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Told That There Was No Hope, She’s Thankful To Be Alive Today

Rebecca Jones, 2, ran into the Century Branch Library Wednesday afternoon and hugged her Nana. It was a simple thing, but it’s those simple moments with her grandchildren that Nadine McCaw is so thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Rebecca is almost three. When she was born, it was grandchild number eight for Nadine and Eddie, her husband of 37 years. It was a happy time with a new life in the world. But within a matter of days, Nadine was told that her life was about to be over.

While visiting with Rebecca, Nadine got sick. Five doctors and two weeks later, she had been told five times that she was not likely to survive the invasive cervical cancer that doctors found. She even saw one of the top cancer doctors in the South at the University of Alabama Birmingham.

“All of them gave me really no hope,” she said. “The head doctor at UAB told me the same thing. He said that if I survived the surgery, I might have six months to live.”

Nadine knew the possibility of dying from cancer was very real. When Nadine was three, her mother died from cancer at age 21.  Her brother-in-law died from colon cancer. The list of relatives in her family that died from cancer is a long one.

Her family, her friends, her church…they all prayed. And prayed.

Prayer worked.

“They got all of the cancer. It was all there together, and it had not spread,” Nadine said. “They were surprised. It was not in any lymph node; it was not anywhere.”

She went from doctors telling her she had six months to live, to being one of the most important words in the world of cancer — survivor.

“The Lord is the only one that got me through all of this,” she said. “When five doctors tell you that you don’t have a chance, it was only the prayers of people and the Lord.”

“I don’t know what I do without her,” daughter Felicia Jones (Rebecca’s mother) said. “She’s special to me.”

“I love you Nana,” Rebecca said. “I’m so happy to see you.”

Nadine smiled. “I’m so thankful to be here, she said.

Rebecca, along with brothers Jordan, 5, and Joshua, 8, are in town this weekend from Arab, Alabama, to spend time with the McCaws. Nadine’s other daughter, Juanita Watson, lives in the Washington, D.C. area with Nadine’s other five grandchildren — Eli, 3; Luke, 4; Casey, 6; Mari, 13; and Joseph, 14.

Nadine works at the Century Branch Library and is a Century Town Council member. She also does her part to help others with cancer. She’s an active part of the Century Relay for Life, working to raise funds for the Century Branch Library’s team and signing up survivors for the Survivor’s Lap, dinner and other recognition during the Century Relay. For more information on the Century Relay, or to register as a survivor, visit CenturyRelay.com.

Pictured above top: Cancer survivor Nadine McCaw gives hugs and kisses to her youngest granddaughter, Rebecca Jones, 2. Pictured above middle: Nadine helps three of her grandchildren with the computers at the Century Branch Library where she works. Pictured below (front, L-R): Rebecca, Joshua and Jordan Jones; and (back L-R): Nadine McCaw and her daughter Felicia Jones. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.