Faith Through the Journey

After sharing the cancer diagnosis with our family and friends, we proceeded with the next step that would dictate treatment. I needed a PET scan which would show if there was any cancer anywhere else in my body. The first morning we went I was injected with the required dye, then waited while it worked its way through my system. When they went to do the scan, the equipment malfunctioned! They repeatedly attempted to reboot, but it never did work. We had prayed for everything BUT the equipment! They sent us home and we had to return the next day and go through it all again. When the scan turned up clear of any cancer anywhere else, we began the process of consulting with head and neck surgeons in South Texas. We were able have consultations with 4 of the top doctors in the area. After we finished the first three, we were somewhat overwhelmed with their knowledge and expertise, as well as differences in options for treatment.

Adding to this drama in our lives was Hurricane Harvey! We were traveling on our way back to our home from the consultations in Austin, Texas, about an hour’s drive from San Antonio, when the rains began. While we knew we would not take a direct hit from Harvey, the reports of possible flooding rains kept us close to The Weather Channel all weekend. After a day of wind and rain, it appeared Harvey had left and moved southeast of us and, unfortunately, back over the Gulf of Mexico to gather more water to deluge Houston for days. During our years in Texas, we had traveled to Houston many times and our daughter was recently married in one of the areas they were reporting river flooding. Our interest was especially keen because our son and his family live right in the city of Houston. Needless to say, we kept in VERY close touch with them once the rain began and the disastrous results began to unfold. The flooding came as far as their front yard, after 16 inches of rain in 24 hours, but their house stayed high and dry. We were so grateful and yet so distressed as so many people there lost so much.

Still dealing with our own major crisis, we had another consultation with the final doctor. My brother is a physician, and he was able to talk with the doctors and help us break down our treatment options. After praying with one another and some dear friends, we decided that the more conservative approach would be our better option, with the understanding that if the doctor found more cancer than what was indicated by the scans and their own examinations, the more radical approach would be necessary at a later date. While the more conservative approach was less extensive, it still meant that the doctor would have to cut the tumor out of my tongue and perform a partial glossectomy, removing about a quarter of my tongue tissue. We finally had a surgery date and began to prepare as best we could for uncharted territory.

Circumstances of Hurricane Harvey gave us the opportunity to take care of our son’s 4 and 2-year-old sons, which was a wonderful diversion from the drama we were dealing with. We were very vividly reminded of all we have to live for and look forward to for years to come as grandparents, so it helped us to focus more on that than this life-altering surgery we were now anticipating.

In the days leading up to September 14, we were very aware of the prayers of so many across the country. While we didn’t know exactly what the outcome would be, we knew that our God would be with us through it all. He never promised anyone a trouble-free life, but He did promise to be with us and never leave us.