Daw Aye Myar, a Karenni woman, credits her faith with giving her the strength to overcome throat cancer, fully recover and now be leading a healthy normal life.

Ever since the shock of receiving her throat cancer diagnosis in 2015 she has made it a habit to recite the following verse from Genesis 2:7 to herself in her native Kayah (Karenni) language at least 10 times a day.

“And the Lord formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

She said that each time she recites it, she feels a renewed sense of vitality, as though the Lord is blessing her with strength.

“I usually recite that verse as soon as it comes to my mind. That’s when I feel a real boost of energy,” she said.

After receiving her cancer diagnosis Daw Aye Myar, who lives in a village in the western part of Karenni State’s Demoso Township, had to regularly attend hospital for radiotherapy for the next two years, until 2017.

Her radiotherapy appointments were in Taunggyi City, the Shan State capital. For two years she had to make frequent return bus journeys, from Loikaw, the Karenni State capital, to Taunggyi, sometimes alone without a caregiver.

During radiotherapy, Daw Aye Myar was unable to eat regular meals for four months. During those difficult days, her body shrank until only bones and skin remained. She could no longer walk and had to be carried in and out of the house by others.

Even now, despite being cancer free, Daw Aye Myar still has to eat slowly and there are still foods she has to avoid.

Her body struggled to cope with the of radiotherapy and economic hardship compounded her situation. She came close to death during her time undergoing radiotherapy.

“While I was going through unbearable pain, some of my friends and relatives who came to see me cried. But I didn’t shed a single tear,” she said.

Though the radiotherapy stopped in 2017, Daw Aye Myar was still not cancer free and had to continue receiving treatment until 2024, when she was finally declared cancer free.

But between the end of her radiotherapy and being declared cancer free Daw Aye Myar had to face numerous other hardships.

Following the February 2021 coup in Myanmar, fighting broke out in many regions, including Daw Aye Myar’s native Karenni State. When fighting came to her village she and her family had to move to an IDP camp in southern Shan State, in May 2021.

During this time, like most others in the camp, she supported her family through working on day labour jobs, despite still battling her cancer.

She said: “When I was in the IDP camp, I did day labour jobs. Everyone was surprised I could handle such exhausting work. I couldn’t eat like others. I had to eat slowly, and swallowing was really difficult because of my throat.”

She also admitted that she always had a craving for desserts. But, because she could not afford them she picked and ate fruit from nearby orchards instead.

But, Daw Aye Myar faced more problems in the IDP camp. The condition of her young son who had suffered from a heart condition since birth worsened whilst Daw Aye Myar was living in the IDP camp with her family.

Not only did she have the financial burden of paying for her own cancer medication, Daw Aye Myar also had to find money to pay for her son’s medication.

Unfortunately, despite her best efforts, Daw Aye Myar’s son died in the IDP camp aged 10 years old. But, she continued and vowed to look after her younger daughter and make sure she reaches adulthood.

She said to Kantarawaddy Times: “I didn’t give up. I kept encouraging myself as much as I could. I held on to the thought that I needed to stay alive to take care of my children. After my son passed away, I kept pushing myself, thinking about my daughter’s future. I asked myself, ‘Who will take care of her education if I’m not here?’ And with that, I kept moving forward with whatever strength I had left.”

During her toughest times, Daw Aye Myar said that she found strength by reciting the verse from Genesis 2:7 that reinforced her faith.

Daw Aye Myar and her family were finally able to leave the IDP camp and return to their village in early 2024.

She has now been diagnosed as cancer free and no longer feels always exhausted like she did in the IDP camp and spends her days doing household chores. Though she no longer needs to take cancer medication she still needs to take immune-boosting drugs on a long-term basis and said that “most of my income goes toward medical expenses.”

Daw Aye Myar has demonstrated that even the darkest days can be overcome if someone has a strong enough faith. Now she is focused on living the rest of her life happily with her family whilst practising her Christian faith.

She said: “It must be the Lord’s will that I’m still here today. I truly believe I’m alive because I’ve always held on to this verse.”