Cancer Awareness Month: A Story of Faith, Strength & Hope
Throughout Cancer Awareness Month, we are giving members of our Greenwood community an opportunity to share their stories. Today, we are honored to share the story of TSgt Rachel N. Murray, USAF, a Greenwood parent.
We sincerely thank her for trusting our community with her journey. Her story is one of tremendous adversity, faith, perseverance, service, and hope.
Content Note: The following personal story includes references to abuse, suicide, the loss of loved ones, cancer, and struggles with the desire to live. We are sharing her story in her own words and with her permission.
Growing up, life was hard and often felt like an endless struggle. I experienced poverty and an abusive home and later found myself in an abusive relationship. I often wondered why God had placed so many hardships on me. People would tell me that God gives the hardest battles to His strongest warriors, but I didn’t want to be strong. I just wanted to be a kid, to live, to exhale. I wanted to wake up one day without feeling as though I was constantly struggling and fighting for my life.
I am ashamed to say that, before cancer, I had lost the desire to live. I had been through so much that, for many years, I struggled to see the value in my own life. However, I’m not ashamed to see my cancer experience as a blessing. It opened my eyes to how much I want to be here and how precious every day truly is.
At 31 years old, while raising three small children and actively serving my country, I was diagnosed with a rare tumor in my stomach. The doctors initially suspected lymphoma. Given how severe my condition was when they found the tumor, I was told I might not make it more than two to three weeks without immediate surgery to remove it.
Within a couple of days of learning about my cancer diagnosis, my brother took his own life. Six days later, as I was going into pre-op for my life-saving surgery, my grandpa passed away. I was at rock bottom, carrying so much pain and asking God why He had placed so many difficult things in my life.
It was later determined that I had inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, or IMT, a very rare type of sarcoma cancer. My case was so unusual that it was written about in a medical journal. The surgery saved my life, and nearly six years later, I am cancer-free.
During that time, it was hard to face the possibility that I might die and to realize my family would have to continue their lives without me. I knew they would survive, even though my absence would leave a painful void. Accepting that was incredibly difficult, but it also made me realize how deeply I wanted to live and be part of their lives.
I also had to fight to keep my military career, which proved to be another challenge, but I refused to give up. On November 14, I will reach 20 years of military service, and I’m proud to still be serving in the Air Force.
I believe I’m one of God’s warriors. I’ve faced difficult challenges and adversity and persevered, and surviving cancer became another victory. It taught me to appreciate the small things, value every precious moment, and be grateful for the opportunity to keep showing up for my family and serving others. Tomorrow is never promised, and I want to make every moment count.
I hope my story encourages anyone facing a difficult journey to hold on to hope and remember that even the hardest experiences can awaken a deeper appreciation for life. And to live this one life here on Earth with purpose!
— TSgt Rachel N. Murray, USAF
Nearly six years cancer-free. Twenty years of service. A story of perseverance, purpose, and hope.
Thank you, TSgt Murray, for allowing the Greenwood community to hear your story and for reminding us of the importance of hope, faith, perseverance, and making every moment count.
#CancerAwarenessMonth #GreenwoodStrong #SoarToSuccess
