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
Dear Uncle Pete and Aunty Rita,
ReplyDeleteIt was with great heartfelt gladness that we were able to share our joy with you at the occasion of Lawrence and Erin's wedding this weekend. We feel blessed, along with you and your family, that we could all witness this special occassion together. As you said, we didn't know if it would be possible. Yet the Lord was merciful and we could all be together to remember His guiding hand in all the things of life, sickness and health, good times and bad.
You have been an Uncle and Aunt to whom we have looked up to and hoped to emulate since our own wedding all those years ago. May the Lord richly bless you all as you walk on in His service!
Byron and Tamara
So encouraging to hear of your continued good spirits even as you undergo more treatment. My brother-in-law has lived and been treated for renal cell carcinoma for going on five years and is still doing reasonably well. He has been using trial drugs for quite some time and even though there is always a little growth, he is managing. Several of his compatriots who started down the same road at the same time have all passed away, but he is still with us, in good spirits, and a witness of faith to all who know him.
ReplyDeleteWe don't always know how the Lord has set our ways. It is enough to know that He never makes mistakes. God bless you, my friend.