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After running some tests, the doctor came close to her and said, 鈥淎ll of your organs are swollen inside; there is no good cancer.鈥� She was soon diagnosed with stage three mantle cell lymphoma, a rare type of blood cancer that would later be defined as stage four.

Lennie looked back on this day and explained, 鈥淚t was exactly how you see it in the movies 鈥� almost an out of body experience.鈥�

Not realizing the seriousness of what she would be diagnosed with, Lennie went to the hospital alone. After receiving the news, she immediately called her sister Christine. With the overwhelming reality of what she was about to face and the concern of what her future would be, the first thing Lennie said to Christine was, 鈥淲ho is going to take care of my daughter and grand-babies?鈥�

Lennie would then be hospitalized for four days, so her other sister, Lora, came to be with her.

In spite of the diagnosis, Lennie didn鈥檛 allow the negative thoughts of what might happen stay around for long.

鈥淕od was my support network,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 knew that He had the last say in everything, so I had to let go of control and praise Him even when I was sick.鈥�

As she started chemotherapy for six months, she told her doctor, 鈥淢y faith isn鈥檛 in you, it鈥檚 in God to use you.鈥�

There were times within Lennie鈥檚 fight that the side effects from the chemo were so bad, she could only lay in bed, but even in those circumstances, she says she felt the Lord with her.

鈥淚 would reach my hands up as I was lying in bed and I could feel His hands on mine,鈥� she said.

Through those hardships, Lennie prayed for acceptance of God鈥檚 will.

鈥淕od鈥檚 will is better than what I can think of for myself,鈥� she said.

Because Lennie needed to start treatments aggressively, she was put on part-time disability from FedEx Supply Chain. In the midst of all of this, she was told that her rent was going to be increasing by $400 each month.

鈥淚 thought I might have to move in with my daughter,鈥� Lennie said. 鈥淚 had been in my apartment for 11 years, and I didn鈥檛 want to have to up and change my safe place in the midst of all of the other new challenges.鈥�

Lennie鈥檚 sister discovered Sherry鈥檚 Hope and shared the information with her. After applying for assistance, Lennie was approved and began receiving help with her monthly rent.

鈥淪herry鈥檚 Hope has been such an answered prayer,鈥� she said. 鈥淩eceiving a cancer diagnosis was a change already, so being able to stay in my apartment was a blessing.鈥�

Fast-forward through six months of chemotherapy, so much prayer, and a lot of support from her daughter, sisters, brother, friends, and coworkers, Lennie is now in remission and sharing her story with others.

鈥淚 only want to tell my story to give God the glory! I give Him all the credit!鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am grateful to be on this side of things to be able to tell my story. If it was not for my faith, I don鈥檛 think I would be here sharing these things.鈥�

She adds, 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 really living before I got cancer. I was all about working and going home. I just didn鈥檛 have time for anything else. Now, I don鈥檛 stress over things that are small or let those things dictate my whole day. Life is short and I make time to do things! I still think of the people who are having to go get treatment and how I felt during those times.鈥�

Lennie encourages others who are facing cancer to 鈥渉old onto your faith and know that God is with you.鈥�

鈥淵ou aren鈥檛 alone. Praise Him through the storm, and He will get you through it!鈥� she said. 鈥淚 would often relay things found in God鈥檚 Word back to Him, praying things like, 鈥楪od, I can be of good cheer because You have overcome the world! I don鈥檛 have to fear because You have good plans for me and You care about my future! You know what is best!鈥濃��

Officials with Sherry鈥檚 Hope say they are honored to be a small part of Lennie鈥檚 amazing story.

鈥淏ecause of your support, Lennie was able to stay in her safe place through her cancer journey,鈥� they said.

鈥淭he people who support Sherry鈥檚 Hope give hope to those who depend on Sherry鈥檚 Hope. They make a difference,鈥� Lennie added.

鈥淎s 2024 comes to a close, we ask you to prayerfully consider making a donation of any amount to Sherry鈥檚 Hope,鈥� the organization said. 鈥淵our generosity will make a lasting impact on the lives of families in Wilson County and surrounding communities who are battling cancer for years to come.鈥�

You can mail donations with #HopeForTheHolidays in the memo to Sherry鈥檚 Hope, P.O. Box 8, Lebanon, TN.