My dermatologist saw all of me in November and was happy. My urologist retired but my new one stepped up in December. We took a live look at my bladder and she was happy. I did a PSA test as a matter of extra caution (see below) and it was normal. I did MRI/PET scans in January and there is no suspicious hypermetabolic activity (PET) and MRI brain shows no metastases so Dr. Mashru is happy. It has been more than two years since the Squamous Cell cancer removal and more than three years since any melanoma was detected. So we are all happy . . . well rejoicing would be a better word! It is a marvelous answer to prayers and the developments of medical technology.
I successfully donated platelets this week. The MRI tech strongly told me they need the big vein in my left elbow – which is already very scarred – for the various cancer tests and treatments. The techs at Red Cross were quite willing to use other veins though the draw is slower. I was under my heavy Indian blanket, three of their blankets and a heating pad on my tummy and shivering for most of the two hour donation resulting from the blood returning into my body somewhat cooler than when it went out. Next time I will take an electric blanket!
Becoming a Great Grandfather
Sherry and I became great grandparents in May. Someone captured my first look at her!
Sherry’s delight is so obvious in the picture. we are honoring Joy’s request not to have her name or picture on the internet so you’ll have to message me to get more details.
Mongolia
Outer Mongolia is the end of the world in my imagination, so going there was a marvelous experience! I taught spiritual warfare to 15 pastors all living in a large house and doing life together for 4 days. Since demonic stuff is always culturally specific, I was so grateful to be able to have a great conversation with some of the early arriving folk to get to know something of the culture of Mongolia. They were very fun to work with especially when I put them to work figuring out what Bible said for themselves.
Saturday was invested in teaching 100 Mongolians the basics of spiritual warfare in 5 hours, continuing to work with Bolor as translator was a huge challenge but surprisingly successful. I did some lecture and then had them talk in table groups with a report from a couple of them. One of the participants, a retired school teacher who provided tutoring and food to neighborhood children recognized demonic stuff in one of the children. She utilized what I taught and the demon left!
I HATE Cancer
Karen Nelson, Donn’s Mother-in-Law, who lives very close to the seminary succumbed to cancer in March. I was with her the day before she passed as a harpist came to make a sacred hour as she lay nearly unconscious in her bed with Susan holding her hand.
Sherry and I traveled back from our anniversary gathering so I could lead her Memorial service at Western’s chapel. Michael was a bit undone by the reality of death and the whole service, but we had a great talk as we walked around the property.
We did a family and close friends celebration in their home a couple months later. It was great to see Dave enjoy freely as he was honored for being such a wonderful husband and father. But we also knew that he was beginning to suffer the impact of his prostate cancer metastasizing. Jeff and his wife, who live in Guadalajara, had their first baby, Olivia. He went to see them/her despite the serious impact of his cancer. After a couple of weeks there, he went into crisis and died. So I will lead another Memorial Service in Western’s chapel on March 1.
Max, David’s father in law, surely enjoys making faces at our great granddaughter! He has also been wrestling with cancer for a couple of years. In the last couple of months the weakness and other symptoms worsened. He had his gall bladder removed and was able to eat again which helped a lot. But we just got news that they discovered cancer had moved to that region of his abdomen.
There are others in my network also dealing with the horrors of cancer, which makes my status as an active 79 year old man with no cancer detected all the more astounding. It is a blessing I do not take for granted.