When typing this date it comes to mind that the doctors who diagnosed renal cell cancer at the end of July suggested that the average life expectancy for those with my type of cancer is about five months. As we experience milestone events in the lives of our relatives, such as anniversaries and weddings, we contemplate that when these were scheduled it was doubtful that we would be able to attend. With all this in mind we praise our good God and Father in heaven for the bountiful blessings He has given to us in giving us life beyond expectations.
At the moment I am in the final week of the fourth chemo pill regimen. This coming Monday I hope to commence a two week holiday from this medication. This time around the doctors have reduced the dosage by 25% in order to prevent extremes in the side effects I suffered last time. It appears to have worked even though the side effects are present they are not bothersome to the same extreme as the last time. Humanly speaking we do not want to reduce the dosage too much thereby perhaps reducing the effectiveness while enduring less side effects. At the same time we remember that it is the Lord Who decides about our healing or not. We continue to feel completely in His care, recognizing that He also decides to use men and medicine to further His purpose. We depend on Him and live day by day expecting everything from His good father hand.
Even though we experience side effects during the chemo regimen we do contiue to enjoy life. Our work in the church community can continue and we have enjoyed anniversaries and weddings of relatives in the last month. We also dream of a time when perhaps we can travel to visit our out of town family, something we did not think would happen again some months back.
Being ill and depending on the Lord for each day has also given us more awareness of others who suffer from illness of various types. We continue to monitor and pray for others who suffer from cancer, but there are also so many others who suffer from a variety of maladies. We pray for them all and often have to think about some who suffer much more than we do. We pray that the Lord will also comfort and heal them and that He will be near to their relatives as they see their loved ones suffer and perhaps succumb to their illnesses. At the same time having been so near death we also have experienced that for believers in Jesus Christ death is not the end or a fearful departure into the unknown, but rather the door that leads to eternal life with our Saviour. Although we have been created to love this life, given to us by our Father, we also believe that after this life comes a far better existence without sin and filled with eternal joy.
We urge all those who do not know of this joy to turn to Jesus Christ as He has been revealed in the Holy Bible. He will give you peace even in the face of death.
Pieter de Boer
