About the Cover Photographer
Mark Gammill was born in the Mississippi Delta region. He majored in Graphic Design at Mississippi State University, and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in June, 1999. After graduation, Mark moved to Douglasville, GA and began his career at a large advertising agency in Norcross, GA. He accepted a position as Head of Marketing and Design at DeNyse Signs, one of the largest sign companies in the Southeast. Mark built up his freelance design business and then launched his own company, FirmDesign, Inc. (www.firmdesign.com), in 2006. Under Mark’s leadership, the business has grown from 10 major accounts to well over 200 clients in a wide variety of industries, from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies.
Mark also expresses his creativity and artistic talent in many related fields. He and his wife, Kelly co-own Dance Academy West (www.danceacademywest.com), West Georgia’s premier dance school.
He is also passionate about guitar, pottery, and photography. He has been a professional photographer since 2004, and enjoys photographing Dance Academy West’s annual dance concerts, as well as families, children, and corporate headshots.
On the Cover
The Garvins
We should never stop giving “thanks” to God for what He has done in our lives. It’s true that He will never give us more than we can stand. In this special issue, we bring you a truly special couple, Hope and Scott Garvin of Paulding. Hope’s story is a one of faith, perseverance and hope. We are proud to be able to share this with you during this season of Thanksgiving.
On December 2nd 2008 at 38 years old, I received a diagnosis that would shake me to the very core of my being. The words “you have cancer” would begin a journey paved with fear, pain and loss for myself and my family. It has been a long grueling journey, but one with the ultimate result of a strengthened faith, physical healing and restoration.
Two days before Thanksgiving in 2008, a finger stick at my routine GYN visit revealed a dangerously low hemoglobin level. (A normal hemoglobin level is 12 to 16. My hemoglobin registered a 5.3.) This result lead to my hospitalization and a blood transfusion over the Thanksgiving holidays, as well as a plethora of testing to find a cause for the blood loss.
A colonoscopy would soon reveal the culprit. A large mass had nearly completely occluded my colon. I remember waking up after the procedure, to hear those life changing words. “We found the source of the blood loss. You have a colon mass. We are fairly certain, it is cancer.” I so vividly remember the pain reflected in the face of my parents and the tears of my husband as we tried to process this information.
A few days later, biopsy results confirmed my cancer diagnosis. I was then referred to a wonderful oncology surgeon, who planned to perform colon surgery in early January to remove the cancer. Within a few weeks, the CT results would reveal more bad news. The cancer had metastasized to my liver. It seemed like a nightmare! Stage four cancer???? How could this be happening to me???? I am too young for this. I have no family history….…no risk factors.
The nightmare continued; I was now facing a much more risky surgery. I would need liver resection, in addition to the originally planned colon surgery. Because of the new findings, my surgery was bumped up to December 17th. As I listened to the surgeon at my pre-op visit, my thoughts ran rampant. He recited all of the statistics, the degree of chance that I would die during surgery, his operative plan etc. His voice was just a faint drone in my ears. My heart was griped by mind numbing reality. This was really happening!
On December 17th at around 4:00pm, I underwent a 7 hour surgery to remove half of my liver, around a foot of my colon and praise God, all of my cancer.
The recovery was grueling, to say the least. I was unable to partake in water for 7 days or food for 8 days, until my colon could heal. The only nourishment I received came from an IV bag. It was a thirst that I could never describe. A physical pain that, without the help of the Lord and encouragement from those who love me, I would never have been able to endure. After ten long days, I was released home on December 27th. Though the Christmas lights were still aglow, it felt like anything but Christmas in my heart.
Over the next weeks, I would begin to regain strength. It was a slow process that would take almost a year. In late January, I would undergo another small surgery to insert a port in which six months of chemotherapy would be administered.
I began chemotherapy in early February 2009. Every other Wednesday, I would receive a 7 hour chemo infusion at the cancer center and wear a “fanny pack” of this frightening, poisonous, yet beautiful concoction home for another 48 hours. The fatigue that accompanied this process was difficult to manage. The emotional toll was even worse. The steroids, the nausea, the thinning hair, the reliance on others to do things that you should be able to do for yourself, these were all devastating to me as a young vibrant woman. With much encouragement from those closest to me, I made it through the six months of treatment and received the news we had all prayed for on August 13th 2009. No signs of cancer on my first post chemotherapy CT scan.
Today, I am one year and 4 months post chemo. I have three cancer free CT scans and one normal colonoscopy under my belt. Though I would not have chosen this path, I am definitely better for it. I see the blessings in my life much more clearly. I have a family that is too great for words, friends who are willing to go way more than the extra mile, supportive co-workers, caring doctors and nurses who continue in my care, a loving church family and an Almighty God, who because of his great love and compassion chose to give me a miracle. What more could I ever ask for?
Though Hope endured through this trial in her life, her husband Scott, certainly did not escape his own. He writes:
I think every family will eventually endure a hardship that will test their faith and completely change their lives. It happened to our family when my wife, Hope was diagnosed with cancer. Words cannot explain the emotion that took over. It was the most helpless feeling, knowing there was nothing I could do to fix it.
It was her battle, but she would not go it alone, the Lord would be with her every step of the way. Despite the pain she endured, she never lost her beautiful smile and positive attitude. Since her operation, we have been blessed with only positive test results. Through many prayers and the grace of our maker above, my wife is now cancer free.