Donia is 37 years old.  She is a wife and mother, and before cancer she was a model.

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My name is Donia Robertson.  My journey through cancer and chemotherapy started in late December of 2016 when I had abdominal pains.  I was laying in bed rubbing my tummy when I noticed a lump.  I would push on it and it would disappear for a while but come back. 

 

After weeks of denial I went to the ER they couldn't find anything. After another week the worries worsened I went back to the ER at a different hospital.  They ran several tests and  eventually I had a CT scan and waited anxiously for the results. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity the, the Doctor came in my room and said with a very stern voice that I was being admitted to the hospital cause I have stage three colon cancer.  

 

At that very moment my heart sank.  All I could think about was my beautiful boys and not wanting to leave this world and leave my family heartbroken. I couldn't even really comprehend what was going on -  everything became silent and all I could hear was sobbing not realizing it was coming from me.

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"The thought of chemotherapy really scared me. I have to admit it took several conversations with numerous people family and friends to finally decide I was going to fight this and start aggressive chemotherapy."

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I called home from my room to tell my husband the terrible news - that I had cancer, not believing it myself.  I felt as if I was stuck in a terrible nightmare. I can't imagine how hard it had to be for him to tell our innocent little boys that mommy is very sick and is not coming home anytime soon.

 

When they arrived at the hospital the looks on my boys faces broke my heart.  Their big brown eyes welled with tears it was the worst feeling knowing my babies were so concerned for me and scared they would lose me. I never want my boys to cry like that ever again.  I just tried to reassure them that I was fine and we were going to beat this.   

 

We started the long wait for a team of doctors to help me fight this battle.   Eventually, I had surgery to remove the cancerous mass in my colon.  They removed 12 inches of my colon and a small portion of my lower intestine, and I was told I had to start chemotherapy.

 

The thought of chemotherapy really scared me. I have to admit it took several conversations with numerous people family and friends to finally decide I was going to fight this and start aggressive chemotherapy.

 

My chemotherapy started in January of 2017.  Not the best way to start the New year but after 7 months of chemotherapy I'm waiting to hear if I'm cancer free.  Chemotherapy is not easy or fun… the toll it takes in your body is terrible - the nausea; the weight loss; not being able to eat because your mouth burns; the lack of energy; the sleepless nights; the terrible stomach pains. It was sometimes so bad, I would it would drop me to the floor and cause me to curl up in the fetal position. 

 

Im just grateful I'm still living and here to share my story Thank you so much Amanda Joy Gilbert, Dave Burgess the whole team for giving me the opportunity . I love Crowns of Courage and what they have done for me and all the other courageous women."