Kevin

KEvin LiBRONIA BEKER  My name is Bronia Beker and I am a survivor. I was born in a little town of Kosowa in Poland. At the time, my family consisted of my parents, my married brothers, and my beautiful sister. Kozowa was a quiet town but on September 1, 1939, the Nazis invaded Poland and the war had begun. At first the thought of war was exciting to me but that was short lasted. In the beginning, the Germans didn’t occupy our town and stayed 16km away from us. A Jewish council had to be made in order to satisfy the German’s demands. Through the council, The Germans ordered men of the ages of 18-60 to gather for an “inspection”. Among these people were my brothers. My father was exactly 60 years old so he did not go. Three hundred of these men were taken to a nearby forest and shot dead. Two of my brothers were murdered leaving their wives and children forever. Soon after, the Nazis started random shootings and killings. Since our house was big, we dug a deep cave in the ground that could hide all of us. We covered it with a trapdoor and had pipes installed for air. We only came out only if we knew the Nazis were out of our house. One day, they came into our house shouting and searching for us. They found the pipes sticking out and covered them up. I felt myself passing out with the lack of air. I later was awoken by one of the last remaining doctors and was told that the rest of my family suffocated and died. I was alone with no one else. For the rest of the war, I hid in various barns and escaped soldiers, one encounter after another. After the war, my husband and I moved to Canada and had two daughters. Both of them have grown up to be successful. I cannot believe I survived through the war and the horrors still haunt me.

How did you find out that you had cancer? //I was only 30 when I was diagnosed. When the performed an ultrasound, I could see on his face that it was not good.//

Describe what was going through your mind when you were diagnosed with breast cancer?

//When I found out, I was shocked and my heart sank. None of my family members have been diagnosed with breast cancer or any sort of cancer and I somehow had it. Just the thought of it pained me. I immediately thought about breaking the news to my children and husband.//

What kind of cancer did you have? //stage 1 breast cancer//

How did your family react? //My husband did not know how to react but his thoughts were the same as mine. My son and daughter were young so they did not understand much about the situation.//

What did you do to calm yourself? //Before the big treatment, my family and I took a trip to the mountains.//

What was one thing that kept you going? //My main motivation was from my family. I wanted to live so I could continue to play with my kids. I didn’t want them to grow up without a mother. When ever I had a moment of doubt, I thought about my children and their futures.//

Did you ever have a moment of doubt? //Yes in the beginning I was scared that I would not live and cancer is not something easily recovered from.//

How did you get through it mentally? I //never gave up hope and had the will to live.// How did you get through it physically? //I really don't know, I think my body was just able to survive through it.//

What was your treatment like? //My treatment consisted of chemotherapy and radiation. I was so weak during the treatment. I wondered if I would ever make it.//

Where did you turn for advice? //I spoke with my mom about my worries and problems and to find the right doctor for treatment.//

What advice do you have for men and women dealing with Cancer now? //Never give up hope and always keep fighting.//

Describe your life today? //I live with my family and raise my two children.//

Looking back, what impact did this event have on you? // It has made me into a stronger person, and to keep believing even when on deaths doorstep //

//Hi my name is Susan Harman and I am a breast cancer survivor. I was only 30 when I was diagnosed and still recall the doctors face when he preformed my ultra sound. My heart sank when the doctor informed me that I had stage 1 breast cancer. I was shocked since none of my family members have been diagnosed with breast cancer or any sort of cancer and I somehow had it. I did not know what to think so I spoke with my mom about my worries and to find the right doctor for treatment. At the time, I lived with my husband and had a 2 year old daughter and 1 year old son. I immediately thought about breaking the news to my children and husband. My husband could not believe it and his thoughts were the same as mine. My children were young at the time so they did not understand much about the situation. The hardest part was undergoing treatment. My treatment consisted of chemotherapy and radiation. I was so weak that I wondered if I would ever make it. After weeks and weeks I was miraculously cured. I often find myself ask myself today how I managed to make it through. As I look back I feel that main motivation was from my family. I wanted to live so I could continue to play with my kids. I didn’t want them to grow up without a mother. Whenever I had a moment of doubt, I thought about my children and their futures. Never give up hope and always keep fighting.Today I live with my family and raise my two children. This experience  has made me into a stronger person, to everyone should keep believing not matter what // media type="file" key="interv.mp3" width="240" height="20"I interviewed my neighbor Susan Harman who survived Breast cancer. Today, she lives happily with her husband and two children.