TIME With Esophageal Cancer (or without)

Time... the most precious commodity on our balance sheet. It is given to everyone in the same amounts. Some of us use it wisely. Some of us do not. We get it one moment at a time and our goal is to live best and most within that particular moment.

Father God, this Thanksgiving I thank you for the time you have given me with my family and loved ones. To spend Thanksgiving with them was a gift within a gift.  On Black Friday, I will spend time with even more family and loved ones.

I am not simply thankful. I am thanking you as the Giver of Time for your gift to me.

None of us knows the total time we have, but we know the moment in which we live. I choose to live within that moment and enjoy the time I know.

Thank you, Papa.

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Diagnosis:                                           Esophageal Cancer,  adeno-carcinoma at the junction  in July 18, 2011
Staged:                                                at 4a just a couple of days later
Chemo Port Installed:                         July 31, 2011  
Began radiation and chemotherapy:   early August 2011 
Esophagus removed:                           Jan. 19, 2012
Surgery Approach:                              Large belly incision to allow access to gall bladder, lymph 
                                                             nodes, esophageal junction with stomach, etc.  Large back 
                                                             incision to allow access to the upper esophagus and lymph  
                                                             nodes through the ribs.   
Hospital Stay:                                      10 days
Feeding tube removed:                       end of Feb/first of March
Life changes:                                       Type 2 diabetes disappeared.      Current weight <200 lbs. (This 
                                                              is a HUGE loss for me.)   Very little stomach remains.  Small 
                                                              meals and many meals.   Dumping Syndrome remains.  (Look 
                                                              it up.)   Weakness.  Some depression.  I have received love I 
                                                              didn't know I had.  God has emptied His blessing bucket on 
                                                              me many times since diagnosis.