JOLLYBLOGGER: I have cancer

December 21, 2008

I have cancer

Hi everyone - I know that's a bit of a shocking headline, but as the doctor said to me and Lynette - there's no good way to tell you this.

For about the past month I have been feeling sick - mainly fatigued (extremely) and I finally went to the Dr. to check it out about a week and a half ago. The Dr. thought that because of the fatigue it could be mono, but when the test results came back the main thing she noticed was that I was anemic. So she immediately sent me to a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy.

I had the colonoscopy on Friday and he found a tumor in my colon. Usually, he says, they biopsy it, and they are doing a biopsy on mine, but he said that he could tell by looking at it that it was cancerous, my colon is nearly blocked by it.

So, tomorrow I will see a surgeon and will probably have surgery within a week or so. I do very much appreciate your prayers - please don't forget to pray for my wife Lynette and my kids - D. J., Michael and Rebekah, and my mom in Jacksonville. Also pray for our church. We are closing on a new building, getting ready for our final service in our current facility and moving and it may be that I will be out for all of that.

I'm doing pretty well most of the time with this - Friday I was pretty depressed, but our session at the church has been terrific and this morning we told the church and they gave lots of support. Lots of people have told me stories of people who survived this with no problem, i.e. the odds are in my favor. But I do know that I am in the hand of God, not the hand of odds.

So as I said, please do pray for all of us and I'll do my best to keep you updated

Dec 21, 2008 5:36:07 PM

87 Comments

Dumbfounded.

Praying for you, brother.

Posted by: Jared Wilson | December 21, 2008 at 05:57 PM

So sorry to hear about this. Thanks for letting us know (saw on Twitter first). Will pray

Posted by: Rob Williams | December 21, 2008 at 06:33 PM

I immediately join in the prayers for your successful surgery and quick recovery, knowing that whatever God does is better for you than whatever I could think to ask. Not because this is good to say, but because you know it even when it's shocking your system, as of course it will. We know Christ was sorrowful, and exceedingly heavy, sometimes; may you be lifted up, as He was, as He promised you, in His time.

Peace,
PGE

Posted by: pgepps | December 21, 2008 at 06:35 PM

So sorry to hear this news. You and your family are in my prayers. Be sure and touch base with Bill Stuntz (PCA, Harvard Law professor, blogger, colon cancer battler). He has many good reflections God, colon cancer, family, work and a lot on being tired. http://is.gd/cRyF. You are in my prayers.

Posted by: chrisdat | December 21, 2008 at 06:51 PM