A Texas couple bravely weathers through storms in their nearly 50 years of marriage. They have not only fought cancer, strokes, and chemotherapy but recently, both have battled COVID-19. Robert and Janice Beecham have faced the fights heads on, and now, they want to share their resiliency with others.
Janice told PEOPLE that sometimes you would feel bad because you think that the fight is lost. However, she said that her grandmother used to say that if you could stand the pull, "he will pull you through." She shared that their message to everyone is to have hope.
A difficult 2020
The couple had a difficult 2020. Janice, 64, had a recurrence of her cancer. Apart from that, the duo got infected with COVID-19 that almost separated them on their anniversary. Still, their romantic comedy will not let anything get through them.
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How their love story began
The high school sweethearts started as a kiss bet and has lasted together for 46 years. The DeSoto-based couple married young. They tied the knot in April 1974, on Janice's 18th birthday. They have three children, Rodney, 46, Marcus, 41, and Brandon, 38, and six grandchildren.
In 1985, Janice was diagnosed with breast cancer, which recurred in 2014 and 2016. Robert also suffered two strokes in his sleep; it happened around the time as their anniversary. He said that Janice was teasing him that he is doing it because he did not want to take her somewhere to celebrate the event.
Both tested positive with COVID
In late March, Robert was hospitalized and found out that he had severe COVID-19 symptoms. It started when he felt terrible, and Janice called their son to bring Robert to the hospital. Janice gave her husband a stern warning that he should come back home.
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Janice learned that Robert tested positive while she was getting her first chemotherapy treatment for both uterine and breast cancer. Later, she learned that she tested positive too, although she had milder symptoms, so she did not have to be hospitalized.
Robert poured his emotions into a series of poems as he recovers in the hospital. He leaned onto Dr. Satyam Nayak, who worked at Parkland Health & Hospital System. Dr. Nayak made sure to get Robert home to celebrate with Janice on their anniversary and her birthday. Robert said that it was his motivation to get well.
In July, Janice wrapped her cancer treatments. When she went a radiation treatment on Monday, she felt "great" even if her sense of smell and taste has not yet returned. On the other hand, Robert has fully recovered and felt that he is "back to normal."
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Weathering through storms together
The Beechams said that having one another has helped them weather through the few storms over the years. Robert said that they bounce off each other and do everything together. He said that Janice told her friend to take care of Robert if something ever happens to her.
Thus, Robert told Janice that it would not happen as they will go together. Janice then said that she will hold Robert up when she needs to, then she added that they will get through everything together.
