Happy Dance

Susan has a friend of many years  who has found God's gift of celebration.  When dreadful things happen she waits for God to answer and does the "Happy Dance"...:.Let's celebrate!!  I am a 10 day cancer survivor!!  I know it's true because the Dr. told me!!

In a few weeks I will be back to work.  I will  be able to walk the survivor's walk and I will be looking for sponsors.

Now is when I begin to help other cancer survivors.  It has been two weeks. My mind is still jumbled up.  It is very difficult to come up with a coherrant thought.  However, I will maintain my committment to this blog and to the people to whom it ministers.

Continue to pray for Susan and me as we move into our next phase of cancer care and minstry.

Thursday, January 19, 2012        Surgery Day

How John is doing....

First I have to say John is the writer in the family, not me.  However, I did promise him I would let everyone know how today went.
The alarm clock was suppose to go off at 3:00am.  I woke up at 3:45.  That shouldn't be a problem but we were leaving at 4:00am.
John went into surgery at 9:00 am.  The great nurses at RRMC gave us hourly up dates on John.  All were good news.  By 6:00pm we thought surgery was finishing, but 2 hours later we were still waiting.  When nurse came in and told us all was well and to head up to ICU of course we waited some more.
When Dr. Peyser came to speak to us he was all smiles and assured us all was well.  Pathology report was good and all organs were clear.  We were allowed to go in and see him, of course he was sleeping, gave him the good news anyway.  Maybe somewhere in his sleep he heard.
Thanks to friends and family who came by, called or t-mailed, you made this day go by much faster.
Through all this today, I realized how God has used this journey to change and grow me.  Thank you for taking me by the hand and never letting go....

Susan

Reflections Before Surgery

It's Tuesday night, the last time I get a solid meal for a while.  I don't know how long it will be until I have healed enough to eat solid food.  I took Susan out to dinner and ran into family and friends.  'Twas a special evening.  This afternoon I had lunch with some good friends.  This morning I had breakfast at home.  It has been a great day.

I'm not too anxious about the surgery.  Its the recovery time that has me wondering how I'll do.  God has shined a lot of light on me and after surgery my desire is to reflect His light toward some other folks;  folks that could use a light on their own dark pathways.  God has guided me safely thus far.  It's only right that I reflect back his glory.

The next few posts will be from my family.  They will post my progress until I am able to post for myself.

In the meantime, remember I love you and know that my love is but a dim reflection of God's love for you.

I catch you on the flip side, Good Buddy!  Keep looking to the light.

Date for Surgery

My surgery will happen January 19, 2012.

For my cancer, everything up to and including surgery is treatment.  After the surgery, I plan on being a Survivor with a Plan.  I will look and feel like I have been to war.  But I will be a one day survivor.  A two day survivor.  A one month, and a 6 month survivor.  etc, etc, et Ceteri    My Plan is to focus on the et Ceteri.

I'll see my new grandson, Ian Ray Aloyisus Gliebe towards the end of May.  (His parents have not yet made a final decision about his name.  But how could they not like this one?)
I'll hear some more professions of faith and get to baptize a few more people.
I'll see more lives changed, including my own.
I'll see my son walk with his graduating class.
I will praise God that He allowed me to see all this.

We need plans, something to look forward to.  Treatment for cancer is rough and tough.  Surviving the cancer becomes our primary focus.  Once we are survivors post operative plans carry us into health.  Focus on these plans.  They are our et Ceteri.  They will fill our lives with joy and focus after our disease is gone.

As we focus on the et Ceteri, they will become Street Lights shining on the pathway before us.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.    Amen


(You get extra points if you sing this out loud.)

Now you can shout "Hip. Hip. Hooray!"

Yesterday I received the official pathology report on the samples taken last Friday.  All was benign.  NO CANCER!

Now you can shout "Hip.  Hip.  Hooray!"    I am cancer free.

I am meeting with the two surgeons next week.  We will set a surgery date.  The surgery will be soon.

Why surgery?  The esophagus is to be removed to prevent the cancer from returning.  No guarantees but surgery is the protocol for my cancer.  I'l be off my feet and out of it for a while.  Your prayers will bring a special kind of healing.

Please pray for Susan.  We do not live in Hampton Roads.  She will have to travel a lot from the Northern Neck to Newport News.  She'll also have to bunk with relatives for a while.  My hospital stay is expected to be 10 days to 2 weeks.  My oncologist must be hopeful.  He has already scheduled a office visit 3 weeks after surgery.

The surgery is important.  It is the final step in treatment and diagnosis.  After surgery I will be a 1 day cancer survivor, a 1 month cancer survivor, a 1 year cancer survivor, etc.  I am looking forward to a lot of et cetera's   et ceteri.