ARLINGTON — Eunice Kendall is a huge Dallas Cowboys fan. Watching the game with her granddaughters is a favorite past-time and time is something she doesn't take for granted.
Kendall was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma nearly two years ago.
"I think you go into denial," Eunice Kendall said. "I don't care if you are Donald Trump or a homeless person. When the big 'C' word hits ... shock takes over."
It is estimated by the American Cancer Society that nearly 70,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, including more than 4,500 in Texas.
Prior to her diagnosis, this feisty grandmother was planning to reignite an old hobby like travelling to national parks and exotic beaches. Nothing was going to slow her down, not even the pain she assumed was arthritis.
"But I didn't have enough sense to go to a doctor," Kendall said. It took her two months to seek help for her worsening symptoms.
"Breathing hurt, moving hurt, everything hurt," she said. "It was just pain in your ribs, and I guess for lymphoma that is a pretty darn good sign."
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma spreads easily because lymph tissue is found throughout the body. Her cancer cells rapidly moved to her neck, spine, and leg. She endured six chemotherapy treatments that drained her until finally in September a chemotherapy treatment called TREANDA is giving the senior citizen a second shot.
"You have your energy, you have your appetite. You can eat; you can do things!" Kendall said.
The golden rule around Kendall's house is to make the most of what you have.
"In order to get beyond the 'C' word, you go to the 'S' word. It's called survive," she said. "My mom was 93. I still got a lot of living to do."
And it starts now. Kendall's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma recently went into remission allowing for more quality time to spend with her granddaughters, which in turn helps give grandma the energy to keep on keeping on.
E-mail ddenmon@wfaa.com
