Nerves begin to race as you sit in the doctor’s office waiting on the results of the test. You begin to calm down and then there is a knock on the door. It is the doctor.

“I think that I have definitely realized what is most important in life and try to live my life to the fullest. I stopped worrying about petty things and focused on what really is important.” math teacher Carla Thomas said.

Realizing and focusing on what is most in life, instead of sweating the petty things, is how Thomas began to live her life once diagnosed with cancer.

“I am not going to say that I did not have some bad days because there were days that things were not well. I feel like I had great family support and literally when I found out that I had cancer, it was all about that I am going to beat it and I tried not to feel sorry for myself and I went into total fight mode. I really do believe that half of the battle is having a good attitude. I even had nurses that would say to me “I wish all my patients acted like you.” I also thought “I am going to fight, I am going to fight, I am going to win, I am not going to let this define me.” Thomas said.

Even when there were bad days, Mrs. Thomas tried to remain positive because of her family support. She was determined to beat cancer and to put up a good fight.

“It was not as  bad as I thought it was going to be. I had to do four treatments, the third round was awful, I ended up in the hospital. Truthfully, I think what I saw on TV I was imagining it as that it was not good at all, and where people are deathly ill and laying in the bed and they look really really sick. I actually thought it was going to be worse than it actually was.” Thomas said.

Realizing that chemotherapy was not as bad as seen on T.V. or as Thomas thought it was going to be helped her be able to put up an even better fight.

“I think even though I had a smile on my face and I tried to put on this perfect persona like everything was great, then even when people who have cancer do that, that they really are tearing up inside. A hug, a text, a phone call, the little bitty things to brighten someones who has cancer day, that is going through it, is huge. I would get text messages and phone calls from family, friends, football moms, just different people. I always felt like I was being checked on every day.” Thomas said.

With the help of friends and family, making someone’s day and helping their everyday battle a little easier.

Thomas is a strong fighter who defeated cancer with a smile on her face.