃🐴

  13. Tina Schell Avatar

    Anne-what a truly heartwarming tale of courage, and God bless the surgeon who took the risk! I have a good friend who has scleroderma and know how difficult it can be. How amazing to experience remission after your cancer. Stay healthy!

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you Tina! Scleroderma can be devastating and when i go in to the clinic each year and see some of the other patients i am reminded of how fortunate i am. The specialists say that i have the answer and that they hope to be able to find a way to get it from me! I hope they do too!

  14. Integrity Training Avatar

    ❤❤❤❤ we all need these stories of hope, thanks! you and Your horse have a strong purpose together!

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      I hope I can give someone else who is struggling with their health some hope. I feel very strongly that if I have been saved for a purpose it is to give someone else hope. Thanks for your nice comment.

  15. Robyn Avatar

    Powerful message – thanks for sharing and reminding us to keep hope!

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      You are welcome Robyn. I find inspiration in reading your blog posts and learning how you have overcome your challenges so I appreciate your comment very much.

  16. thinkinkadia Avatar

    Wow! Thats an A+ all the way. Keep it up🤗
    May I reblog this?

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Yes please do reblog this. I hope that if someone is struggling with a health problem or a bad diagnosis it may encourage them not to give up. Thank you!

      1. thinkinkadia Avatar

        Welcome and it is my honor to do so. Definitely! It is always my goal to encourage people.

  17. Cyranny Avatar

    I wasn’t aware you lived with scleroderma. One of my aunts has the disease, and I have seen how it can evolve through the years… The fact that you beat cancer while handling scleroderma is amazing… And I admire how you kept fighting, where a lot of people would have simply given up! You and Biasini sooo deserve the quality time you get to spend together, now! Keep living the dream!! This is no luck, you deserve every minute of happiness you get! 🙂 VERY inspiring!! *big hugs*

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you i can feel the hug! My scleroderma went into remission in the year after my cancer surgery. I still go to the scleroderma clinic at Mt Sinai hospital once a year. I keep going because i hope and the specialists hope they will find some way of testing me to find an answer as to why my symptoms regressed to just gastric reflux and nothing more. I had stomach involvement , all my joints were inflammed and the sking over my entire body was affected and was thick and hard. Now..just the reflux. Apparently this kind of remission has only happened in people fo have had stem cell treatment which I have not. Lots of people have cancer and do not get a remission from S Sc. They have actually referred to my case as miraculous. I hope I can give an answer because it can be a horrible disease. Thanks again for the hugs!

      1. Cyranny Avatar

        Wow, this does seem like a miracle, and I am so glad things turned that way for you!!

        My aunt is suffering from that thickening of the skin too… But her main problem is the way the disease is affecting her lungs. She has been waiting for a transplant for years… It is a very cruel disease… 🙁

        1. anne leueen Avatar

          Oh dear! I’m so sorry to hear that. It is a very cruel disease and because it is rare many people do not know how devastating it can be. I shall pray for your Aunt . I ‘m not religious but I do have belief in the power of positive thoughts. And sometimes prayers are answered!

          1. Cyranny Avatar

            I know she’ll appreciate it! Thank you for the warm thoughts 🙂

            Scleroderma is almost an orphan disease… and that’s very sad. I’ll make sure to tell her about you, next time we meet, and I am sure she’ll be very happy about your miraculous remission!

  18. settleinelpaso Avatar

    Thank you for sharing your inspiring success story. Have a wonderful weekend.

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you and i wish you wonderful weekend as well!

  19. cagedunn Avatar

    Dreams, and the fight to achieve them, make life worthwhile. Others, who watch and see, are inspired.

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you. I hope my story can encourage others who are struggling.

  20. sandyjwhite Avatar

    Yes, it’s good to remember that unlikely and impossible
    are not one in the same!

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Exactly! You’ve got it. Thanks for this comment!

      1. sandyjwhite Avatar

        Sure!

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