Two-time cancer survivor lives to serve

PAMPLICO - Rebekah Bragan of Pamplico is the Relay For Life team captain for Beulah FWB Church Relay Team in Pamplico.  Bragan is also a two-time cancer survivor. In 2000, after months of being extremely sick, being diagnosed with cancer came as a relief to Bragan.

“I had been really sick for such a long time and had been misdiagnosed, so to find out that I had Hodgkins Lymphoma came as almost a relief to know exactly what was wrong,“ Rebekah said. “Now, I could start treatment and go from there with God’s help.“
       
Bragan had two children, with the youngest being just nine months old. She had to be strong for her family. So she withstood the treatments and the side-effects. Her doctors told her that if she reached the five year mark of being cancer-free, there was a good chance that it wouldn’t return at all.

But in 2007, her family was once again thrown into turmoil as they were blindsided by cancer again.
“I had taken all the chemo that I could the first time,“ Bragan said. “This time we had to do something different.“

Rebekah underwent high doses of radiation as well as a stem cell transplant. She was on morphine and steroids, lost her hair, was highly susceptible to sickness, and faced depression when spending weeks in the hospital.

“During my second bout with cancer, I just got so depressed that I just didn’t care anymore. I was tired of being sick and tired of the treatments, but when I looked at my family picture, that I kept at the hospital, I knew that I had to keep on and I needed to do whatever was necessary to get back to them. I prayed and asked God to please, let me see my children grow up. Here I am, cancer-free again. There will always be a concern, but I know the Lord’s not done with me yet.“

Rebekah Bragan is the coach for her daughter Caitlyn’s volleyball team at New Prospect Christian School. Her husband, Bobby, also helps to coach and has been by her side through all the trials. Her children were her little troopers as they stood by her and helped anyway that they could.

Rebekah has a passion for the Relay For Life annual event ever since her battle with cancer.  “I just want to help as much as I can so that someone else won’t have to go through the same thing that we had to,“said Rebekah. “It’s always good to have someone to be able to talk to when you’re going through something like this.  My faith in God, my family, and my strong church family were really their to support me and that really helped me. I don’t know how anyone can go through having cancer without trusting and having faith in God. I know without Him, I never would have made it this far. When I was diagnosed the second time, I just didn’t think that I could go through that again.“

“Having cancer is as much a battle for the family and the caregiver as it is for you. It really changes your perspective on life. I am thankful for each day and I count my blessings and am grateful for the Lord’s help.“

Many families will be touched by cancer every year. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is an annual fundraiser that helps to raise money for cancer research. The money is used for help in finding a cure for this dreaded disease.

Bragan’s team consists of about thirty members from Beulah FWB Church. Many of them have been touched by cancer and several are cancer survivors themselves.

“The support in our church has been tremendous. To us, the Relay For Life Luminary Ceremony, is very emotional.“

With all the treatments that Rebekah has taken, it has weakened her heart, resulting in heart surgery not too long ago. Now, she really has to pace herself, but raising money for cancer research has been something that she has really wanted to do.

New Prospect Christian School has helped Bragan and her Relay Team by raising over $1200 in just ten days. They bought $1 donation feet, ‘Fight Like A Girl’ T-shirts, HOPE bracelets, and just made donations to help raise Mrs.Bragan’s Team goal of $3700. Mrs. Rose Marie Stone and her K-5 class won the ice cream sundae party by buying 206 feet. The Beaulah FWB Relay Team and Mrs. Bragan would like to thank them for their support in this worthy cause - the fight against cancer. This week, towns all over will hold their annual Relay For Life ceremonies to help raise money to continue the battle, Fighting the disease and finding a cure.