Holding on to hope

Misty Phillips wakes up each day and is thankful for her faith, family and friends. She grasps at feelings of hope and wraps the positivity around her and reminds herself to find strength in God, her family and her large network of friends. Since July, her life has suddenly taken a detour from that of full time mother, wife, friend and project manager of the American National Bank of Texas in Terrell.

On Aug. 1, Misty received the call that she had a 9 x 11-centimeter tumor that revealed she had an early stage of breast cancer after undergoing a biopsy in July. The tumor contained Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. DCIS is considered the earliest form of breast cancer.

Misty and her husband, Jason Phillips, are raising their children; daughter, Mackenzie, 15; and son, Slate, 4, in Martins Mill. Misty also has a stepson, Jordan, 22. Misty said the hardest part of the diagnosis was breaking the news to her family and husband.

“My son, Slate, does not really understand what is going to happen. However, I worry about the day that chemotherapy will cause me to lose my hair. Even now, he does not like when my hair is pulled back. He pulls my hair down around my face when I have it pulled back or up. That is how he wants to see me, and thinking about how I will change in his eyes pulls at my heart. My daughter, Mackenzie, has accepted the diagnosis, but I know she is worried, as is Jordan, my stepson,” said Misty. “It’s been an emotional rollercoaster for Jason and I, but I know we have hold on to our faith and hope to get through this. We have a wonderful support group and everyone has been amazing so far, but I think what we worry about is the unknown, what is the next step, where do we go from here, those type of things.”

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