Faith Group in Flint, Michigan, Keeps Cancer Patients' Holiday Bright

Veronica Jordan has been a survivor for years. She's battled depression. She's been abused on the job. Anxiety took over her life for some time, making her spend days in the hospital. She's also a cancer survivor. She's had several operations for breast cancer.

Many family members have died of cancer, so it's a common disease passed down in her family tree. It's easy to see why the 52 year old feels compassion for those who have survived the deadly cancer diseases and other sicknesses.

Like many cancer patients, Jordan attended a support group to help cope with the physical and emotional pain acquired with recovering. However, she found one thing missing in the group that she felt was a necessity when you're at the end of the rope: Faith. There was no religious belief or faith practiced or discussed within the group.

Veronica then went on to establish a support group for cancer called Faith, Hope and Love. It's a non-profit organization that supports many complications caused by the cancer over the years. She believes that having a group that is based on faith can help make a difference in recoveries as many people affected don't have hope.

Members of the group often describe and preach about how their faith has helped them cope and deal with the illnesses they face, in which members have reached over 150 people at a single meeting.

"The goal is to lend a hand to anyone affected by cancer and other illnesses to help lift their spirits and overcome their everyday struggles associated with them," Veronica says.

Though the group meets all year long on every third Tuesday of the month, she says the holiday season is especially crucial and would like to hold a few more meetings than usual.

"Cancer is deadly and can take a toll on an individual's overall mental health. During the holiday season, it can be tough to not feel alone or like there isn't anyone to turn to. Our goal this season is to reach out to as many people as possible suffering."

During the meetings, it's a comfort for others to share their stories over survival. A critical part of the meeting, it's encouraging to hear the struggles and how each person overcame their illness.

"For some, it may be what they need to bring hope into their life," the cancer survivor says.

Jordan often sites verses within the Bible that express the role of hope during the healing process. Though not everyone may survive their battle with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, she also takes the time to point out verses from Revelations 11 and 12. Those who do not survive are encouraged to trust in the Lord every step of the way, regardless if death is near.

As a young girl, Veronica often helped people with sicknesses, volunteering at several hospitals beginning at the very young age of 16. She never imagined the disease would come after her.

Ten years ago, her brother passed of liver and pancreatic cancer in his early 40s. Four years later, her father was struck by bone cancer. Two years more, she herself was hit by breast cancer. It was then she volunteered at local cancer institutions to learn about what she can do and what can be done to preserve her life and her faith. Four years ago, she developed her own support group meetings.

The group receives funding from the Hurley Foundation in Flint and General Motors as well as some local church. Currently, she is looking for a building where she can expand the meetings.

"This affects so many people, we want to touch as many people as we can. Our space is becoming smaller and smaller," she expresses.

Jordan now plans to try to place her organization in several states. She's been a speaker for many groups, talking about the benefits of faith and hope in the recovery process. She encourages more organizations to form groups based upon faith.