The Journey Continues
Hey everyone I wanted to give you a update as to where things are since our last trip to Mayo and post thyroid surgery. I must tell you that this road I am on is full of twist and turns…I’ll let the following blog post explain.
I have set the Lord always before me; he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Psalm 16:8
The above verse is one of my very favorites, if I just keep my eyes on Jesus who is the very author of my faith (Hebrews 12:2) and keep Him the center of my life I need not fear anything. God did not give us a spirit of fear but that of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). My job is to trust, and He will take care of the rest…right?
Many of you who have followed my journey so far knows that I had half of my thyroid taken out a month or so ago and during the same visit at the Mayo Clinic I was able to see my urologist regarding my prostate cancer. During that visit it was suggested that I go off the current hormone therapy I was on and let the cancer further develop so when we scan the next time it might possibly show up and we can target it more effectively and develop a treatment strategy. My initial response to stopping the current therapy was jubilation, I was elated as the side effects of that drug is nasty and whatever time I could get away from it was welcome news.
From a previous visit in January we were told that I was hormone refractory (or resistant). Due to the fact that my PSA was rising while on the tail end of my previous shot was an indicator that the drug was not effective any longer. It was agreed upon prior to departing the Mayo that no more hormone therapy and we would reconvene around the end of May or early June to rescan. So far so good, finished thyroid surgery and heading back home.
I must tell you it was amazing how quickly the wound on my neck healed up from surgery, Gods hand was surely upon me. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:19, God surely meet my needs of healing during that post surgery recovery. The endocrinologist requested my blood work on my thyroid to be completed a month after we got back in town to see how my levels were and while I was the labs I requested another PSA test. While at the Mayo in January my PSA was .49 (remember it should be 0 with no prostate), then in February it jumped to .69 (still no prostate and still on hormone therapy) and a month later on March 12th my PSA was up to 1.10 (first whole number since prior to prostate surgery in Oct 2016. What is my response? My God is faithful, and he remains in control and my hope and trust is in Him, my Lord and my Savior.
There is no question that sickness is real, and cancer is real and there are many that are in a more difficult or advance state then me. The question is not whether we should or shouldn’t have adversity but how we respond to that adversity in our lives. In the book of James we are given this insight, “ Count it all joy, my brothers,[a] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4. The author is telling us to count it joy? Really? Yes, these adversarial situations will cause a true test of where our real faith lies, in our selves or in the God. It amazes me that when things are going well in our lives many are not giving credit to God but when things that are going bad it is always Gods fault and we blame Him. With some people (such as myself) we need to have a real shakeup in life to reevaluate our walk with God and I am thankful for the shakeup and I do count it all joy as the testing of my faith has produced steadfastness in my relationship with Jesus. I am afraid without this trial I Would have continued to live my life my way with no regard for eternal consequences.
All that to say, my PSA is rising at a fast velocity and that is ok, God has got this, and I pray that His perfect will shall be fulfilled in this journey and that this blog will point people to God for in His presence there is a fullness of joy (Psalm16:11).
The Mayo tried to get us to come up there next week for new scans but have since rescheduled the appointments for April 30-May1. We thank you for your prayers and ask that you continue to pray with us that Gods purposes will be fulfilled.
Blessings to you all!