Remembering Triple Negative Breast Cancer Sister, Susan Budelman Shadle...

Susan Budelman Shadle
Diagnosed January 2010, Stage 2a
Recurrence August 2011
Departed June 19, 2014

I can't believe that Susan is gone after her courageous 4½ years fight with TNBC. Though, I never met Susan personally, she was a sister in one of my online groups and had watched her fight fiercely these last couple of years. May she rest peacefully now and God watch over her family. Susan was 44 years old with 2 young children.
Here's a video of some of Susan's story: http://youtu.be/3Zwi9mfwVWE




January 2010, Originally diagnosed with TNBC, Stage 2a, 2 tumors under 2cm with 1 positive node. BMX, TAC chemo and 33 rads. One year out of treatments, Susan developed a cough and wheezing and was diagnose with Stage 4 recurrence mets to chest nodes, lungs and liver. 

"Today is a gift - tomorrow isn't promised to any of us. I'm going to keep on fighting and living my life like there is no tomorrow. This will not break me." ~Susan Shadle 

Susan had some success at keeping her cancer at bay with trials of Avastin/Abraxane, Gemzar/Carboplatin, Xeloda/BKM 120 (a P13 kinase inhibitor). Susan had gone a couple of months with having "no measurable disease" before having progression again in her lungs. 

"I'm stage 4 for two years and just reached NED. You have to make the choice for yourself : are you gonna fight to live or are you gonna spend your time worrying about dying. I will never stop fighting for myself, my family & my pink sisters." ~Susan Shadle

May 2013, the cancer had spread to her brain. My heart ached as Susan's battle came to an end on June 19, 2014.

"Most of the time I'm ok with my stage IV battle- it's become my new "normal". Every now and then I find myself almost unable to breathe because I become overwhelmed with emotion thinking of what my death would be like for my babies & my wonderful husband." ~Susan Shadle

Her husband's message:
My Dear Lord and Heavenly Father,

Today you have come to take one of your most valued warriors, my incredible wife Susan Budelman Shadle. You bestowed upon her all of the power, strength and will of ten thousand race horses needed to rage war on her cancer for four long years. But even the greatest warriors need to rest from battle.

Lord today you have given rest and peace to her. Please comfort her Lord as she enters your heavenly kingdom. Let her have peace knowing that her strength and will is an inspiration to many other warriors fighting the same great fight. Please give her solace in knowing that she has bestowed those same qualities in her beautiful babies. They have seen their mommy rage war and will know through her life that failure in anything is not an option.

Most of all Lord allow her to feel the power of Your Love and the Love from all those who knew her, had for her. Every warrior like her should be able to feel the emotions that drove them to be warriors in the first place and for Susan, it was pure Love. Love for her family, love for her children love for me and above all else the love for You Lord.

Thank you Lord for the time you gave me with this incredible person. I am heartbroken for having mine and the children's time cut short, but I know deep in my heart you have a plan for all of us. We will never understand that plan until we reach your heavenly kingdom, so please show Susan why Your plan for her included leaving her family so soon. Ease her pain and provide her that comfort.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Obituary: http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Susan-Shadle&lc=4234&pid=171426888&mid=6016825 

"The calla lily is symbolic of my rebirth as a survivor
and the small ribbons are the tears shed through the journey.
 The butterfly is representative of my metamorphosis through the past year."
~ Susan Budelman Shadle, 2011