Breast cancer, Haiti, and not-so-silly Twitter

My little country church has partnered with an orphanage in Haiti since 2005. It was a constant struggle to raise funds for these dear people. We built the security wall and started two buildings. Then through my breast cancer networking on Twitter I learned of a proposed TV show called Imagine This TV, which is like Extreme Makeover Home Edition, only for communities around the world. Another Twitter friend hooked them up with my Pastor, and they took on our project. THEN when the earthquake hit, people from everywhere, including TV networks, were calling our little church to ask how they could help, because they knew that we knew people in country who were honest and reliable. In the midst of the grief over losing 13 kids we rejoiced that help was coming to our dear orphans. My pastor and I hugged and I said, “Who woulda thunk it? This all started with silly little Twitter! Unless . . . it started with breast cancer!”

If my breast cancer played a part in helping Haitians, then bless you, cancer. I wrote the following poem to express my wonder and gratitude.

WHY ME?
When I was crushed by thoughts of suicide and God was nowhere to be seen, I never asked,
Why me?
When I landed in a psych ward battling insanity, I did not ask,
Why me?
When I had breast cancer at 46 it never occurred to me to ask,
Why me?
When cancer struck again, tore my flesh, and tried to steal my femininity,
I shook my fists, I wailed and screamed, "Why, God?", but never thought,
Why me?
Then cancer opened doors to help people with cancer, and their families.
Then Twitter led me to more people with many needs, and to people with more to give.
Then I met people, who could help rescue Haitian kids from poverty and slavery,
and we built walls and wells and hope to the children.
and the world arrived with bounteous help and no place to give it.

Then I understood why me.



****************************************