My goodness! I'll always remain deeply grateful to God for Him intentionally placing my pink sister, Shalita Thrasher in my path! It was such an honor to have Shalita share her powerful testimony on the Podcast today. Shalita’s journey began in May 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she underwent a routine mammogram and breast exam. She was given an “all clear” at that appointment and asked to return for her regular annual appointment the next year. 

Just shy of two months after the “all clear”, Shalita was in the shower doing her self-breast examination, and she found a lump on her right breast!!! What? This was also when the nation was at a standstill with COVID-19. I’m deeply grateful to God for His unwavering faithfulness and the Holy Spirit guiding her as she took multiple critical steps:     

1. continuing to do her self-breast examination routinely; 
2. advocating for herself, she took her health into her own hands by conducting a self-examination, and 
3. relying heavily on her personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit speaking to her as she traveled back to her doctor and requested a second opinion and numerous tests. Her doctor, rather than take heed to Thrasher’s request, asserted that it was a cyst. Shalita continued to persist, citing that God spoke to her and told her that the lump was cancerous just the day prior.
   

Eventually, her doctor ordered three additional tests to be conducted: a biopsy, a 3D mammogram, and an ultrasound of the area. The results were just as Shalita had thought: She was diagnosed with Stage 2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Grade 3 Triple Negative breast cancer, which is considered quite aggressive.

Shalita, a black woman in her early 50s, recalls “Black women have very dense and fibrocystic breasts, and they (the medical team) are not going to always tell us (black women). You must ask questions. You can never be afraid of the medical team. If it doesn’t feel right, it’s not right!!!!” Shalita reiterated over and over again “Your breasts are not supposed to be leaking, swelling, or have redness or lumpiness. You must ask questions.”

Subsequently, Shalita began chemotherapy for the next six months, initiating her road to remission and recovery. She said “God was with me as I fought for my life, just as He had promised!” On Dec. 4, 2021, she completed her last round of chemotherapy, but her journey did not stop there. She recalls how God instructed her to continue her journey by assisting others like her with their own fight, both during and after her fight was complete.

She recalled that during her six months of chemotherapy, God spoke to her every single day. He stated that he wanted me to start a non-profit organization to help newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Shalita was so obedient to God's word, she started her organization “Shine Through Me, Inc., 501(c)(3),” while still going through her chemotherapy treatments!!!!!!

Listen! Shalita used her journey, strength, and trials to allow herself to become a testimony and advocate for breast cancer patients, survivors, and loved ones of those who may have lost the battle.

Shalita continues to emphasize the importance of advocating for early detection, personal healthcare and wellbeing in all phases of life, regardless of the doctor or the healthcare team, because patients are their own best advocates.

Overall, Shalita has been through chemotherapy, double mastectomy with reconstruction and lift. Looking back at her journey, Shalita says she sees her nonprofit organization, Shine Through Me, Inc., as God’s way of allowing her testimony to radiate through her and touch those who may be embarking on a similar journey. It was such an honor to hear Shalita reflect back on how our faithful God turned her pain into purpose! 

Please check out her incredible organization @ shineorganization.orghttps://shineorganization.orgShine Organization!