Things I Have Learned Since February 3, 2014 Part 3 – I Have an Amazing Support Structure What a difference a few months can make! Things are definitely looking better as I enter the last full week of radiation. This journey has been arduous but yet priceless. Today I watched the segment on Jim Kelly on ESPN’s Outside the Lines. It was very moving. It’s kind of strange how we were both diagnosed about the same time and travel very similar paths (his sounded a bit worse). I identified with every word he spoke. One thing he mentioned that resonated with me was his support staff; from his immediate family to people he did not know who sent him well wishes. I too have an amazing support structure. As I wrote early, Amy has been amazing and the girls have been so great. I also thank all of those who have sent money, well wishes, Facebook likes and so forth; wow! I am blessed. About a week into radiation I developed a difficulty swallowing. It felt like needles stabbing at my throat as I swallowed. I’m not complaining, but I want everyone to understand how this felt. I told the doctor and he recommended a mouthwash with lidocaine to help. I was supposed to swallow this concoction to ease the pain of the peristalsis. I stopped at the pharmacy and picked up the required medicine; one more hurdle to overcome. I decided that I would not take the medicine until the next morning. That night I said my nightly prayers. I sheepishly asked God to ease the pain in my throat if it’s not too much trouble. The next day I awoke fully expecting to feel the pain in my throat that was slowly overtaking my life but it was gone. Not less, not tolerable, but GONE! Daniel 5:23 says… “You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.” That was me before cancer. My cell phone, my job, my car, my house, my hobbies, my drinking, my spending… you name it was my god (notice little “g”). Ever since that time in the hospital when I first gave this to God, things have changed. When is the last time you gave something to God, when you talked to the “God who holds in his hand your life…” ? Luv to all! Don
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 01:34:12 +0000