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.
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/
❤ keep sharing your story!
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I will. I know that there are others struggling with a tough diagnosis so I want them to know that there is always hope !
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Indeed! ❤️❤️❤️
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Congrats! What a fantastic story. 😀
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Thank you Juli!
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Omg 😮 it makes me believe everything is possible and that the God sees good hearts 💕💕🙌
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Oh my goodness Ray that is a wonderful comment. Thank you! ❤
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💙💙
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Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often.
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Thank you for the reblog Danny!
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You are welcome!
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I wish I can afford a horse 😅. Lovely post
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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
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Thanks for this link! Very interesting.
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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!
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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!
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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.
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So wonderful and inspiring
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Thank you!
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I wish you all the best, you and your horse are such a fantastic partnership! Such beautiful photo’s.
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Thank you for the good wishes Charlotte. I appreciate it very much.
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Inspiring! Thank you for sharing. It’s amazing what people can do when you put your heart and mind to it
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Thank you! I have been very fortunate.
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Such an inspiring story Anne and so glad you and Biasini found each other ☺💖 xxx
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I agree! Thank you for commenting. I hope you are enjoying a pleasant weekend.
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What an inspiring story, Anne. Stay cool and be the star always..
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Thank you Nurul. I’ll just keep on keeping on!😃🐴
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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!
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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!
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❤❤❤❤ we all need these stories of hope, thanks! you and Your horse have a strong purpose together!
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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.
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Powerful message – thanks for sharing and reminding us to keep hope!
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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.
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Wow! Thats an A+ all the way. Keep it up🤗
May I reblog this?
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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!
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Welcome and it is my honor to do so. Definitely! It is always my goal to encourage people.
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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*
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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!
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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… 😦
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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!
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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!
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Thank you for sharing your inspiring success story. Have a wonderful weekend.
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Thank you and i wish you wonderful weekend as well!
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Dreams, and the fight to achieve them, make life worthwhile. Others, who watch and see, are inspired.
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Thank you. I hope my story can encourage others who are struggling.
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Yes, it’s good to remember that unlikely and impossible
are not one in the same!
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Exactly! You’ve got it. Thanks for this comment!
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Sure!
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