Ann's Making Her Mark...

Through one of the most difficult times in their marriage, Ann and Steven Tisdale discovered some other things - God's love and an even greater sense of family and what that really means.

A smoker until her diagnosis, Ann had oral cancer. After two surgeries, six chemotherapy treatments and 37 radiation treatments, Ann now considers herself a cancer survivor.

"Cancer brought our family closer together with all we went through," said Ann, who will always bear the scars of her cancer.

The couple admits their faith wasn't strong before Ann's diagnosis, but it is evident in them now.

"Through this trial we changed and for the better," Steven said. "When cancer came calling I knew God had come into our lives. In cancer, we found a whole new life."

On Sept. 5, the Marion couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. They have two children and, since 1991, have lived in the house that Ann grew up in. He works at Hartson-Kennedy. Before her illness, Ann worked at Regions Bank.

When they talked about how they met, they take turns telling the story.

"Me and my buddies were watching football at Goodtime Charlie's," he said.

"It was a Sunday afternoon," she said.

"I kept looking at her but was to shy to do anything," he said. "She came over and asked me if I wanted to play darts."

They started dating and were married three years later.

It was in 2009, around Christmas, that Ann began having trouble with her mouth. She remembers having trouble chewing and swallowing pizza. She thought perhaps it was a cavity or infected tooth, especially after antibiotics helped some.

In May, 2010, she had a panic attack and was losing weight. Ann thought she was dying, but didn't say anything at first.

"I thought it was so bad I was just going to die. I had a tumor on my tongue. The more that grew, I couldn't eat, couldn't talk."

In May/June, 2011, she finally said something to Steven, but at first they thought it might just be a dental issue and some of the initial diagnoses indicated that as well.

Eventually, Ann was referred to a specialist who did a biopsy and discovered the cancer.

Steven remembers getting the call from the doctor telling him his wife had cancer. He was at work, during his lunch. When he heard the news, he broke down and cried. His brother-in-law also works at Hartson-Kennedy. They talked and then Steven left to tell Ann. His two sisters and Ann's sister came to the house with him.

"When my sister came in I said 'I have cancer,'"Ann remembers.

Sitting in a chair, there are times that Ann wipes tears from her eyes as she recalls all they went through. Their faith remains strong for both of them.

"After I was diagnosed, I felt that God had a plan," Ann said.

Steven echoes those feelings. "The whole beauty was God had a plan."

That doesn't mean this trial was easy for the couple. They were told Ann would not talk or eat normally again.

"The hardest part was seeing her in so much pain," Steven said. "It was heartbreaking. And I thought I might lose my wife, my best friend."

Ann said her husband was her rock. She also got strength for God. Both said they have seen miracles in this journey.

With enormous medical bills, the Tisdale have only have about $70 left to pay on Ann's medical expenses.

"God made a way for everything to be paid," Steven said.

Ann recalls a night when she didn't think she could take the intense pain. Steven was at church, where he and others were praying for Ann. At home, she sensed the presence of angels and, through that, the pain eased.

They are returning to a more normal life again. The house both looks like, and smells like, fall.

Ann is beating the odds. Although her speech is sometimes slurred because of her surgeries, Ann is talking. Told she would never eat steak again, she has gone out for a steak dinner. They have gone to the movies and enjoyed popcorn.

"The small things people take for granted we celebrate," Steven said.

"I know there are people that I can talk to that I can help," Ann said.