Her Story in Her Words
Hi, My name is Krissy Ball. I’m 37 and the proud wife to Jeremy and mom to Willow and Joey. On May 10th, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. my world was turned upside down. I was told the lump I found in my left breast was cancerous. The initial shock took a second before I could even respond. Then the words, “I have little girls” left my mouth…and then came the tears.
How could this be? How could I be 36 with my whole life ahead of me, sweet little girls, the world’s best husband, a thriving business, still so much to do, and this be my reality? These thoughts were flooding my mind. I looked over to see the most devastating look on my mother’s face. She has been through a lot in this lifetime. How could adding this to it possibly be fair. I was worried for her. They immediately took us into another room and did labs for genetic testing to see if I was at risk for other cancers and if my girls could possibly be affected. I am still thanking God that they were all negative and my girls don’t have any hereditary risk!!
Mom and I left and remained quiet for the first few minutes in the truck. I then turned and looked at her and cried, “I have cancer” and it was one of the harder things I’ve ever said.
My Mom, sister and I have had lots to overcome in our life. The enemy is relentless, and wants so badly for us to turn our backs on God. He tries and tries, but our eyes are fixed on our Lord and the work He did on the cross for us. We lost my dad in a logging accident on April 25th, 2000, and we were with my sister, Nicki, when her first born son, York, left her and her husband’s arms and went to Jesus’s. So I wasn’t a stranger to shock or grief. I knew Jesus had gotten me through those tragedies, and He was right beside me in this fire as well. That as scary as this was, I would not be fighting alone.
One of my favorite verses kept coming into my mind. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. This promise is what I have clung to for years, and I am grateful for His faithfulness!
That night brought restlessness and constant waking through the night. I kept waking up hoping it was a dream. I have an incredible team, and my oncologist saw me at Mo Bap the next day to get the ball rolling. He approved surgery first since my tumor was small, and wait on pathology to determine what the next steps would be. If it were Her2+ I would need chemo and herceptin, and if negative, I wouldn’t have to do chemo.
Since I owned my own salon and was completely booked out the next 7 weeks and calls and texts regarding appointments coming in daily, I decided that announcing my diagnosis on Facebook would be the best way to let all my clients know that I would be out and most likely not returning to my chair. I had been praying or two years for a change. I knew how toxic everything I worked with was. My body ached from standing for 10+ hours a day. My breathing wasn’t as good as it used to be, and I had been wanting something new. My soul was longing for a change, and I knew in my heart there was a better plan. I absolutely did not understand this exact plan, but I knew I trusted God and His timing, and knew He would provide a way.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds. Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perserverance. Let perserverance finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything James 1:2-4
I knew He was asking me to put my hand in His, to step out of the boat, and 100% trust and rest in Him. I knew I was getting ready to embark on my faith building season.
After posting, the peace that washed over me was indescribable. In a time I thought I would be hysterical, I was calm and reassured. I know that thousands were storming heaven on my behalf, and I could feel that. I could feel The Prince of Peace holding my hand, and telling me that I would overcome this. I will forever be grateful to everyone who loved me enough to pray for my family and me.
I had a bilateral mastectomy on May 25th. I always do horrible with anesthesia, and came out of that surgery with zero sickness or dizziness. He was answering prayers again! We even went camping that weekend with friends. There was a gofundme organized for me. My stepfather put together a raffle to Cedar Falls Tactical, a side by side benefit ride was held, shirts were sold, I was honored at the volleyball pink out game, and a silent auction, along with cards people mailed me. I was extremely overwhelmed and absolutely humbled. Being self employed and not able to work was very trying and more stressful than I can even find words for, but this community, and everyone who were His hands and feet, made one of the scariest and worst moments of my life a lot less hard.
I recovered extremely well from the mastectomy, and found out on 6/2 that my lymph nodes were NEGATIVE!!! It had not spread anywhere!! Thank you Lord!!! We were still waiting to see Her2 status, and got the results for that on 6/13. It was positive and I would have to undergo chemotherapy for 12 weeks with herceptin and then maintenance herceptin every 3 weeks for a year. My last infusion should be 6/20/2023. I had my first chemo on 6/28 and asked the Lord to keep me healthy and strong throughout treatment so I could be present for my girls, and this to not harm or scare them, but to show them that putting our faith and trust in God, and not allowing Satan any satisfaction in this battle is how we fight. We put on the full armour of God daily and push through.
I walked everyday, eventually working back up to jogging when I was fully healed from surgery even on the days when it seemed too hard. I knew I had to to keep up my strength and energy. Mercy Me’s song “Bring the Rain” was my anthem. Praising God through the storm is an absolutely beautiful gift. Knowing that even though you are in the valley, He is right there with you, upholding you and sustaining you is life changing. You have a purpose and He has a plan.
“Bring me joy, Bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings you glory
And I know there’ll be days when this life brings me pain,
But if that’s what it takes to praise you
Jesus, Bring the Rain"
I was becoming thankful for this time in my life and for all the work He was doing in me. I have known The Lord my entire life. But I had never leaned in like I was right now. I was so mad at Him when my dad was killed that I rebelled as hard as one probably could, but still talked with Him. Again, when York was called home. I had so many questions, and just couldn’t believe my baby sister was having to live in hell on earth. But I prayed… hard. I begged Him to comfort her and Ben in a way that only He could and to hold their broken hearts. However, I had never actually praised Him through those storms. I questioned Him. But He still loved me. He remained faithful and got me through one of life’s harder battles. I may have lost my breasts, hair, eyebrows and eyelashes, but I realized I had gained so much more. The relationship I have with my Lord and Savior now was worth all the suffering. Being pushed out of my comfort zone in every aspect…spiritually, mentally, and physically has allowed me to grow and truly appreciate this abundant life and all of my blessings.
My prayer through all this has been that He would use me. That this season not be in vain, and for all the glory be to God. He trusted me with this opportunity to go through the deep with Him, and tell how the only way I came through as well as I did was because of His mercy and grace. Lord, use me.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
