It's Nice to Get a Win
Reflecting on the past 30 days, I’d have to admit that this has been arguably the most challenging season of my life. Shock after shock. Disappointment after disappointment. Loss after loss.
Time and again, Gwen and I were sent reeling as those losses piled up.
What should have been an easy acid reflux situation proved to be esophageal cancer.
That type of cancer, rather than being common and easily treatable, was described as rare and resistant to treatment.
What should have remained localized has metastasized.
What might have been curable is now considered uncurable.
So, when we went to see our oncologist last Friday to receive the lab reports that would determine my treatment, we expected the worst. Sorry if that sounds like a lack of faith, but it’s hard to expect good news when there’s been nothing but bad news.
The doctor sat us down in his office and proceeded to explain that there was a surprisingly positive development. One particular test showed that I am in a category for potential treatment that only 10% of patients with my diagnosis qualify for. The DNA of my particular tumor is more receptive to immunotherapy than most patients.
Immunotherapy uses the body’s own immune system to fight the cancer. Partnering it with chemotherapy is like a one-two punch in my fight with cancer. An added bonus is that immunotherapy doesn’t have the nasty side effects of chemo.
Then he added, “The timing of this is remarkable. I will be attending a conference in Indianapolis tomorrow with some of the top oncologists from around the country. I want to bring your case so they can recommend the most cutting-edge treatment.”
I then asked him, “Are you encouraged?” And he replied, “Yes, I am. You will have to undergo extensive treatment over the next months and, in fact, will be under some sort of treatment for the rest of your life. But we now have a good place to start.”
Needless to say, Gwen and I left his office with our heads once again spinning – this time because of some shocking good news! Getting into the car, we bowed our heads and offered a prayer of thanks.
A Word of Hope in the Morning
When I got home, I came across a verse of Scripture that seemed to capture the moment. “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life” (Psalm 143:8)
On Friday morning, we were reminded of the Father’s unfailing love. At a time when we so needed it, He provided it.
As I shared this with my siblings, my brother offered this observation: “It’s nice to get a win!” And I responded, “It sure is.”
In pondering that, I wondered if perhaps I needed to be alert to other “wins” that are given. Wins that I typically fail to see.
That’s one of the downsides when you face loss after loss. You begin to assume that’s all there will ever be: loss.
Yet, by His grace and in His timing, these losses are interrupted by wins – some big and some little. They are there for the taking – if we have eyes to see.
I think I’m going to pray those words from Psalm 148 with some regularity: “Let the morning bring me Word of your unfailing love.” Put another way, “Show me where the wins are.”
And as He does, I want to take a moment to celebrate them.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Here’s how you can pray for us in the coming days:
PRAISE God that we have the immunotherapy option to pursue.
PRAY that God would use his discussions with other oncologists to guide Dr. Nattam to the most effective treatment of Dave’s cancer.
Dave will be getting a port implanted this week prior to beginning chemo and immunotherapies. PRAY for no complications and quick healing of the site.
PRAY for total healing.