Thankful for Cancer: An Interview with Linda Mobley
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By Nancy Haught
Religion News Service
(RNS) In this season of giving thanks and counting blessings, Linda Mobley of Vancouver, Wash., says she's been blessed by breast cancer. Twice.
She thought she'd beaten the disease eight years ago. But soon after she'd self-published her book, Blessed with Cancer, in July, Mobley was told the cancer had returned, metastasized into her bones. It was stage 4, incurable.
"It looked a little bleak," Mobley, 48, said as she received a drug infusion as part of a clinical trial.
Mobley doesn't look sick. Her hair, makeup and nails have all been done. She wears skinny jeans and high-heeled sandals. Her daughter, Chanel Grill, 19 and a student at Clark College, sits at her side. She is, her mother says, the reason Mobley is determined to "fight the good
fight."
Mobley's life was hard even before the cancer. Her mother struggled with mental illness; her father was an alcoholic. They divorced when Mobley was a girl. She's survived four failed marriages, suffered domestic psychological abuse and spent time in a women's shelter.
Mobley talked about her faith, her book and plans for another. Some
answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Q: Have you always been a spiritual person?
A: Always. I've always had Jesus in my heart, but it took a while to understand the personal relationship I have with him. And my dad always said that life wasn't easy, that good can come from bad, that you always have a choice. You can be bitter or you can be better.
Q: Why did you write this book?
A: My mission statement was to try to touch one family, to tell them you can't do everything, but you can do one thing. I want to give them hope.
Q: How did you come up with the title?
A: My agent suggested it. That's what I kept saying the whole time, "I'm blessed."
Q: Has anyone been offended by the title?
A: Oh, yes. We had a booth at the Run for the Cure. I heard a woman walking by say, "'Blessed by Cancer,' my ass."
Q: Were you able to talk to her?
A: No. She was angry. Some people are.
Q: In the course of your cancer, have you ever had a dark night?
A: I've had three. I remember them clearly. I gave myself one night to cry, sob, bawl, feel the pain. But then I realized that I had a choice. I could choose to feel like crap, but I wanted to feel good.
Just after this recent diagnosis, I looked at my daughter. I thought about how I'd lived a good life. I've raised a beautiful daughter. I've left nothing unfinished. But I turned to her and asked, "What should I do?"
She said, "Fight for grandkids." That's something I haven't done yet. I thought I'd better try.
Q: Give me an example of one way cancer's blessed you.
A: My Mom died in August. She had lung cancer. But being diagnosed with breast cancer meant that I had more time with her, almost a year. I took care of her. We had some healing between us. She died in peace. That was a blessing.
Q: And you're planning to write a second book?
A: Yes, "Blessed with Cancer. Again." I've started journaling.
Q: Your doctor says your positive attitude is almost contagious. How do you stay so upbeat?
A: I wake up every morning with sunshine in my head -- even if it's raining. Every day I read the Bible or a daily devotion. I still work out. I have good friends and I keep in touch.
When something negative or scary comes to mind, I may look at it a while, but I choose to get out of it. Too many people spend too much time thinking about it.
We're all going to die someday. (Cancer) may be what I go with. But
Providence (Cancer Center) has helped me have a life of quality. You
can't put a price tag on that. I'm blessed.
Nancy Haught writes for The Oregonian in Portland, Ore.
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First Posted: 11/23/10 11:19 PM ET Updated: 05/25/11 07:15 PM ET