Two Sides to Every Story.

Driving home from a church thing tonight, my wife told me of a family friend who died over the weekend. The friend who entered in to the big sleep, had the same cancer I had at the same time. I had actually met him while awaiting chemo once. At saying this she started to (not) cry. And I was struck at how I did not know her story of survival.

I realize that this blog only tells my side of things. How I survived. But it cannot tell her side. It cannot convey her fears or hopes. It can only show me how much stronger she is than I. I now understand that it is much easier to be the one going through it, than the one watching it.

Spot On Product Placement!

Even if you're not a BSG (Battlestar Galatica) fan you'll find this funny. Unless you're not evil like me.

Warning It's a bit gruesome.

The Fog Is Rolling In

It's been a while since the last real post. Mainly because with the final surgery so far off the direction of the blog needs to change. But to what?

Well people always say write what you're passionate about. Currently I'm all about the goals I have for 09'. Now that I have beat death again, the wife and I are focusing on the finances to get a bigger house so that toward the end of the year we can start a family. But not before the surgery in July. So that's like four big things this year. Bills, House, Surgery, Baby! What do they say, "Go Big."

What this all means is that the blog could get really mundane with the day to day of these goals, and the posts may get further and further apart. I still plan on posting, but how often and what direction is still foggy.

Dear Sweet Baby Jesus....

Tis the season!

Organ Wars: Episode VI Return of the Colon

I went to the colon doctor this week to inquire about reconnection surgery. With all the chemo and hospital drugs I had forgotten the specifics of that surgery. She was delighted to see me and was amazed at how good I looked. It's a funny feeling to shock a doctor in a good way. After we talked Jen and I started the discussion about when to do what. On the list is surgery, vacation, baby, and new house all next year (Dan I'm beginning to understand grad school). And while we haven't set every thing in stone yet, it looks like I'll be haveing the final surgery in July.

I Never Take My Health into Consideration.

A friend asked me today, "Do you ever take your health into consideration? I mean with what you have gone through, this should be number one."

We were talking about my plans for the next few years and how unfocused they seemed to her. I was stunned by this comment in that I didn't know how to answer her question in a way she would understand. So I'm writing this post to explain.

My faith, my relationship with God, is my number one. It has to be! I couldn't have gotten here without my faith. There are many examples of people putting God above themselves in the Bible and coming out pretty good in the end. Job, he lost everything and his health, but kept God first and ended up with twice as much as before (Job 42:10). And what about those guys in the fiery furnace, they were willing to give there lives for God and he saved them.

I know that fear and doubt are the enemies of Faith (that's somewhere in the new testament). And I know that I only have the ability to think negatively when I think about certain things like statistics of my health. I am not refusing to thinking about the reality of the situation. No, I am choosing my faith over my fear or doubt. I know what the odds are and I know that I have beaten all those odds because He is with me, not because I was cautious or chose the right doctors.

Remember, reality is not what you see, touch or smell. Reality is what understand, or "As a man thinketh, So is he."

Thanksgiving!!!

Well Thanksgiving is over and there are no bodies to dispose of. For those who don't know, this year was the year the family travels to Knoxville, Tn. My aunt and uncle were wonderful and I enjoyed them a lot. And I had forgotten how much I missed my cousins.

About half way home I decided to not be negative anymore, or try not to be negative anymore. Over the past 3 or 4 years I have managed to teach my mouth not to curse. And thought it would be a good thing to teach my mind not to think negatively.

This new goal will mean less funny stuff until I get use to it.

OH! Happy Day, Happy Day!!!

Well the PET scan I had on Monday is clear. I am once again cancer free! Prayer works!

Woz the Creator.

I'm the type of person who doesn't often remember my dreams. So when I do it probably means something.

Last nights dream started with me walking into my house to find my iBook in peaces all over the living room floor. As I surveyed the damage, I heard a familiar voice coming from the bathroom that said, "I hope you don't mind, I just wanted to know if it had the 476 chip in it (I have no clue what that means this is a dream remember)."

Instantly I knew who it was and was speechless as they came around the corner with a piece of the computer in his hand. It was Steve Wozniac, the creator of Apple! We began to talk about the computer and what parts I thought it need and what parts he thought is need. He assured me that all it needed was the 476 chip and that the CD drive and Ethernet port were obsolete.

I then found myself using my iBook and it was running better than it had ever before. I couldn't get over the fact that the creator of Apple not only had been to my home but had fixed my computer and made it better! And this is when I woke up.

This dream struck me as so odd that in my half awake state I ask what is the significance? And a small still voice said, "Well if you replace Woz with God and the iBook with your body, isn't that kind of what has happened?" He's right! God showed up one day and fixed my body. I may not have all my original parts and my body may not work the same way it did when I was born. But it works better now then it has ever. Isn't that the point of divine healing?

"You're Not Gona Die!"

Saw the doctors today. My weight is down (148lbs), but my counts are good, my whit count is 11.9 down from 13, my platelets are 790,000 down from over a million, and my liver numbers are going down (that means I getting out of rejection). Don't worry, it's not the first time I've been in rejection and it's under control. They took out the staples and said I could drive and go back to work.

The doctor told me today to go home and have fun, it's time to get on with my life. It was as if he was saying we are done messing with you go have a life now. I've been waiting a long time for that one.

BTW the title is a lyric from a William Shatner song "You'll Have Time," it's a very funny song.