Jerry’s Greatest Challenge
10-7-2007 through 10-14-2007

Life is Getting Better 

Editors Note:  This is the 32th week since Jerry was diagnosed with lung cancer.  Jerry has reported each week regarding the progress, treatment, feelings, events and thoughts as he goes through this challenge.  

From Jerry:  I had my last Chemo treatment on Tuesday 10-9-2007.  When I say last this is the last one scheduled.  This makes a total of 10 treatments administered each 3 weeks.  This has been a challenge and I am hoping this last treatment will conclude the Chemo treatments.  I am scheduled for a PET scan on 11-5-2007.  This will tell the doctors exactly where the cancer is and how it is regressing.  I expect it to be gone.  Keep me in your prayers.

This past Chemo treatment was a little different.  I asked Donna, my nurse if she was giving me Steroids and she said yes.  I think I am allergic to Steroids. They make me hoarse, irritable, nauseated and tired so I told Donna not to give me the steroids. She said this was given to combat the nausea.  I told her that is exactly what I had experienced over the past two treatments and I would rather take a chance without the steroids.  She did not give me Steroids and I have had one of the best treatments so far. I tell you this so you will learn that you must tell the doctors and nurses what you are experiencing.  Just maybe you can make it easier.  After all you know your body better than the doctors.

I had a conversation this week with a planner for the possibility of the special foundation we are trying to set up for the caregivers of cancer patients. This foundation will really create a needed void and I am excited about the possibilities of where we plan to take this.    I will give you more updates as we move forward.  We are looking for a CPA that will help us set this up so if you know of any that would be interested please have them contact me. This will be a very worthwhile project and one I will be proud to work on.

I have started speaking at different clubs around the area about the devastation cancer can wreck on lives and families and how the victims can cope with this devastation.  If you would like me to speak at your club just give me a call.  I can do a 20, 30 or 60 minute speech depending on your clubs agenda and what you need.  I find this is my way of giving of my time which hopefully will help others cope.

This past weekend I visited my hometown in Laurinburg, NC and talked to my seventh grade teacher who has cancer and one of my friends I had grown up with who has cancer.  Just being able to share stories seems to help these true friends.  Of course I recommend the book entitled “The Power of Your Subconscious Mind” by Dr. Joseph Murphy.  This is the book I have talked so much about over the past 32 weeks. 

This book deals with changing your mindset and believing you can be healed.   This is the common thing I tell everyone.   Most people think they have one foot in the grave when they hear the word cancer, when in fact the success rate of curing cancer is higher than ever.  Several ingredients need to be present. They are prayer, belief that you can be healed, a strong unwavering positive attitude and no negative thinking.  Together this is the winning combination for beating this disease. 

As always please have your loved ones call me if they need to talk.  The best thing your loved ones can have available to them is the ability to talk with someone who has been through what your loved ones are experiencing. 

Until next week I wish you a terrific and prosperous week and remember that “Day by Day in every way, by the grace of God, I am getting better and better and better and so can you no matter what type adversity you or your family face.  Now let’s go out and create a terrific day for everyone we come in contact with. 

To the hundreds of you perhaps thousands, you have made my day, weeks and this year wonderful.  God bless you all and remember do something nice for someone who is suffering from any type sickness or illness and treat everyone you come in contact with as the most important person in the world.  They will appreciate you for this.