The journey of Donna Cummings is one of resilience, faith, and the strength to overcome challenges that most would find insurmountable.
The resilient Donna Cummings
Born in Seafield Village, a small community on the West Coast of Berbice, she spent her early years helping her family and dreaming of a brighter future.
Her journey led her to Canada, where she faced life-altering events, yet she held tightly to her sense of purpose and family bonds.
GROWING UP IN SEAFIELD VILLAGE
Growing up in a large family of nine siblings, Cummings, 42, always felt a profound responsibility for her family, especially her younger siblings.
I always told my parents that I was going to help them with my other siblings.
Even from a young age, her life purpose was shaped by her desire to support her family and make a difference in their lives.
NEW BEGINNINGS IN CANADA
At 21, Cummings migrated to Canada with dreams of creating a stable future. Initially, she only intended to visit.
I went on holiday, but then the opportunity was there for me to go ahead and do something better for myself.
With encouragement from her aunt, this Berbician decided to stay. She found work at a plastic factory, where she helped manufacture items like hangers and cocktail sticks.
While the work was simple, it was a crucial step toward achieving her goals.
FACING UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES
However, Cummings’s life took a challenging turn shortly after settling in Canada.
In 1981, just two years after her arrival, she began experiencing problems with her vision. What started as minor sight difficulties in one eye gradually worsened, eventually impacting both eyes.
It started on the left eye. Then I started seeing back on the left eye, then it went to the right eye.
The cyclical nature of her vision loss was bewildering, and the resulting limitations disrupted her plans for the future.
This dramatic shift in her life could have crushed her spirit, but she said she drew strength from her family ties and determination to be there for her siblings.
I wasn’t really thinking much about me, only to develop myself so that I could help them, help my siblings.
THE BATTLE WITH CANCER
In 2021, this 42-year-old woman faced yet another life-altering diagnosis: breast cancer.
She recalls her journey to diagnosis, explaining that she had first checked for a lump in 2019 after being urged to take care of her health.
They tell you to go and do tests,” she says, but it wasn’t until a small accident in 2021 that she discovered the full extent of her condition.
A package thrown her way by her sister accidentally hit her breast, triggering a pain that prompted her to seek further medical help.
Tests soon revealed that the lump was cancerous. As a diabetic, treatment options were complex and limited. With limited options, doctors advised a mastectomy.
I said, Father, now I lost my sight, I’m a diabetic, now my breast is going to be gone. How much more would I have to go through before I die?
During this time, she felt a comforting sense of strength: “A still voice told me, didn’t Jesus bear the cross alone?”
THE STRENGTH OF FAMILY AND FRIENDSHIP
Throughout her journey, Cummings has been blessed with a strong support system. Her second son and her close friend Diane Ali were by her side, offering emotional and physical support during her treatments.
She described Diane as “a friend and a sister and everything,” acknowledging the profound role she played in keeping her spirits lifted.
She was with me from the beginning to the end, along with my son. When she couldn’t go to the hospital with me, my son would go and stand up there.
Another close friend, Daniel Fife, also offered invaluable support, helping her through some of her darkest days.
A LIFE TRANSFORMED, A STORY OF RESILIENCE
Through these many trials, her life changed dramatically, but according to Cummings, her resilience remains unwavering.
“Your life definitely kind of made a 360,” she reflects, noting the unexpected turn her life has taken.
