Siti Girl New Orleans

My Pink Journey

About 2 weeks prior to my scheduled PCP office visit I was taking a shower and felt a lump under my right armpit and had no major thought of it but wanted to mention it to my PCP upon that visit. On September 7, 2018, I had that scheduled visit, and I mentioned to my PCP that I had felt a lump but thought maybe it was scar tissue from a previous surgery that I had in 2000. After my PCP examined me, she immediately sent me to get a mammogram and then a guided ultrasound, which all happened in the same day of my office visit with my PCP. I was then scheduled to go back on September 12, 2018, for a biopsy and was informed I would get my results on the following Monday. Well, on Friday, September 14, 2018, at 3:33 pm, I was informed that I had been diagnosed with Stage 2B Triple Negative Invasive Mammary Carcinoma Breast Cancer – one of the most aggressive types of cancer. I was immediately devastated; my world came crashing down, and it crashed for several weeks following my diagnosis. #ButGod!

I could not stop crying!

Deidra Franklin

I had more questions than answers at that time, and when I got some of the answers, they didn’t calm me or my anxiety down. I had only been on my job for five days, which meant no short-term disability, FMLA, or PTO. I was in the midst of a horrible divorce. I was living with a friend and didn’t have a place to call my own home. I just couldn’t understand why at the time, all of this was happening to me. #ButGod

On the same day I was diagnosed, my sister and brother-in-law came to see me to pray for me and to encourage me with the Word of God. They gave me communion and educated me on the power of the bread, the wine, and the oil. I took communion daily, and along with praying and the prayers of so many others that God would heal my body. On October 11, 2018, I started my treatment of chemotherapy. I received 16 rounds of chemotherapy, lost all my hair after the second round of chemotherapy, and had to undergo five breast surgeries, including a double mastectomy, all in one year. During that time, I almost became sepsis twice due to an infection from an expander that was placed in my breast while waiting for my double mastectomy. I had to seek financial assistance from a local breast cancer organization to stay afloat on my monthly bills. During that time, my faith was shaken, but I never lost my faith in God. I knew I was being challenged, but I never felt defeated because I know the God that I serve. I had to encourage myself for many days by reminding myself and God of His Promises to me. Due to my chemotherapy, I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure and developed neuropathy. However, since my diagnosis, my Pink Journey has been with many mountaintops and valley experiences, but through it all, God has been faithful to me. I had and still have a wonderful support system of family, friends, church members, co-workers, and cancer support staff who prayed for me and provided me with so much love. I am so grateful they were a part of this journey with me; I could not have made it without them.

In April 2019, my oncologist informed me that all my breast cancer was gone, and I had a 7% chance of it returning within the next 5 years. #ButGod!

Won’t HE do it??? I will continue to stand on God’s Word for total healing for my body!!!

Deidra Franklin

In September 2019, I formed Beautiful Ashes, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save lives through education, empowerment, and inspiration by providing hope and financial assistance to Breast Cancer patients and/or their caregivers. Over the years, Beautiful Ashes has provided financial assistance to ladies battling breast cancer. During COVID, Beautiful Ashes provided face masks to a breast cancer center. The organization has also adopted a family each Christmas, and the number of adopted families has increased yearly. Beautiful Ashes also has annual fundraisers to help support the organization.

The takeaway to all of this is to Trust God with everything you may be going through in your life; it’s just a test of your Faith, which makes you stronger, and to remember God’s Word will never return to you void. Just make sure you are there for the next person to testify of God’s Grace and Mercy, which will help pull them out of their darkness.

As I am embarking on my fifth year of being in remission, my favorite affirmation is, I am whole, I am complete, wanting and lacking nothing, which came from a local pastor and shero of hers. As my story continues to be written, I continue to try and inspire others and be inspired by the strength of so many women who are fighting their own battles and winning. Through it all, I remained positive and strong because I got this, and God has me!

I got this….and GOD has me!

Deidra Franklin

How can you be contacted?

For information, donations, and merchandise please visit our website at www.beautifulashes.org