The Day the Angels Sang to Me | Grandma's Ramblings

I have written about this day before, but every October the memory of that day returns. First, it was in October that I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Second, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

And – I can never stop telling about this wonderful story of God’s love and mercy to me. If you have read my story before – feel free to move on. If not, I hope you will take time to read it.

Some would call it a coincidence. But the odds for it happening as it did are pretty great.

I call it an act of God.

In my battle with cancer, I faced major surgery with the surgeon removing not only my left breast but all of the lymph nodes under my arm. That was followed by 16 chemotherapy treatements with three different drugs. Then came 32 radiation treatments. During that battle, I experienced a wonderful moment when God’s presence and love were very real.

Because my cancer was very aggressive and very advanced, they had to radiate four different areas; my chest, my underarm, the back of my shoulder and the area in front around my collar bone and lower neck. We had to stop the treatment at one point because I was badly burned. The doctor had told me that this might happen since I am a natural redhead and have very fair skin.

Although chemotherapy was harder on me physically than radiation, I found the radiation treatments more difficult emotionally and mentally. Chemotherapy was given to me in a pleasant room with windows looking out at a small lake with ducks and flowers. I was able to sit in a comfortable recliner with my husband by my side. There were others in the room also taking treatment and if it were not for the IV’s attached to us, it could have been a row of people on vacation taking in the view on a cruise ship.

Radiation treatment, however, was lonely. My husband could not go into the room with me. After the technicians placed me in the proper position for the treatment, they quickly left the room and went into another room where they could view me though a window safe from the radiation. What was really frightening was the sign on the outside of the room. It said:

The act of God came in the first treatment. After placing me in the exact position I had to be in so that the radiation would reach only those places where cancer cells might still be hidden and yet not reach my heart or my lungs, the technicians walked out of the room. I heard the heavy door slam shut. Tears began to run down my face and my heart began beating very fast as I realized that I was alone in the room with a machine about to emit dangerous x-rays into my body.

Never in all my life had I felt so all alone. As I have always done in times of trouble, I cried out to the Lord and said, “Help me! I’m all alone and I’m scared.” Immediately as that cry went out, a song began playing over the speakers. It was a song from my childhood:

How comforting it was to me to remember that I was not alone, but my friend who had promised to walk with me through the valley of the shadow of death was there with me.

After the treatment I thanked the technicians for being so thoughtful to play that song at that particular moment. They told me they had nothing to do with the music that was played during the treatments. It was all programmed months before and they just turned on the music without any control over what was being played. Even more amazing, they said they did not hear that song.

Coincidence?

I know many will say it was just a coincidence – that particular song playing at the very moment I cried out for help.

But explain to me – who was singing?

Since they did not hear the song – but I definitely did – were the angels singing to me?

I say it was an act of God.

Between my treatments and the days it took to set up my treatment plan and adjust it, I was in that room for over 40 times. During those times they always played elevator music. Except for that one moment, there was never any music that could be counted as Christian music.

I’m so thankful I have survived and I’m so thankful that I know it is true that Jesus loves me.