In 1996, Kerrie Hamner was shocked to learn that a harmless-looking mole on her left thigh was actually melanoma. After surgery to remove a large area around the melanoma, the doctor assured Kerrie that she no longer had cancer. But two years later, when she was only 25, she learned that the cancer had returned and had probably spread throughout her body. Over the next three months, Ella Kerrie underwent intensive biochemotherapy treatment that eventually eliminated the cancer, but also left her physically weakened.
But sometimes adversity brings with it the most incredible revelations. During the treatment, Kerrie watched as her body deteriorated, but inside her heart, mind, and soul grew and opened by leaps and bounds. Kerrie was being groomed to make what would be a life-changing discovery: yoga.
After her treatment ended, Kerrie took a yoga class and began practicing yoga at home. Still incredibly weak, Kerrie could only practice yoga for five minutes a day. But she stood her ground and gradually grew stronger. Soon, Kerrie was strong enough to take an Ashtanga class at Yoga Yoga in Austin, Texas, where she especially enjoyed the inspiring post-class readings on the eternal nature of our souls. Kerrie continued her rapid progress and became a Yoga Yoga instructor.
Kerrie credits yoga with bringing numerous benefits into her life, such as mindfulness and breath control, helping her gain control of her mental state and stay in the present moment. Yoga brought out Kerrie’s innate strength and self-discipline, both mentally and physically, and helped her recover. Yoga has been a tremendous healing light in Kerrie’s life, a light she would never have found had it not been for her cancer.
Kerrie recently passed a major milestone: being cancer-free for five years! She gladly shares her experiences with other cancer patients, offering healing words of hope and encouraging them to stay positive. Kerrie’s inspiring story reminds us that devastating circumstances can actually be the catalyst for profound and positive changes in our lives.
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