8/18/2012
It has ben a
while since the last update. I’ve been
processing on many different levels where I am at right now. I am not finished yet but the news is pretty
good. Following the results of a CT scan
and a PET scan there seems to be little or, more likely, no evidence of any
remaining lymphoma in my system. With
the particular variety of the disease and the course of my treatment and
response there is an about 90% chance that I am done with it. The Freiburg
oncologist used the “cure” word. I know
there is not a cancer patient in the world who doesn’t expect to be “looking
over their shoulder” over the for-seeable future for some kind of recurrence or
new form of malignancy but the doc seemed reasonably confident that if I was to
see a relapse it would be:
a) within the
next two years as opposed to five
b) not likely
(recall the 90% cure rate reference)
c) bad news if it
did recur – glad it’s unlikely!
I feel
great. My strength is good. My hair is roaring back in both the desired
and undesired regions of middle age maleness.
My appetite is good. My eagerness
to get back into the classroom is high.
I continue to
remain healthy while still taking a few prophylactic anti-viral, anti-fungal,
anti-bacterial and other anti-crud drugs.
Once a month I’m getting a boost of immunoglobulin intravenously (can’t
say goodbye to the chemo-lounge quite yet).
And, like I said,
I’ve been processing and it’s not done yet.
I’m scheduled to speak at BFCF (Black Forest Christian Fellowship) on
September 16. I’m sure I won’t have
finished the processing yet but I’ll post my sermon notes and give a link to
the actual audio (I have no idea if they’ll actually have the same content –
remains to be seen).
In other news,
English Camp season is drawing to a close as the last European camp in Belarus
is underway. God has done amazing things
through the camps in Portugal (a second camp is desired next year), Germany,
Switzerland, Moldova and, as mentioned, Belarus. Diane had some great help here locally and
the national and North American staffers have been fantastic.
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| Swiss camp staff saying their goodbyes - we drove a bunch to the airport |
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| EC5 staff hailing from WKBC & Faith Bible in RI |
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| Our local camp coordinators and helper at a thank you dinner at our house |
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| Activities co-coordintor for EC5 - our Carl - directing dodgeball |
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| Dodgeball! |
Diane and I took
a holiday – by ourselves for the first time in five years. We found an appropriate place by searching
Booking.com that met our requirements.
It had to be reasonably inexpensive with free parking, a room balcony
(and view) and within about a four-hour drive time. We found it in the mountains of Austria just
under four hours from Kandern and it included half-board (breakfast and
supper). We read, hiked in the
mountains, swam in alpine lakes, celebrated life and just plain rested for
about five days. Wonderful – maybe we
won’t wait five years to do it again.
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| Innsbruck Brucke (bridge) |
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| Out hotel (center, red roof) |
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| Our first hike |
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| View from our balcony |
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| Cooling off her feet |
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| Sunset balcony view |
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| A balcony and a Kindle - not bad! |
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| Russ swimming in the Blindsee (Blind Lake in English) |
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| Diane afloat in the Blindsee |
The following
verses have been at the bottom of the Word doc in which I keep a record of my
blog posts since early on. They have
spoken to me throughout and continue to do so.
Put yourself in my place and read them – I think you’ll see what I’m
talking about.
Isaiah 40: 21-22, 27-31
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
Has it
not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth
was founded?
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people
are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and
spreads them out like a tent to live in… Why do you complain, Jacob?
Why do
you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by
my God”?
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is
the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow
tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to
the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and
weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will
renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not
grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Well, don’t you know, haven’t you heard – I do
and I have!
