Life is unpredictable. It isn’t fair, really. There isn’t always a reason why. We all know these truths, but until you have faced a life-altering event, it’s more of an observation than a lived experience. Sarah Robinson, a young wife, mother and cancer survivor twice over, has lived it and has learned that sometimes all you can control is your attitude. Still smiling, Sarah is grateful for a full life and a new perspective.

*Sarah’s sister-in-law, Rhi Covington, visits with her just before having surgery to remove a colon tumor.*

In November of 2013, Sarah was 32 years old. She enjoyed her career as a nurse and stayed busy with family life. Her girls Lexie and Carlee were 12 and 4. Things were fine, good even. Then, Sarah was diagnosed with Stage IIIB colon cancer. “I just had a feeling. I always tell people that this was totally a God thing,” she said. “There is a family history of colon cancer, and even though I didn’t really have any symptoms, I just had a feeling that I couldn’t let go.” Finally, one day when she had a little free time, Sarah picked up the phone and scheduled a colonoscopy. “The day before the colonoscopy, I told my husband, Ken, that I knew they were going to find something. I knew something would be there, I just didn’t expect it to be a tumor and a cancer diagnosis.”

*Sarah with her husband, Ken, and daughters, Lexie and Carlee.*

A Stage III cancer diagnosis is not something anyone can be prepared for. “I remember researching and reading that my diagnosis had a 42% survival rate,” Sarah said. “I learned really early on NOT to google anything, and I decided that I was going to stay busy and stay positive. Life goes on. You can’t sit still and dwell on the hard things, you just have to keep going.” After surgery to remove the tumor, Sarah went through 12 cycles of chemotherapy followed by radiation. Throughout treatment, Sarah kept showing up for work. “I was lucky to be working as the infection control nurse at Wadley, so I had an office job, and it really helped me to be at work, to stay busy. It was easier for me, and I knew that I had to stay positive for my girls. I wanted to show them that you can be stronger than you ever thought possible.”

*After her 12th and final chemotherapy treatment, Sarah visited with her chemo nurse, Patty Seagraves.*

Sarah received the “all clear” in August of 2014 and continued taking oral chemotherapy and going for scans every six months. For five years, nothing showed up. In January of 2018, however, her routine scan detected two spots in her lung. “It was devastating, of course. The fear was that the colon cancer had spread.” Sarah was sent to MD Anderson, and after further scans and a biopsy, she received good news – good news by comparison. “It was determined to be a primary lung cancer. That’s not something you’d ever think you’d be happy to hear, a second cancer, but because I was already doing the routine scans, the lung cancer was detected very early on.” In March of 2018, Sarah had surgery that successfully removed the tumors in her lung.

As time rolls on, Sarah reflects on her experience with gratitude more than anything else. “I have been so blessed in so many ways,” she said. “I can’t sing enough praises for all of my doctors and nursing staff. I was able to do all of my colon cancer treatments in Texarkana, and everyone was amazing. I can also say that walking through the doors at MD Anderson turned out to be such a blessing. You instantly have a camaraderie with everyone there. It’s hard to explain, but I truly felt like everyone involved in my care from the very beginning was meant to be there.”

In the beginning, Sarah admits that it was hard to talk about and to see people after they had heard the news. “I just didn’t want people to feel sorry for me,” she said. “I didn’t want to become my disease; I still wanted to feel like myself and keep a smile on my face.” She soon realized how needed everyone’s prayers were. “It really does make such a difference to know that people are praying for you, sending you texts, just asking how you are and listening. I have such a fabulous work family at Encompass Health. I’m a huge Bon Jovi fan, and would always say that ‘I’m ‘Livin’ on a Prayer.’ One of my dear friends made bracelets with the phrase on it. They had fundraisers for me. All along I’ve just received such incredible support.”

Coworkers at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Texarkana wore Team Sarah wristbands to support her as she traveled to MD Anderson Cancer Center to find out the treatment plan for her new lung cancer diagnosis.

At home, Sarah was surrounded by unwavering love. “My husband, Ken, has been so great throughout the whole experience. He let me cry when I needed to cry, and he told me to suck it up when I needed to suck it up. Sometimes you need that,” Sarah said. “I always wanted to keep things as normal as possible for my girls, and with the help of my mom and mother-in-law and my two sisters-in-law, I don’t think we ever missed a practice or a game.

“One thing that I’ve learned is that you have to live life. Truly. Take the vacations. Make memories with people you love.” Sarah is practicing what she preaches. These days are filled with Lexie’s senior year activities and keeping up with Carlee’s schedule, and Sarah wouldn’t change any of it. They’re looking forward to a big family cruise this summer and thankful for the small moments in-between.

Life may not ever feel “back to normal” again, as she continues to go for frequent check-ups, and it’s not something you can ever push completely out of your mind for long, but for Sarah Robinson that’s okay. Cancer is not something that you survive unchanged. “I have a completely different outlook than I did the day before I went in for the colonoscopy. Whatever little thing I was worried about or upset by the day before? I am sure now that it didn’t really matter,” she said. “You see life differently after something like this. I will forever be grateful for the perspective that cancer has given me.”

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