Jerry’s Greatest Challenge
11-11-2007 through 11-18-2007
“Life comes at you fast”
 

Editors Note:  This is the 37th 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:  You know the commercials, "Life comes at you fast".  I think I had that feeling momentarily this past Friday.   No one was as shocked as me.  You have ups and downs, positives and negatives and bumps in the road.  This is a bump that we shall overcome.  Thank God I have a loving, understanding and compassionate wife who is by my side constantly.  This is why I talk so much about the caregivers. They can make the difference in the survival rate of cancer victims. 

Here is what happened.  I returned from Las Vegas completely worn out. By the way this was not from late nights or partying. This was a National Association of Realtors Meeting.  I do not gamble however just the smoke of trying to get to my room was crippling  

Let me be the first to tell you this.  Don’t try to travel through an airport as busy as Las Vegas without someone to help you if you are recovering from cancer.  Just the stress and strain is enough to make you sick again.  When I finally arrived back home my wife Judy picked me up from the airport.  I could barely walk to the car.  The next day, Thursday I have a school officials meeting and then I was back home.  Judy called Dr. Babcock to see what needed to be done.  Dr. Babcock thought I might have an upper respiratory infection so he ordered a very powerful drug to fight off any infection.

To be on the safe side he had me do another X-Ray at our appointment on Friday.  This is where the “Life Comes at you Fast” feeling occurred.  The X-Ray revealed that the lymph glands had actually increased in cancer by 50%.  Good news is the tumor is down 50% however the glands are up 50%.  Now everyone who reads my post knows that there is no discouraging news.   News is just different degrees of goodness and this is exactly how I feel.  For a moment I was discouraged but only for a moment.  Dr. Babcock has ordered 6 more Chemo treatments to start on Wednesday 11-21-2007 of this week.

He also had me see Dr. Wright for radiation treatments.  Dr. Wright told me that we would need to do 35 treatments, one per day, 5 days per week for 7 weeks.

I am being measured and marked for these treatments on Tuesday 11-20-2007 of this week.  After these test and more doctor’s meetings I will tell you what the treatments are and what they will be giving me.

Now one may think I am discouraged.  Not in the least.  I truly feel that this is God’s way of having me go through what so many other people are going through.  If I have not been through these how could I help someone else.   This will give me a true feeling of empathy and understanding that can come in no other way except through experience.

The number of people I have spoken to and the meetings I have done because of my experience is invaluable and this experience will make my presentations more powerful.

Has my faith been shaken?  No, absolutely not.  I know that through prayer, belief, positive thinking and faith I will be totally healed of this disease called cancer and so will you.

If you are going through any type challenge read the book entitled “The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, by Dr. Joseph Murphy.  If you read this book and follow its advice, you can beat anything.

Saturday morning Judy drove me to the radio station so I could do my show.  The show was an interview of Reg Massey, a DHEC representative who was talking about Radon gas the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.  Quite a coincidence since he and I are going through the same thing. 

Also if you need a speaker at your club let me know.  We need to get the word out to all people about what their friends and neighbors are going through if they have cancer.
 
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.  God bless each and every one of you.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and tell your family you love them.