A Discussion with Jere Beasley

Jere Beasley, founder of Montgomery-based Beasley Allen law firm, shares how he dealt with his wife’s breast cancer and offered his thoughts on the crucial role faith plays for both the patient and the caregiver.

What was your first thought when you heard your wife's diagnosis?
Sara was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998. When I first heard about the diagnosis, I was shocked. That was because Sara had been quite healthy and very active. There had been no indication of any health problems. We both took the news in stride and knew that we would have to deal with a bout with cancer.

A personal relationship with God allows both the person undergoing treatment and the spouse to handle anything that develops.

Did you feel that you had to put your own needs aside to focus on your wife? I did not have to change my work schedule significantly. In fact, Sara was so positive and upbeat, she was more of an inspiration to me than I was to her. Fortunately, Dr. Howard Sniderwas her doctor, and he is as good as they come. We were blessed to have this man as Sara’s doctor. He was a Godsend.

Through her treatment process and recovery, what helped you stay focused and healthy so you could be there for her? Sara’s surgery was totally successful, and her recovery was without incident. She took a full round of chemo and radiation treatments and had no problem with either. We both had put our total trust in God and really were not at any time apprehensive about the surgery or the post-surgical recovery. We were at peace with the situation, and that was because everything was in God’s hands.

Is there anything you wish others knew about going through treatment and recovery? I believe that a husband’s attitude is extremely important when a spouse is dealing with cancer. I knew that God was in control of our lives; therefore, we could deal with whatever we had to face. Dr. Snider would call Sara quite often after she was discharged and ask her to meet with and counsel women who were dealing with breast cancer. I know that Sara helped a good number of women over a period of years. I really believe that a personal relationship with God allows both the person undergoing cancer surgery and treatment and the spouse to handle anything that develops. Sara and I prayed constantly for guidance, peace and comfort, and also for a good result. Our prayers were definitely answered.

What advice would you give other caregivers on how to take care of their loved one but also themselves? I believe that both the husband and wife need to get as much information as they can about cancer and should openly discuss the situation facing them when a cancer diagnosis is made. I believe it also helps for the couple to talk with others who have had to deal with cancer.

Healing Words of Hope
One of Sara Beasley’s friends sent her this poem and accompanying prayer that she read daily during her battle with breast cancer.

“ C A N C E R  I S  S O  L I M I T E D ”
Cancer is so limited. It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope, It cannot corrode faith,
It cannot eat away peace, It cannot destroy
confidence, It cannot kill friendship, It cannot
shut out memories, It cannot silence courage, It
cannot invade the soul, It cannot reduce eternal
life, It cannot quench the spirit, and It cannot
lessen the power of Resurrection.

Thank you, Lord, for a faith that sustains us
during the living of these days – and lives
eternally and forever. Thank you, Lord, for these
words of Paul: (II Corinthians 5:1) “Even though
our earthly house be torn down or destroyed, we
have a building of God…a house not made with
hands…one that is eternal in the heavens.”