Cancer survivor talks about pets and positive thinking
They sold their business and Mandy thought the cancer was a death sentence
Mandy Woodall is a survivor who cherishes every moment of life.
Born in 1963 in Hull, East Yorkshire, in England and marrying at the age of 20, she and her husband Colin moved to South Africa in the mid-80s. “We wanted to do something different with our lives and experience something other than the way we were brought up,” says Mandy.
They initially said they were going to give it five years and see how things go, but that was 30 years ago! Originally settling in Durban, it wasn’t long before they relocated to Ladysmith, where they have been ever since.
They have no less than seven pets, consisting of three dogs and four cats. Woody, Rhino, Leo, Alf, Uil, Scampi and Benny were all rescue animals.
In September last year, Mandy was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer and the family put their lives on hold due to the illness. They sold their business and Mandy thought the cancer was a death sentence. However, with the help of her husband, two children Iain Woodall and Chelsea Fook, and the community, she beat the cancer.
“The main thing that got me through this traumatic time was positive thinking.
“If there is one thing I learnt, it is that you cannot go through this kind of thing alone. Don’t keep it a secret; allow people to help you through the difficult time,” explains Mandy.
She is still having tests done on a regular basis, but everything seems to be fine. “I would not have been able to do it alone, without the help from the community, as well as positive thinking on my part,” she adds.
Now she can carry on with her life and do the things she enjoys, such as bird watching and camping.
“Every day and every moment is something to be cherished. I am so grateful and blessed to be able to live my life to the fullest with a family that loves me and gives me tremendous support! I would not have been able to do this without great friends like Judy Smith and my entire Ladysmith family,” concludes Mandy.
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