Along came hope

Phyllis Kruger’s story is nothing short of extraordinary.

The odds were against Mrs Kruger when she was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer in 2013. Doctors told her she only had three months left to live.

Although it was a bitter pill to swallow, she decided to take a leap of faith and change her lifestyle and habits entirely.

“I chose to live by homeopathic and holistic principles and immediately refused to undergo chemotherapy,” explained Mrs Kruger.

She put pen to paper last year, reliving the emotional distress of battling cancer in a 98 page book. It is is aptly titled Hope Beyond Cancer.

“The book is all about my journey with cancer. The main focus is on the emotional punch of the disease.”

With life coaching and stress management training under her belt, Mrs Kruger realised she wasn’t suffering alone.

“I was prepared thanks to my training. I think I handled the journey a lot better than most people. The universal message among people who find out they have cancer is not the fear of what will happen to their body, but what will happen to their family.”

Mrs Kruger explained the world’s medical fraternity does not give patients the opportunity to process and get over the initial shock of being diagnosed with cancer.

“Even if the treatment offered doesn’t kill them, they are deprived of a certain quality of life. Doctors told me I had three months to live when I was first diagnosed and look where we are now.”

The main factor in writing her book was to inform the public about alternative methods of treatment.

“I’ve been through hell and back. I’ve undergone a second major operation and the cancer is still around, but look at my quality of life,” she said.

Despite the cancer returning earlier this year, Mrs Kruger said she learned to cope and became independent again. The disease attacked her muscles, causing her to have limited use of her left arm.

“The last thing I want to be is an invalid; I don’t want anyone to mollycoddle me. You don’t understand the enormity of it until you’re in it. I tell people to ball their eyes out because it is God’s way of relieving stress.”

In terms of the writing process, Mrs Kruger said the journey was poignant. Although she did not have a set schedule, she attempted to write something every day.

“I finished the book about a year ago, but I couldn’t bring myself to publish it. I was worried that I would be rejected- that people would think I was having a pity party.”

Close friends and family encouraged her to publish her book and were certain it would make a difference in the lives of others. This was the catalyst to Mrs Kruger making the decision to take the next step.

“The publishers told me to take my time; they knew it was punchy. When trying to overcome the disease, your self-confidence takes a hell of a knock. I feared the worst.”

The cover was designed by Mrs Kruger, who incorporated graphics that were symbolic on a personal level. It was published by Partridge Africa last month and is currently available online.

“It’s available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, as well as Kindle for $15.99. The money is irrelevant as I consider this a mission, not a career,” she said.

Mrs Kruger often suffered from writer’s block, but overcame the phenomenon with a strong cup of tea. She never gave up and kept her ultimate goal in mind at all times.

“If I can put a smile on one person’s face, that’s good enough for me. You can’t help everybody, but if everybody helps somebody, everybody is helped!” she exclaimed.

Mrs Kruger is firm in her belief that there is a reason behind being forced to stare death in the face.

“A just and loving God isn’t just going to bring something like this on you; there has to be a reason for it. I decided to put it to good use and hopefully my story will help others.”

She feels writing is the only way to reach a greater audience and advised sufferers to have faith, even during the trying times.

“Cancer treatment needs to be tailor-made to your needs and lifestyle; that’s the message I want people to grasp. I gleam hope because I’ve scored time in life,” concluded Mrs Kruger.

For more information, email phyllis@ecoafro.com or Whatsapp Mrs Kruger on 082 059 5972.