Cindi Zachary - Inspirational Women

FULL INTERVIEW

MG: Where were you born and raised?

CINDI: I was born in Zachary, Louisiana.

MG: What is your educational background and experience?

CINDI: I graduated from Baker High School in 1989. I didn't attend college until 2009 after ending an 18 year marriage. I attended a community college in Baton Rouge and received my CDA in early education. From 2009-2013, I was an administrator for a childcare center. In 2013 I decided to get my class B CDL license and become a school bus driver. May of 2015 brought me to whole new world. I became a transit bus operator for Capitol Area Transit in Baton Rouge.

MG: where are you currently employed?

CINDI: I am currently driving transit at Capitol Area Transit.

MG: What is your favorite part about living here?

CINDI: I have been a Louisiana love bug my whole life. I am almost full blooded Seminole Indian. I love Louisiana. The weather is different day to day! We have love bugs, mosquitoes, wasp, fleas and ticks to make life interesting. We also have live oaks, red birds, lightening bugs, many gorgeous flowers, sugar cane, big mouth bass and many other amazing attributes to set us aside from any other place in the world.

MG: What is an event in your life that significantly changed the course of it? 

CINDI: I was born a healthy brown haired, brown eyed girl. I spent most of my childhood being a tomboy. I loved playing outside. I love hunting, fishing, riding my bike, or just plain playing in the dirt somewhere. At the age of 10 I suddenly became very sick. My body ached like that of an 80 year old.  My joints were swollen and I stayed nauseated to the point of constantly throwing up. I was no longer a happy, healthy child. After many doctor visits the truth was found. I was diagnosed with a very rare auto immune disease called Scleroderma. This disease has no cure. My parents were told I would not make it to adulthood. My mom, who is an amazing Christian woman, went to battle with the devil. Between a healthy diet, thousands of vitamins, and nonstop praying and thanking God for my healing, this disease had been dormant for many years. Even though my life has been constant sickness, struggling to keep weight on and looking different from others, my faith in God is bigger than any of that.

In December of 2002 my 1996 Camaro ran off an icy road and wrapped around a pine tree. I was ejected from the car and landed under that tree. I suffered a broken neck, a broken back in 3 separate places, shattered hip, broken femur, broken ribs, and lacerated liver and collapsed lungs. Once more my parents were told I was going to die. Once more my mom went to battle with the devil. I spent 4 months in the hospital. Doctors said I would die. Then they said I would never walk again. I lost weight to 70 pounds before I left the hospital in a wheelchair. It was not an easy road but through faith and family I proved the devil a liar once more. Between the disease and the wreck my scars and pains never go away. I had to learn that when I look in a mirror, I see someone that God loves and thinks is beautiful.

My whole life I have struggled with acid reflux because of Scleroderma. It caused a sore on my tongue that was present for many years. In 2019 my tongue was swollen so badly that I could barely eat or talk. A biopsy in May of 2019 showed it to be a bad ulcer. I searched for answers in every corner. Finally I found Dr. Ryan Winters in New Orleans. On August 7, 2019 he performed a major biopsy and found squamous cell carcinoma. I had cancer of the tongue. Sept. 11, 2019, I had over 24 hours of surgeries to remove my tongue and lymph nodes. I was once again on notice that my life was in God’s hands. For a month I stayed in New Orleans fighting for my life. A trach was placed in my throat and I could only communicate with a dry erase board.  All of this was very hard on my family. A feeding tube was placed in my stomach. In Feb, of 2020, I finished 30 rounds of radiation and was able to ring the cancer-free bell. I still have the feeding tube and will have it until my fear of choking goes away. I can talk to some measure. I have learned to blend healthy foods in a blender and place it in the feeding tube which has helped me gain weight and strength.

MG: What negative impact did that event have for you? 

CINDI: I have been a Christian since the age of 7. I am only human though. Many times in my life depression set in and I begged God to take me from all of this. He believes in me and knows I’m a fighter even when I don't believe in myself. He continues to wake me up every day and give me the strength to be positive and keep on fighting. I used to look in the mirror and see a skinny woman full of scars. I am so appreciative to be alive. My scars are there, I fight so hard to keep weight on, and I sound like a muffled chipmunk when I talk. I am alive and I would not trade my life for nobody else’s.

MG: What advice would you give someone who is going through something similar?

CINDI: My advice for anyone going through a hard situation is to take life one day at a time. Always focus on the good in your life. Never wish things were different because everything we go through is for a reason. Use any situation, good or bad, to glorify God. We have to live the life he gave us and go through what he has planned. He will never give you more than you can handle. We have to see what God sees when we look in a mirror.

MG: When was a time you stuck up for yourself or how did this enhance your life?

CINDI: I was made fun of as a child for the sores I had. I used Band-Aids to cover them. I have been looked at and laughed at by adults for walking different and now my speech sounds like that of someone with special needs. People who don't know me sometimes ignore me or they don't even try to understand what I’m trying to say. I just stay positives and smile.

MG: What quality of your life are you most grateful for? Or most proud of?

CINDI: My relationship with my savior is what I am most proud of. I glorify him all day in every part of my life.

MG: What do you consider to be your motto in life?

CINDI: My life motto is NEVER GIVE UP... go figure

MG: Who has inspired you in life?

CINDI: My mom, Carolyn Jean Dorrough Zachary. She has been married to my dad over 50 years. She taught me how to be who I am today. A humble, compassionate, Christian lady. Someone who can take the faith of a mustard seed and live. She showed me how to be a good mom and love unconditionally. She never gave the devil rights to her daughter. She saved my life.

MG: Additional about my life I would like to share?

CINDI: I am 51 years old. my son, Brandon Lee Kidder, is 27. My daughter, Kaydee Noel Kidder, is 21. Besides my parents, my kids are the reason I breathe. They are my best friends. I am very close to my sister. Her heart and mine beat the same. I have a fiancé whom has been a breath fresh air for 12 years. I love animals. I foster dogs and help find them loving and forever homes. I love to garden and plant flowers. I love to fish and do almost anything outside. I am so thankful to be alive and I try to enjoy everything I do!