Stress Free Magazine

"Coming up to the stage right now, is a woman who was voted Twin Cities Funniest Person, Brenda Elsagher."  As they called my name, I wet my pants. I've had stressful moments before, but not like that. I felt trapped. Fortunately I wore black pants, and hoped it didn't show. Relatively new to comedy, and having just survived surgery several months prior for colorectal cancer, the physical changes to my body continued to surprise me at inconvenient moments.

Less than a year earlier I went to the doctor complaining of hemorrhoids. Two hours later I walked out with a diagnosis of cancer of the rectum. My entire family went to the clinic that day. My husband had to have a mole removed, my five-year-old son had to have a culture done for strep throat, and my three-year-old daughter was along for the ride. We were spending the day at the clinic. Some families go to the zoo.

Three weeks later, with tests and examinations done by ten different doctors, I had surgery to remove the cancer. The operation removed my rectum, which resulted in a permanent colostomy, along with a complete hysterectomy, and vaginal reconstruction. I would have preferred a tummy tuck.

When I woke up after my seven-hour surgery in intensive care, I had the usual wires and tubes hanging out all over. My husband leaned close to me, and I knew he would say just the right thing. "Brenda, honey all right now, you look like the back of my stereo system." Even though I felt like someone had jumped on my insides wearing army boots, I couldn't help but laugh.

I realized laughter would get me through this stressful time. Consciously, I decided to have fun in the midst of my pain. The teasing I got from friends and family kept my serious situation lighter. My brother brought the best gift to me in the hospital. It was one of those plywood ladies. The kind with the painted-on colorful dresses you find bent over in the gardens of the Midwest. Only he had drawn a great big circle with a diagonal line over her rear end.

I surrounded myself with upbeat people and shared a guffaw every day. For moments I began to forget about my physical anguish. Soon it became hours and as the months went by, life began its "new normal."

I began to fulfill desires that were long overdue. One goal had been to become a comedian. I signed up for a class and began to write my own jokes; it was exhilarating. My next dream was to attend the university. At twenty-two, I bought my first business and never took time for college. I used to be afraid to write a paper or take a math class. Algebra was the first class I tackled and even got a B. I signed up for the most difficult writing class and, out of that class, came my first book.

Out of adversity, much joy came into my life. I've been living cancer-free for over eight years now. I lost much, but gained more. Don't wait for a life threatening illness to fulfill your wishes. Go for your passion and laugh the stress away.

Brenda Elsagher is an author, comic, speaker and business owner. Her recently published book is entitled, "If the Battle is Over, Why am I Still in Uniform?" subtitled: Humor as survival tact to combat cancer. If you want to reach Brenda to speak at your event or order books, please contact her at www.brendabringsjoy.com, BMElsagher@aol.com or 952-882-0154.