THE WAY FORWARD

So we’ve done the waiting room. I’m still in the recovery room but I’m more than ready to move on. In my mind I’m out-a-here. So it’s onward and upward. I’m going to keep blogging the journey. You’re welcome to join me. In fact, I’d be honored if you do.

One of the huge lessons which I have (re)learned along the way is about the words we say and the way we speak. There’s nothing quite like being in a helpless position, your life in the hands of other people, and then listen to what those people are saying about you. Sometimes they know you can hear, other times not. A few words (“looks good”, “maybe the day after tomorrow…”, “still some areas of concern there”, “that was major” “he’ll be fine’, etc.) Like pebbles of gold, or crushing boulders.

Of course, most words come to us in more mundane situations of daily speech. Christians have been schooled by James about the power of the tongue to build up or tear down. Always with the potential to change our lives for better or worse.

Our first meeting with a cancer surgeon was in August when the C word was fully on the table. The dear man, probably the most respected ENT surgeon in the city, said “before we get into this, you know this is melanoma. You’re not going to beat this. It’s going to beat you.” Yes, we knew the nasty nature of the disease and the real odds of winning (or not) this fight from reading the literature. But talk about being hit by a boulder! The good Dr. has obviously seen hundreds of people like us and that had deeply affected his spirit and outlook. Or maybe he was just having a bad day.

Thank God for who He Is, and what He does, and what He has promised!! Our faith held us strong. It has smashed the boulder of doubt and defeat! For reasons which God orchestrated our case was transferred to two younger doctors, an ENT cancer surgeon and a plastic surgeon. I don’t think either of these men are believers but we’re working on that. Just as important, however, is that they have a whole different attitude to the challenge of melanoma. They have a vision of hope and a future for our situation (sound familiar?). And everything we see tells us they do excellent work.

I have a follow up word to this observation/lesson about encouraging words. But that’s for the next time as we take the steps forward from here. Thanks for being there.
KEN AND SHIRLEY