An Update From Greg
Greetings, Dear Friends,
The Christmas season always reminds me to connect with those I don't
get a chance to see every day, or even every month. This year has been a
year of change for me--change and waiting for change....
Just like advent is a time of waiting for the Messiah, these past months have taught Jeane and I a good deal of patience, listening and waiting on God as we walk in his promises.
When battling a major illness, the journey of healing is often one of learning to discover hope in the midst of hopelessness, one faith-step at a time. (Isn't that what the manger is all about: letting the God story unfold in its time?) We are not always great at the waiting part, but he is faithful and has sustained us with an abundance of joy and peace. Here's our update:
Jeane and I
made the very difficult decision this year for me to go on disability. I
really miss my work and my great co-workers at the hospital, but I
couldn't continue physically; it was getting harder and harder for me to
keep up with my duties there and take care of my own health needs at
the same time. So I guess that makes me officially retired--something I
never really planned on doing.
It's been three years since my gloomy cancer diagnosis (in January of 2012) and the test results are still amazing to me. The cancer is in "regression," meaning the large lump on my thigh and those in my lungs are gone. Even so, there are little spots that pop up here and there. I've had two biopsies this year, one of a lump on my shoulder and one of a spot on my thyroid. Both were benign. My oncologist at MD Anderson continues to monitor me quarterly. No problem. I'm just really grateful to be alive!
My kidney is the bigger issue; it's barely functioning at 8%. My nephrologist, who I see every month, is amazed I am doing so well physically considering my kidney's poor condition. Nevertheless, he is encouraging me to go on dialysis. This I have not yet done.
It's just that there's this little "faith vs. fact" thing going on inside me: I still believe the word that God spoke to me a year and a half ago that I should call my kidney back to life. I know it's irrational in the natural to believe such a thing, but we worship a God "who calls into existence the things that do not exist."
It has been said that faith does not ignore reality; faith just puts reality in its proper perspective. I'm not trying to be stupid or stubborn, but my faith compels me to turn down dialysis for now and continue to pray for the life of my kidney, however crazy that may sound. I still might have to go on dialysis sometime in the future; we will see. We've also explored the idea of a kidney transplant, but the doors are shut to that option for the time being because of the cancer diagnosis.
Our life is slower-paced without the pressures of work, but Murphy's Law takes over and, believe it or not, we still feel "busy." I continue to teach on Monday nights and oversee grief recovery workshops. I love to meet one-on-one with people and encourage them in their faith, so I can frequently be found at Starbucks! Most days I feel quite good, although I do get fatigued easily and need to sleep a couple of times during each day. I still go for various naturopathic treatments weekly and spend two hours in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber every week. It's all good.
In between doctor visits and treatments and labs and MRIs, Jeane and I have a chance to just enjoy each other, the good fellowship of the people we love and the world around us.
I'm really glad to have had a chance to see and talk with many of you this year, and I sincerely thank you for your continued prayers on my behalf. What would I do? They uplift, encourage and sustain me. And they move heaven.
God is good and his goodness has come to earth in Jesus.
A Blessed Christmas to you all!
Just like advent is a time of waiting for the Messiah, these past months have taught Jeane and I a good deal of patience, listening and waiting on God as we walk in his promises.
When battling a major illness, the journey of healing is often one of learning to discover hope in the midst of hopelessness, one faith-step at a time. (Isn't that what the manger is all about: letting the God story unfold in its time?) We are not always great at the waiting part, but he is faithful and has sustained us with an abundance of joy and peace. Here's our update:
It's been three years since my gloomy cancer diagnosis (in January of 2012) and the test results are still amazing to me. The cancer is in "regression," meaning the large lump on my thigh and those in my lungs are gone. Even so, there are little spots that pop up here and there. I've had two biopsies this year, one of a lump on my shoulder and one of a spot on my thyroid. Both were benign. My oncologist at MD Anderson continues to monitor me quarterly. No problem. I'm just really grateful to be alive!
My kidney is the bigger issue; it's barely functioning at 8%. My nephrologist, who I see every month, is amazed I am doing so well physically considering my kidney's poor condition. Nevertheless, he is encouraging me to go on dialysis. This I have not yet done.
It's just that there's this little "faith vs. fact" thing going on inside me: I still believe the word that God spoke to me a year and a half ago that I should call my kidney back to life. I know it's irrational in the natural to believe such a thing, but we worship a God "who calls into existence the things that do not exist."
It has been said that faith does not ignore reality; faith just puts reality in its proper perspective. I'm not trying to be stupid or stubborn, but my faith compels me to turn down dialysis for now and continue to pray for the life of my kidney, however crazy that may sound. I still might have to go on dialysis sometime in the future; we will see. We've also explored the idea of a kidney transplant, but the doors are shut to that option for the time being because of the cancer diagnosis.
Our life is slower-paced without the pressures of work, but Murphy's Law takes over and, believe it or not, we still feel "busy." I continue to teach on Monday nights and oversee grief recovery workshops. I love to meet one-on-one with people and encourage them in their faith, so I can frequently be found at Starbucks! Most days I feel quite good, although I do get fatigued easily and need to sleep a couple of times during each day. I still go for various naturopathic treatments weekly and spend two hours in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber every week. It's all good.
In between doctor visits and treatments and labs and MRIs, Jeane and I have a chance to just enjoy each other, the good fellowship of the people we love and the world around us.
I'm really glad to have had a chance to see and talk with many of you this year, and I sincerely thank you for your continued prayers on my behalf. What would I do? They uplift, encourage and sustain me. And they move heaven.
God is good and his goodness has come to earth in Jesus.
A Blessed Christmas to you all!
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