Hello!  I hope this finds you well; I am doing very well at the present time.  I pray that this continues.

My name is Yemoja Abebi Arinyalure.  I am forty years old.  I and my twin sister, Yamala Abinele, immigrated from Nigeria, Africa, nearly ten years ago; we now call America home, and we love it here.

I am a survivor:  a survivor of cancer.  Osteosarcoma.  Bone cancer.  I wasn't expected to survive; however, God has other plans; He still wants me around. (I'm glad He does! :) )

My fight, however, hasn't come without a price:  I am now an amputee.  You see, when I had the cancer, it spread; the doctors wanted to save my life, so they amputated my leg.  I now walk with an artificial leg.  Get around pretty well, too, all things considering.

At first it was tough, very tough, but I am determined to make the best out of my life, be a positive influence on other people who have cancer:  to tell them that if I can get through the horrors of the disease, then, by God, they can, too.

At first, I walked with a pair of crutches.  As time went on, I soon learned to walk without them. I have fallen a few times, but all I do is pop myself back up, then go on.  It's embarrassing when I fall (especially if my leg pops off unexpectedly! LOL), yet I try not to make a big deal about it.  Now if my leg falls off, that's an entirely different story altogether!  LOL

Every month I have to go to the hospital, to be checked, to make sure the cancer isn't reacurring or no new areas of the disease.  I have to do this up to five years.  It's been four years now; if I make it through this year, I will hit the five-year mark, and I will be pronounced 'cured'.

What a happy day that is going to be!! I can't wait!! :)

My hair's since come back, the mouth blisters have since disappeared, and day by day, I'm gaining lost health.  I feel better now than I've done in months, and now I want to eat everything in sight: food has a special magic for me.  (Thank God I have a high metabolism, or else I'd be as big as an elephant! LOL)

I still see the nurses and doctors who took such good care of me when I was in the hospital.  They are amazed at how well I am doing.  I'm amazed at how well I'm doing!  I'm a living, walking, talking, breathing Miracle of God, and I am so happy with how my life's been going now.

I have a loving twin sister who still stays by my side (we live together; we share an apartment here in Nashville), I work now (I'm a beautician; I absolutely love it!!), and we attend a wonderful church every week.  God has played an instrumental part of my life, and I want to share His goodness with other people.

Well, I am going to go now:  time to get ready to go to work.  (I work at nine.)  Need to shower, get dressed, gather my essentials, then be out the door by eight.  Hopefully traffic won't be bad; it usually is on these Nashville streets!  (Some people shouldn't be driving!  LOL)

Until later, this is Yemoja Arinyalure signing off.  I will write in here again from time to time.  I just wanted to let you know what was up with me.  As you can see, I'm doing very well.  Life is very good now; I am very happy!

God bless you!

~Yemoja Arinyalure. :)