When I was 51 years old I was diagnosed with cancer and without going into details I can share that I had three small tumors about the size of nickles or peas removed from my body. One was not discovered until the surgery itself because it did not show up on an x-ray. Anyway, this was followed by six months of chemotherapy because my lymph nodes were involved. The doctors did not offer longevity as a hope sharing that at the most I might (yes, only might) have 2 years or maybe 5 and rarely 10 to go. During the chemo and recovery I found that God and I grew much closer and I felt his love abundantly in various ways. btw, I did not lose my hair nor my appetite. There was a slowly down, days of distress and much tiredness, but also times of prayer, some fellowship, even serving at church, and a growing sense of renewed direction.
After chemo I went back to college and took advanced courses in order to be able to teach part time. And after a year I got a part-time job of teaching mainly military at their post through a university program. History. Did this for some years before retiring and still marvel at how God used me and led me into unexpected challenges in all of this. Prior to my cancer and recovery I had been involved and in leadership in more than one local organization mainly in the church I attended as well as non-denominational Christian groups. They all got along just fine without me and except for leading women's small group bible studies I didn't return to full time involvement again. I did continue being a part of a church community never missing even when I was in chemo.
And now it is 28 years later and that cancer has never returned. I did have one small skin cancer removed some years ago but it was not related to the first. It, by the way, was on my face but left no scar whatsoever. Something I thank God and modern medicine for!
When I get up in the morning I praise God for another day and what all He will do in that day or what all He may bring me through in that day.
Thanks to God for providing good medical care. Those doctors way back then did admit it was really in God's hands and is was and continues to be so. To God be the Glory for the things He has done.
After chemo I went back to college and took advanced courses in order to be able to teach part time. And after a year I got a part-time job of teaching mainly military at their post through a university program. History. Did this for some years before retiring and still marvel at how God used me and led me into unexpected challenges in all of this. Prior to my cancer and recovery I had been involved and in leadership in more than one local organization mainly in the church I attended as well as non-denominational Christian groups. They all got along just fine without me and except for leading women's small group bible studies I didn't return to full time involvement again. I did continue being a part of a church community never missing even when I was in chemo.
And now it is 28 years later and that cancer has never returned. I did have one small skin cancer removed some years ago but it was not related to the first. It, by the way, was on my face but left no scar whatsoever. Something I thank God and modern medicine for!
When I get up in the morning I praise God for another day and what all He will do in that day or what all He may bring me through in that day.
Thanks to God for providing good medical care. Those doctors way back then did admit it was really in God's hands and is was and continues to be so. To God be the Glory for the things He has done.