SIMONE BLOOMFIELD- HODGES FEATURE
SIMONE
BLOOMFIELD-HODGES
Written By: Jacqueline Walker-Johnson
Photo Credits: Roger McCook (Bryans Studio)
She doesn’t look anything like what she has been through. She has a beautiful and strong
countenance which suggests “listen!... there is absolutely nothing that can get me off course” but
underneath that strong exterior life continues to remind her that, she is human, one who experi-
ences weakness even when she feels strong. She is really an example to women everywhere that
joy can be very present in the midst of great trials but we do not have to look like what we are
going through or have gone through on our journey.
Meet Simone Bloomfield-Hodges Teacher and cancer survivor.
Of course my first question to her was “how do you do it... meaning how does one maintain this
joyful essence and go through this challenging period that demands great emotional discipline
while teaching demanding kids”. Whether we believe it or not teachers do not just teach they are
so much more. They are parents to our children on so many different levels. They are their con-
fidants. I know! My mother was a teacher. Her response was very candid – and went something
like this, “I cannot allow something that was unworthy of my essence to define me”.
Explained in her own words – “When I found out, I got busy, I was proactive I did not assume,
I made the appointment to go to the doctor, it was better to know… I remember when I told my
mom her response was I hope it is not anything……. to which I immediately cut her short and
said if it is, we will deal with it”.
Upon visiting her doctor, she was of course informed to do an ultrasound since the mammogram
she had previously done was cleared and showed nothing. There were absolutely no signs of
cancer on the mammogram.
“It was during the ultrasound scan that I knew… the radiologist in the middle of the scan took
off his glove, left the room without saying anything and it was at this point I knew. It was further
cemented when he came back and his first question to me without saying anything else was,
how old did you say you were again”.
“I left Jamaica for two weeks after that. I had to, I needed the break, away from all that was
happening and it was an opportune time while the results were being finalised”.
As I sat still enamoured by her fearlessness, it got to the point where I felt like I needed to get
real with Simone; I wanted to get a genuine feeling of what was taking place in her mind during
this suspicious point, as she watched the doctor’s reaction – fearing the dreaded news she may
possible hear. At age 40 with two girls, one almost a young adult and the other a teenager, what
was going through her mind. Was there any denial? With her constant upbeat disposition I
needed to know.
“To be honest I think at this point there was some denial, needing to shut this down. There
was also a matter of fact kind of feeling after I came back and having the doctor confirm what
I already knew, but even with the confirmation I still did not feel any emotions- maybe I was
numb. However, after I left the doctor’s office and got home, I bawled for the entire day. Reality
hit me and it was hard…it was hard trying to be my usual strong self - there was no sign of this
coming, no one in my family that I know of went through this. There were other things, hyper-
tension, and glaucoma; there were other stuff, but, nothing like this”.
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