Mr. Curtis Lee is no stranger to cancer. His wife Mabel has been a survivor since May of 1973. They have been avid supporters of Relay For Life from the very beginning. They always participated in survivor functions.
From the beginning, they always supported the Relay financially, through various teams. Then they decided to take it a step further. The helped start up a team at their church, Union Baptist. They were always at meetings, eager to help any way they could. Union had a team for several years. When their team ceased to exist, that didn’t slow down Mr. Lee and Mrs. Mabel. They simply became participants with another local church team and continued their hard work.
Mr. Lee has never been a stranger to work. He has been seen for many years, around the county on a tractor or lawn mower while running his business, Lee’s Landscaping. Many times, even though she had a job of her own, you would see Mrs. Mabel there working by his side. They have both been very active in their church and community events for years. Always willing to help where needed.
On May 29th of 2012, Mr. Lee got the dreaded news that he had cancer. It was in the back of his mouth, and his throat. Even though he was still able to eat, he began preparations for what was to come. He had a porta cath and a feeding tube surgically implanted.
His spirits were high, he knew that the one who had brought him through illness and tragedy in the past, would continue to walk with him. His trust was and is in the Lord.
After having the preliminary surgery done, the plan was to allow time for healing before he began his treatments. Unfortunately, things didn’t go quite as planned. He developed an infection in his feeding tube incision. He became so ill from the infection that he collapsed at home and had to be hospitalized for five days. In order to prevent delay of his treatments, he was sent home with an open wound, which would have to be dressed everyday. The doctors did not want to wait any longer before they began his treatments.
Mr. Lee began a course of 35 Radiation treatments, once a day, five days a week. He also had Chemotherapy once a week.
From the very beginning, they had made a request of his doctors.
“Tell us everything. We want to understand what is going on, so that we can understand what is causing his discomfort, and kind of know what to expect. But, we know God is in control.”
Through this journey, God revealed answers to many questions to them. They had experienced several tragedies in their family over the past few years. They saw how they were able to be blessings to others as a result of their tragedies
A lady in their church had been diagnosed with cancer two weeks after Mr. Lee. He and Mrs. Mabel were able to share their experiences with her, and pray with and for her in a way that they would not have, had they not walking down the same road that she was.
The previous December, they had added a new member to their immediate family.
A very precious 13-year-old niece, Amber Hodge, had come to live with them. At first they wondered why the Lord would place this young life in their care, at this point in their lives. Regardless of unanswered questions, they knew God had placed her there. Not very far into Mr. Lee’s illness, the answer was very clear.
He had not just placed her there so that they could supply her needs, but so that she could supply theirs. She became Mr.Lee’s constant companion.
She was with him while Mrs. Mabel worked, which enabled her to work around doctor’s appointments and treatments, and still keep her job. Amber read to him, just sat and kept him company, and became quite a good little nurse. She was indeed a Godsend for them, and them for her.
The rest of his family was there to offer support. His children and grandson pitched in to do whatever they could, including keeping his business running.
As of three weeks ago, Mr. Lee was told that he was cancer free.
Needless to say, he was back on the tractor long before that.
Through it all, he leaned on the Lord, his wife, and of course, Amber. Once again, this family was reminded that through tragedy, good things shine through.
This year, they were back at the Survivor Dinner and at Relay For Life, as usual.
However, instead of Mrs. Mabel being the Survivor, and Mr. Lee the Caregiver, they each had an added roll. They had both been on both , sides, Caregiver and Survivor. They also had with them an extra special Caregiver, Amber.
