Tuesday is the day!

We have learned that Tuesday is the day for me to start my transplant therapy. We are thankful and praise God that my PET scan showed no active cancer! It is in remission but not gone.
The next step is the transplant. I will have 5 days of chemo that I am told makes me feel like I have the flu — oh great…..something to look forward to but I know I have been through worse. I remember my basketball preseason conditioning at Taylor University where we thought we would collapse. That is one advantage of sports participation as it helps you learn what you what you are made of.
After the chemotherapy I will receive the new bone marrow cells courtesy of my brother. He will have them harvested from his blood for me to replace my sick cells.

I was sent the informed consent forms today and even though I know better, became very discouraged reading all the serious health risks that could occur. Some are life threatening. Quite sobering when you read them all, no matter how remote a chance. I am reminded of Psalm 23 – although I walk through the shadow of death I will fear no evil. I remember someone speaking that it is a shadow, not true death for the believer. Shadows in our lives are scary aren’t they. Not knowing the future can be unnerving. After all, who wants to have the flu for 2 weeks or have other complications by choice. But God is faithful even when our faith is shaky.

I woke up at 2 p.m. thinking how our sin is like a cancer to our soul. It is terminal without God’s intervention via Jesus. With my cancer,I must have faith in the doctors and treatment to cure me. It is not 100% certain but the odds are very good. When it comes to sin it must all be cured and the guarantee is 100% with Jesus. The key is you have to understand you are sick with sin and admit it. Then you need to ask for treatment. God doesn’t force it on you.

Big milestones are 30 days as this is the highest chance for virus attack. The second is 100 days where there can be rejection. We covet your prayers as we travel this journey before us. Please pray for superhuman strength for Trish to carry the load of being both parents and at the office. Pray for uneventful healing; for the team that will care for me and that our witness will be attractive.

Blessings,
Neal