After Losing My Son and Facing A Cancer Diagnosis, I Discovered A Deeper Faith and Reclaimed My Life With Purpose
Life presents the unexpected—often when we least want it and never feel ready for it.
Looking back over my life, some moments still take my breath away—not because of how hard they were, but because of how faithful God has been through every single one of them.
My journey has not been easy. I faced turmoil when domestic violence showed up in my life. There were days when the pain was suffocating and the fear constant. But even then, I now see how God’s hand guided me—shielding, shaping, and preparing me. I didn’t understand it at the time, but healing was already beginning. His protection never left me.
Over the years, I grew into my purpose. Life had its highs and lows, as it does for us all, but nothing could have prepared me for what 2023 would bring.
That year, I faced the most devastating loss of my life: the passing of my beloved son. The grief was unbearable, and my heart broke into pieces. The silence in his absence was deafening. Nothing makes sense when a parent has to bury their child. I questioned, I cried, I crumbled under the weight of sorrow—and yet somehow, I still stood.
I stood because I wasn’t alone.
Even in the depths of despair, I felt the warmth of God. Whether through the comfort of loved ones, the whisper of Scripture, or the stillness of a quiet moment, He was there. And even though I didn’t understand the “why,” I began to trust the “Who”—it really was all that I could do.
Then, in early 2024, while still navigating grief, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Another blow. Another heartbreak. Another moment when everything I knew was shaken. Fear returned—but so did a choice: I would heal.
This time, healing looked like surrender. It looked like saying “yes” to God, even with tears in my eyes. It looked like walking into doctors’ appointments with a prayer on my lips. It looked like therapy sessions where I released the pain I had carried for decades. And it looked like choosing to live—not just physically, but emotionally, spiritually, and purposefully.
I stepped into a new season and owned my title: Chief Operating Officer of My Life. No longer just surviving, I began to intentionally show up as my authentic, resilient self. I honored my son’s memory and fully embraced the calling on my life.
Faith, even as small as a mustard seed, is enough. And mine—once fragile—began to grow stronger. I surrounded myself with prayer warriors, therapists, mentors, and friends who reminded me who I was and whose I was.
Today, by God’s grace, I am cancer-free.
I carry my son’s memory with me, alongside the pain and the purpose that have shaped me. I walk now with a different posture—one of grace, power, and intention. I understand more clearly than ever that we are all here on assignment. Our stories, our scars, and our survival—they all point to something greater. They reflect the glory of a God who takes brokenness and turns it into beauty.
If you are reading this and you’re in a season of loss, sickness, confusion, or deep pain—please hear me: your story is not over. You are not forgotten. Even in the silence, God is working. You may feel like the fire is consuming you, but I am living proof that God meets us in the flames—and He brings us through.
Healing is not always straightforward. Some days are heavy. But healing is possible. Growth is possible. Joy is possible. And when we choose faith—even in the smallest measure—we invite God into the process. His presence has made the difference for me.
As I continue walking this path, I do it with a deep commitment to encouraging others. I speak, I write, and I share because testimony carries power. If my story can offer someone hope, if my healing can remind someone that they, too, can rise, then every tear and every test has not been in vain.
I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know the One who holds me. And with Him, I move forward—not just as a survivor, but as a thriver wrapped in His grace and glory.
Sheila Malloy-Hall is the Founder of Healing 2 Grace, a non-profit organization. She is a speaker, wellness advocate survivor strategist and passionate about encouraging others to live intentionally through every season of life.
Your story matters—because healing is contagious and hope is powerful. If you’ve walked through grief, loss, or unexpected transition and found purpose on the other side, we want to hear from you.
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