Battling Cancer One Day At A Time

This past year has been one of refinement, change, and emotional ups and downs. Through all of these peaks and valleys over the past year, I was injured and unable to stand up or walk for several months. I went through intense therapy to heal. In the process made it a point to continue down a healthy lifestyle. In the past year I have dropped 75 pounds (and counting!) and have been able to participate in 5k’s, fulfilling a long-time dream! After one of the races, I was not feeling well and when I went to the restroom there was blood. This entailed a trip to the ER and upon them doing scans they found a mass on my right kidney. I was referred to the urologist who in turn did more invasive testing. Those results came in and I was also diagnosed with kidney cancer. They are words you just hate to hear in any sentence. It causes the body to be numb; it causes the mind to race. In that brief instants you go through a cam met of thoughts that range from what am I going to do, to how do I tell my family, to is this a death sentence. Then just as quickly, you must gather yourself and realize that the doctor is still talking and you need to hear it all. After you hang up the phone, you sit in silence and try to collect your thoughts and figure out what the next step will be. Then the waiting game starts, waiting for the next call to make that next appointment, weighing again whom do you tell. Who do you need to protect. How do you protect yourself? 
And so it began my journey to be cancer free. I won't say there wasn't fear because that wouldn't be true. I won't say that one of my first thoughts were I'm going to see my father sooner than I thought cause that wouldn't be true. However, I had to collect myself; and so, what does one do. You pull yourself together, put one foot in front of the other and lean on your loving God. You muster your strength to inform those closest to you of the news and make sure to protect who needs to be protected who may not be ready to hear such news. Then, you continue your day.
We have two ways to deal with such news, we can hear it and decide right then life is over and we give up quickly and loose the fight quicker cause we have already felt and acted defeated. Or, we can trust in the God we serve and know he has our back and is right there with us. You've been praying for positive outcome and God has heard and answered your prayer as he desires. Though the answer may not be the one you desired it is the correct one. See, for me it was about leaving this at the foot of the cross, it was about trusting that God has my back, it was about not living in fear and God allowed for me to find my peace and comfort in him. To that it makes such difficult news a bit easier to muster. When your brother asked how are you doing and your response is I am doing well and their response is how can you be this is rough news and further states that he feels like how much more can you take, you have gone through so much already and why you. My response, I am faithful to God and I am not hopeless. God believes I can handle this and he will see me through. Not to say I am not scared cause that is there, but there is hope and there is light. See, I've been getting healthy, I'm doing a body detox program, I'm losing weight, and these are all positive and work in my favor. The doctor stated that with the work I've put into getting healthy that is part of the battle. Good health helps healing. They also stated that had I not lose the weight that the tumor may still be hiding and undetected.
 
 
Here's the thing we never know what God is preparing us for when we make life changes but we can be assured there is a reason. Also, the challenges we face prepare us for later in life. My God has strengthened and refined my character and faith. I'm secure in my walk and feel close to God. It is a detour, it is a blow, it is hard, and it is not what I wanted to hear. Yet, I believe in my God. I believe he has me. I believe he will take care of me. I choose to walk with God and walk in light. Darkness comes when we give up, when we doubt, when we fear the unknown. We have no control over those things. Worry adds years to our lives, I still have life to live and I chose to live it walking with God and walking in the light. There will be times I will breakdown, there will be times I will be scared and not understand, in that I will reach out to the support group of friends God has blessed me to have. When things like this happen, I'm reminded of god’s love. He has gifted me time and time again with an army of angels that I feel so unworthy to have. True friendships help in so many ways. Those gifts of friendship for me are never taken for granted. When you share your heart with others they in turn shares theirs and this was evident yesterday as I shared this news with a few of those friendships. 
So, this chapter in my book is upon me and I will not lie down and give up. My healthy lifestyle change will remain and continue. The good news in this is that the cancer is contained to just one kidney and all other organs have not been affected.

On August 23 2016, I had a successful surgery. My oncologist is wonderful, he was able to remove the kidney in one piece and it did not break off anywhere. He was also able to remove it laparoscopic and not cut into my back. There was minimal scar tissue, the surgery lasted only two hours and he stated my outcome was the best they could ask for. I was up and walking the next day and home from the hospital in 5 days. All results came back that it remained contained and there were no signs of spreading. Recovery took 10 weeks; however testing has remained every 2 weeks and all tests where clear. In December of 2016 the doctors did some more scans of my bladder and those results came back as cancer. Since this first finding they have been removed and have reoccurred 3 times. I am still in the battle of bladder cancer and I remain faithful and know that I will be victorious. This is a testament to our God, and to what faith and surrender does for the soul of the person dealing with this diagnoses. Enduring an arduous physical, emotional, and spiritual battle, I have steadily worked toward physical recovery while maintaining peace and joy in Christ.

A wonderful account of persevering neck craning faith. It has been followed by God's consolation. You now operate in a new kind of precious audacity and currency to bless others. Read at least twice chapters one and two of Second Corinthians. There is a book by Henri Nouwen entitled The Wounde Healer. Get a copy!

Take Doug's advice and take it from a survivor of kidney cancer, it doesn't have to be a death sentence if detected early. Mine was removed (radical nephrectomy 1998 at the age of 38). You can survive with one kidney or one partial kidney no problem! What Doug hasn't said is that he too is struggling with a trial of a similar nature and he wouldn't, he's just not that kind of guy. We'll be prayin for you, God bless!

Laets us all read Psalm 139 and vv. 13 and 14. Years back Anthony (OEW) sent me a briefly annotated Bible. Refer to it often . This morning I was told that in v 13 the word reins is also translated as kidneys. To the eastern world the centre of affection and intention was the kidney and not the heart. And God knows all of such depths in me. The kidneys also keep clean the entirety of the bloodstream. The life is in the Blood. WOW.

A very close life-long friend is near the end of his battle with kidney cancer, Parkinsons and dementia. While I was at the dentist my wife visited him. Apparently, in a lucid moment, he sat his emaciated body on the end of the bed and prayed for his carers.
There is a place prepared for him. His wife is there already. 'eye has not seen nor ear heard the things which God has prepared for them who love Him'

Our prayers go with you. Keep sharing your faith.