Resilience and Hope: Gayle’s Story of Love, Faith, and Surviving Cancer

“I was born in 1952, right in the middle of the post-war baby boom in Australia. My early life was fairly ordinary, growing up in a typical suburban house in Frenchs Forest with my parents and younger sister. Our home was quiet, but I was the extrovert of the family, always outgoing and social.

I attended Frenchs Forest Public School and then Beacon Hill High School. From an early age, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, specifically for primary school children in years three to six. Teaching ran in my family, and I was determined to follow in those footsteps. At 17, I completed my HSC, did well, and moved to Bathurst, New South Wales, to train as a teacher. It was a time of personal growth and adventure.

At 21, I started my first teaching job at Tempe Primary School in Sydney and eventually taught mainly on the northern beaches. Around this time, I also got married. But by 36, after three children and 15 years of marriage, it ended. I found myself raising three young children alone, but we got through it.

During those challenging years as a single parent, my connection to my church community deepened. I shifted my teaching work from schools to churches, and managed to get a job on the staff of a local church. I began leading Sunday services and delivering sermons as part of my job. Today, I conduct services every six weeks or so for a church near RSL ANZAC Village. All my church work has become a significant part of my life, and even though I no longer teach in schools, I still feel like I’m doing what I love—just in a different space.

My personal life took an amazing turn when I met Peter in a church in 2002. One day, after a service, he approached me, and we ended up talking. The next day, we walked along Dee Why Beach, where Peter opened up about his late wife, Helen. Though neither of us planned on marrying again, we fell in love. Our wedding was a simple but beautiful event. On our wedding day, our combined family of five adult children were all in their 20s. Today, we have ten delightful grandchildren, and we’ve been married for 20 happy years.

Cancer first came into my life in 1991 when I was 38. A free mammogram found a tumor in my left breast, and I had a mastectomy followed by chemotherapy. In 1996, cancer returned in my right breast, leading to another mastectomy. Then, in 1999, I was diagnosed with cancer in my uterus and had a radical hysterectomy. Despite the challenges, I stayed focused on recovery and held onto hope.

After 16 cancer-free years, I was diagnosed with a pelvic tumor in 2015. Nine weeks of radiotherapy left me with a colostomy bag, which I’ve since learned to live with. Last year, doctors found a tumor in my left kidney, which was removed. In total, I’ve lost 11 organs, but remarkably, I’ve continued living a fairly normal life. The human body is incredible, and I’ve come to appreciate it even more through these battles.

Throughout it all, faith and prayer have been my anchors. Every time I faced a diagnosis, I prayed for strength and guidance, always putting my trust in God. I’ve maintained a hopeful spirit, believing in the power of resilience and optimism, even when times were tough.

Now, despite everything I’ve been through, I feel well. I’ve managed to stay strong and positive, which is something I cherish. I’ve met other survivors who struggle with motivation, but for me, fighting and staying hopeful is the only way forward. Life is too precious to give up.

After years in our townhouse in Frenchs Forest, Peter and I realised the stairs were becoming too much, especially after my most recent battle with cancer. That’s when we decided it was time for a change and started looking into retirement villages.

Before moving into RSL ANZAC Village, we visited several places, but as soon as we arrived here, we knew it was where we belonged. The beautiful trees, the birds, and the lake all made us feel instantly at home. We moved in at the end of April, and life has been wonderful ever since. The community is peaceful, and the support has been everything we needed. We missed the Anzac Day service this year, but I’m really looking forward to the Remembrance Day service this November. It’s a blessing to live in a place where everything just feels right.

Moving to RSL ANZAC Village has been one of the best decisions we’ve made. Life here feels complete, and we couldn’t be happier with where we are. It’s home in every way.” – Gayle Dean, RSL LifeCare resident