Friday, December 18 Update

I have now been home from the hospital for 2 weeks and am making slow but steady progress in regaining my strength. It is unbelievable to me the strength and energy that is sapped out from one in undergoing somethink like this. The doctors have told me that it will take a minimum of 6-8 weeks to recover from a surgery like this. I seem to be so tired all the time, and I guess its because all your body energy is going into healing, which leaves you short on energy for anything else. Despite being tired and going to bed early every night, sleep has been challeging. I wake up often my mind thinking about various things. I try and pray myself back to sleep.

Caren and I met with the oncologists this week, and I believe everything went well; at least we got a lot of answers to questions. My first radiation treatment will be next Tuesday, December 22nd. Monday, I had another CAT scan done with dye to help determine the focus of the radiation. Tuesday I had another MRI to merge onto the CAT today. They molded a plaster like goalie mask around my head that they use during the radiation to hit the right spot and keep your head still. All pretty tame stuff, just a few more pokes I didn’t need. There are some possible side effects from the radiation including seizures, possible hearing impairment in my case, possible short temporary memory loss, and fatigue. She also went on and on about hair loss, which I guess is traumatic for some people. Praise the Lord I already crossed that bridge years ago. Chemo will start with radiation next Tuesday as well.

I asked the doc straight up to give me expected outcome, worst case, and best case scenario, from their medical perspective. I know that the Lord may have other plans. The bottom line is that I have GBM stage 4 brain cancer, and the best case scenario is that the radiation will stop its growth. Elimination of this cancer is virtually impossible; to aggressive and buried deep in my brain. She reiterated what a great job Dr. Greggory did in getting 90+%. It sounds like I have a good shot at 1-2 more years. 5 years? Chances are probably less than 20%. She did say they all have patients who for whatever reason beat the odds, so as I said before, it’s in the Lord’s hands, and it doesn’t get any better than that.

I have been trying to do some research also on brain cancer, but have determined that for every one hour I do that I have to spend a minimum of 2 hours in scripture. Not a lot of inspiring reading on brain cancer.

I have gotten back into my normal journaling and bible study routine which has helped immensely. I have started a blessings page in my journal regarding all of this, which is quickly filling up. At the top of the list is Caren, what a wonderful Godly woman, so strong. She is the one who needs prayer, I think this is harder on her than me. Also at the top of the list are my amazing children of whom I am so proud. My family and friends, my church family, and especially Pastor Kevin
also near the top.

Caren and I pray that somehow, someway, the Lord will use this for the good of the Kingdom; that we will be obedient tools in the hand of the master; that his will, not ours, be done.

Thanks to all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, for your prayers and support.

Love you all, John