“I’ll be there for him like he was there for me,” said breast cancer survivor, Sha Fields, about supporting her husband, Cliff Fields, as he battles prostate cancer.
In March, Cliff will have prostate cancer surgery and it will be Sha’s turn to be there for him during his recovery period and whatever else it entails.
It was only seven years ago when Cliff was the rock of encouragement for Sha, during her battle with stage three breast cancer. He managed the household – cooking, cleaning and caring for children as he helped Sha keep the faith as she recovered from a double mastectomy, chemotherapy treatments and bouts with depression.
“God and Cliff never left my side,” Sha said. “I know the challenges he’ll face and I’ll be there for him like he was there for me.”
Cliff, 48, is scheduled for prostate cancer surgery on March 20. He was diagnosed in December 2012 following a biopsy after experiencing pain and discomfort in his body.
Knowing what his wife went through has hit home with Cliff as to what they may encounter on the road ahead.
“I said, ‘Oh man, I’ve got to go through this?’ ” he said.
Sha, 42, has already started taking care of her husband. She makes sure he exercises, eats properly and most importantly, that they pray together.
“It means a lot that she has my back,” Cliff said.
It was Sha that encouraged her husband to take a prostate cancer test when the couple attended prostate cancer support and advocacy group The Empowerment Network’s Blue Tie Gala last fall. Cliff took a prostate blood test, which turned out positive.
Cliff attended the organization’s support group meeting in January.
“I was impressed with all the men sharing their stories about how they are dealing with prostate cancer,” Cliff said. “They had a lot of information. The ‘brothers’ there told me what to expect after surgery and that they will be there for me. They let me know that I won’t be by myself through this.”
As a breast cancer survivor, Sha knows that they’ll need each other now more than ever as they embark on a new journey.
“My breast cancer journey prepared me mentally for the challenges that my husband now faces,” Sha said.
Cliff added, “She ensures that I do what I’m supposed to do,” Cliff added. “She’s very supportive already. That’s the reason I love my wife so much.”
For more information, contact theempowermentnetwork.net. For breast cancer support services, contact breakfastclub-stl.org.
