Teresa Howard Shares Her Journey of Hope & Healing
Longtime Westfield resident Teresa Howard has served her community and family for many years. In 2020, during a particularly demanding time in her life, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Her journey to health included several setbacks and obstacles, but her spiritual gift of faith paved her way forward. With the goal of helping others going through the same experience, she wrote a book, “The Power of Cancer: A Journey of Hope and Faith.”
Published by Christian Faith Publishing, the book encourages readers not to let cancer define them.
“I grew up on a 600-acre farm north of Peru but moved to Carmel when I was in the fourth grade and graduated from Carmel High School,” Howard says. “In the early ’90s, my husband and I moved our family to Westfield. I served on staff at a local church, Thrive Christian Church, for 20 years. Almost 10 of those years were as director of the church’s preschool program. I left to provide caregiving for my mom. I had to be free to take her to appointments.”
In addition to caring for her mother, her stepfather of 35 years was very ill. It was at this time that a mammogram revealed an abnormality. In May 2020, Howard was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. Considered to be more aggressive than other forms of cancer, it spreads and grows at a rapid rate.
Compounding the stress of figuring out a treatment plan was the death of her stepfather in June. As executor of his estate, she found herself immersed in details.
Howard shared that what followed was 10 months of what seemed like one step forward and five steps backward. In July of that year, an additional tumor was found. She was diagnosed with a lung disease that required three additional surgeries. Her chemotherapy was delayed until she was cleared by her lung surgeon and pulmonologist.
“I went through so much in rapid succession,” she says. “At my first chemotherapy session, I coded. It turned out I was allergic to the drugs. The medication was switched and later I ended up getting a port. Things kept changing, but I kept trusting my care team. My motto was, ‘Get her done.’”
At her family’s urging, Howard kept a journal of her experiences. Mainly for insurance purposes, she also kept a spreadsheet of every appointment, procedure and surgery. Those around her were impressed that no matter how difficult her journey seemed to be, her belief that God would lead her through it was unwavering.
Her son reminded her of what she often told him: “God equips those he sends to be a witness for Him.”
“God told me to write the book to help others and gave me the title, The Power of Cancer — not to glorify cancer but to explain how its trials can strengthen faith,” Howard says. “I have never done anything like this before, and I wrestled with both writing the book and the title. In my life, I pray every day for God to use me, and this is what He chose for me to do. The story isn’t about me — it’s what God did for me and does for others. I could have never done it on my own. My hope is that the book provides hope and a blessing to help someone else.”
“The Power of Cancer: A Journey of Hope and Faith” is available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and many other booksellers.
