Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. (Romans 8:37 KJV)

FAITH OVER FEAR 

For La’Quisha Devoe, 2018 is a year that essentially changed the overall landscape of her life.

In her mid-20s and armed with a life filled with much promise and potential purpose, Devoe, given the turbulent events that transpired in her life to challenge her faith, was suddenly left with one major thing to do: turn to God for a divine sense of direction.

“I hit rock bottom,” Devoe, 27, told Making Headline News during a weekend interview. “I moved to Columbia, South Carolina when I got home from AIT (Advanced Individual Training). I loved it, but then I started to get depressed.”

So much, in fact, that Devoe had eventually began suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder (or PTSD).

As Devoe recalled, after repeated attempts to seek help for her condition, to no avail, she had little to no options, to put it more bluntly. Still, giving up wasn’t merely an option, not by a long shot.

“I tried to get help, but no one could help me to where I would be able to see my daughter every night, so I worked out an it helped me so much, I got my Physical Director Certification,” Devoe recalled.

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Now engaged in regular workouts as a strategic, effective way to battle her run-in with PTSD, Devoe still noticed what appeared to be an unknown spiritual barricade of sorts, which required some addition help.

“I was suffering with something mentally, so I moved back home for some support,” said Devoe, a native of Ridgeland, South Carolina, a rural establishment that’s housed in Jasper and Beaufort counties with a population of roughly 4,036, according to the latest U. S. census.

“I got a therapist and learned I had a lot of healing to do and learned my triggers and reflected a lot…and learned a lot about myself, present and past,” said Devoe, who subsequently was diagnosed with extreme anxiety, depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder.

Once again, giving up wasn’t merely an option, not for this young, vibrant, resourceful woman of distinct beauty, who knew full well she had a divine calling on her life.

“Through it all, I never gave up,” Devoe said. “I pushed myself by working out, but I still wanted to feel like I was needed to feel like I mattered. So, I went to school. I realized running away from my problems didn’t work, so I tried to stay busy as much as possible.”

It wasn’t long after Devoe began to advance her education at a local college — she was studying to become a massage therapist — that this full-time mom, wife and part-time military solider-turned-business-owner was met by arguably the grandest hurdle of her young life.

On November 11, 2019, Devoe surprisingly was diagnosed Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a life-altering development that sent shock waves throughout her family.

Today, Devoe — demonstrating all sorts of poise and resiliency and stick-to-itiveness — has deemed it essential to customarily share of her tear-jerking, awe-inspiring journey through various “Simply Que” YouTube footages, whereby viewers can subscribe and stay in-tuned to the latest developments surrounding her story.

Formerly known as Hodgkin’s disease, Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of your immune system, according to a detailed breakdown of disease at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hodgkins-lymphoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20352646. It may affect people of any age but is most common in people ranging between the ages 20 and 40 years and those over 55.

SEASON OF THE REBIRTH 

In Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and may spread beyond it, the Mayo Clinic reports cites. Hodgkin’s lymphoma, in fact, is one of two common types of cancers of the lymphatic system.

The other type, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, is far more common, and advances in diagnosis and treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma have helped give people with this disease the chance for a full recovery. The prognosis continues to improve for people with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Widely regarded as of one of the most treatable forms of cancer if detected early, Devoe was at Stage II amid her diagnosis, which medical experts say is highly treatable.

Because after all, giving up isn’t merely an option, she reiterated.

“I went to school at night directly after work every day except  Friday and I kept feeling bad headaches that are still to this day still being researched, because they can’t find why my head hurts so bad,” Devoe said. “Then I started to pass out and my teachers were so concerned so they called my husband after finding me weak and faint in the doorway of my college. I’m stubborn and didn’t want to go because I wanted to go to class and I had a test,” Devoe continued. “School meant so much to me. I hate not finishing something, but I could barely stay conscious.”

Devoe, in fact, had visited as many as five different hospital clinics only to come away with the same diagnosis, all the while enduring the same nagging discomfort.

“They all said it was in my head and they don’t see anything or proof of why I’m hurting,” Devoe recalled. But (after visiting) the very last hospital, our local hospital (Costal Carolina), we went back, because I needed some type of relief.”

Consequently, Devoe fielded a call the next day from her doctor, requesting that she return to the facility immediately.

“It seemed like I had a mass in my chest and wanted to see what it was,” said Devoe, who eventually underwent addition tests. “I went in to get a CT Scan, and they assumed I had some type of blood cancer called lymphoma, but wasn’t sure, so sent me to a specialist.”

At the time of her official diagnosis for Hodgkin lymphoma, doctors were uncertain of Devoe’s stage. She would spend the ensuing two weeks undergoing some additional texts and ultimately received her first round of chemo days after learning of her unlikely diagnosis.

FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE

All things considered, coupled with the purpose for which she was created, Devoe would be the first to emphasize she has a slew of reasons to live, let alone a variety of reasons to fight — and conquer — arguably the biggest battle of her life. Today, unlike never before, she can dauntlessly profess that she’s survivor.

“I’m trying to grow my subscribers on YouTube,” said Devoe, showing virtually no signs that she plans to slow down anytime soon. “When I got cancer when I was looking on YouTube, I didn’t find anyone that looked like me who share shared their vulnerability.”

As far as Devoe is concerned, there’s a first time for everything. So why not start what is seemingly shaping up to become life-altering, empowerment movement, of sorts, for all the world to see?

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SUBSCRIBE TO LA’QUISHA VIA YOUTUBE:

For more information about South Carolina Businesswoman La’Quisha Devoe, to inquire about or subscribe to her YouTube footages, to inspire about a public appearance or speaking engagement, connect with her via social media at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laquishadevoe; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Wisebeyondage/; Snapchat: Q_blessed. Also, send email to: [email protected].

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EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.

Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.