‘Till death do us part’ was truly demonstrated in Texas couple Robert and Janice Beecham’s marriage who have been married for 46 years, and have survived Coronavirus, cancer and chemo together.
“It’s a blessing to be here because a lot of people didn’t make it,” Janice said.
Robert Beecham said he and Janice had been following the safety rules but he started experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, and a week and a half later, the couple got tested for the virus.
On March 25, he called his son and agreed to be taken to the hospital. “He knew me agreeing without a fight meant that I was feeling pretty terrible,” he said.
Robert was admitted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas alone and found out the next day that he was COVID-19 positive. He was moved to another floor and started his road to recovery, a feat he attributes to his doctor, Satyam Nayak.
“Dr. Nayak and I would open up casual conversations and it would take my mind off the virus,” he said.
Robert told the doctor about having two strokes, one in 2012 and 2016, and missing out on an anniversary.
He found himself in the same situation this year, so Nayak decided to use that as motivation to get him home.
Nayak motivated Robert to go home and get the care he needed from his wife and he was back home for their April 15 anniversary.
Janice was having her own health struggles after having surgery in February and leaning that she was facing a second battle with breast cancer and a new diagnosis with ovarian cancer.
She also tested positive for COVID-19, but luckily, her symptoms were mild.
“Once I got home, and we did the quarantine, I was getting progressively better but Janice still had issues with her health,” Robert said.
“We’re best friends, it was just tough,” Robert said.
Because of her diagnosis, Janice is yet to start her chemo treatments required for her cancer diagnosis.
They have survived two surgeries, two coronavirus diagnoses, chemo and being declared cancer-free, the couple have this to say, “It would have been impossible to make it with all the odds against you without God, and he has been our help, all these many years,” Robert said.
Janice’s preventative radiation is coming up but the two say they are blessed to have celebrated another year together.
