Sarah Susak, who’s 48 years old, has been through a tough battle with cancer. She was told by medical experts that she might need to have a significant portion of her head removed in order to stop the disease. This ordeal began when she started experiencing an “electric shock” sensation every time she kissed her husband, Halan.
The diagnosis came after a tumor was discovered in her head, which led to the revelation of her cancer. Surprisingly, the only symptom she had was this tingling sensation, which prompted her to seek medical help. Initially, she was misdiagnosed with neuralgia, but when her condition didn’t improve, she was referred to an ear, nose, and throat specialist who found a large growth inside her face.
After a biopsy, it was revealed that Sarah had adenoid cystic carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of head and neck cancer. Due to its tendency to invade nerves, treating this type of cancer can be challenging. Despite being informed that the cancer could spread even after treatment, Sarah decided to undergo a 19-hour operation to remove the tumor, which involved the possibility of losing an eye and her hearing.
Not really sure why this matters, but Sarah mentioned that during the surgery, she ended up missing teeth as half of her palate was removed. The surgeons used skin from her leg to create a new palate, and even used her fibula to rebuild her jaw. It’s kind of amazing how they utilized different parts of her body to reconstruct her face. Following the surgery, Sarah underwent months of radiotherapy, which unfortunately led to a complication called osteoradionecrosis, causing the bone tissue in her jaw to die.
Fast forward seven years, and the cancer made a comeback in one of Sarah’s lungs. Despite initially thinking she wouldn’t need radiotherapy, she started experiencing numbness in her body just a week after her surgery. She ended up in the emergency room where they dismissed her symptoms as a panic attack. However, her health rapidly deteriorated over the next few days, eventually leading to paralysis from her neck down.
Turns out Sarah was suffering from Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), where the body’s immune system attacks the nervous system. She was put on life support and spent four days unconscious before emerging from a coma. It took her two-and-a-half months to be discharged from the hospital, and another six months of rehabilitation to regain her ability to walk and swallow. Through it all, Sarah credits meditation for helping her cope with the ups and downs of her journey.
Maybe it’s just me, but Sarah’s story is truly inspiring. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, she has shown immense strength and resilience throughout her battle with cancer. Her journey serves as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and the power of the human spirit in overcoming adversity.
