A Surprising Respite

For 3 days, a burning sensation sizzled along the skin on my left side. I had not yet experienced this kind of pain. What followed was a couple of days of strong pain in the same area. And then, 2 weeks of feeling really good! Very little discomfort, a renewed appetite, fewer trips to the bathroom, and, best of all, I could breathe easier. I hadn’t felt this good since Christmas.

As best as I could figure, the large tumor on my left side shifted downward and outward, freeing up space in my abdominal area. The burning sensation was my skin stretching to accommodate the tumor’s shift. The movement relieved pressure on my bladder, increased my stomach volume, and gave more space for my diaphragm to move, allowing me to breathe easier.

That was the first 2 weeks of September. Since then, my insides are slowly shifting back to where they were before. Breathing and nausea issues are returning. But the temporary reprieve was quite welcome as it gave me a chance to do some chores around the house and play with the grandkids.

Yesterday, the Hospice doctor gave me a house visit. One of the qualifications for being under Hospice care is that a physician deems a patient likely has less than 6 months to live. This doctor concluded that the extensiveness of my cancer still qualified me for continued Hospice care. As a plus, the doctor was a Christian who had been on over 30 medical mission trips with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. So, we had a lot to talk about.

For now, I’m almost back to where I was before, taking a day at a time, aware that anything could happen anytime. I marvel at the way my body has been able to stay a step ahead of the cancer for the past 6 years. But the cancer will catch up. Just don’t know when. Surely it must be soon.

During the past few weeks we have lost several great men of faith: James Dobson, John MacArthur, Voddie Baucham, and of course, Charlie Kirk. I certainly don’t know all the details of Heaven, but it excites me to think that maybe I’ll soon have the chance to meet these men and other great people of faith. No doubt their mansions will be big. But as along as I’m with the Lord, I will be very happy with my little cabin in the woods!