Posted on 06/19/2011 9:39:30 AM PDT by Jeff Head
I have been keeping a blog/jounral here on FreeRepublic, and on Facebook of my experience with malignant bone cancer of the back, sacral chordoma. The Facebook journal is located at : Jeff's Sacral Chordoma III - http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=459192742493&id=755469068 (Entries 29 on). On my web site it is here: HERE - Jeff's Chordoma Journal on JEFFHEAD.COM, there is also a prayer thread here on FreeRepublic, where our many, many patriotic, God-fearing, conservative friends are uniting in faith and prayer on our behalf. This is the link to that thread for anyone interested.
This is my 33rd update, June 19, 2011:
I thought it time to make another entry into my Chordoma Journal.
Time passes quickly, particularly as we are involved in our daily routines of life. It is no different after such major events and crisis lik what I have experienced.
Yet, things are not the same. Life has changed for me and my family and we continue to deal with it as best we can with each other's help and support and the tender mercies of a loving Father in Heaven and His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. The faith and outlook we have on the future...and indeed towards one another and those around us, guide us in these circumstances like they do in all others.
A year ago today I was still in the hospital at MD Anderson. Having completed all three of my surgeries between April 27th and May 9th. I had been in the ICU for several weeks but ultimately was given a normal, private room. June 19th found me in that room, having started my in-hospital physical and occupation therapy. I had been through the tilt board that took a week or so to get me to a 90 degree stadning position and had finally started slowly, painstaakingly walking with a walker and the help of my therapists. June 18th, the day before today a year ago, was also the day before my birthday.
I remember it very well. I was walking around the nurse's station...the first time I had gone around it more than once.
In such situations your perspective of time and distance changes. it could only have been about 50-60 feet around that nurse's station...but oh it seemed so much further! I would take little rests as needed and as I came around for the second time, about to start a third...I was so proud of myself and so grateful. Gail was not there and I was a little sad. She had indicated she needed to go out and send something to her father for Father's Day.
Little did I know.
Next thing I knew, someone was standing behind me and said, "Hello Pops," I turned around and could not believe my eyes. There was my son, Jeff and his wife, Jolene. They had flown to Houston to surprise me for my birthday and Father's Day. I literally broke down and wept. What a surprise and how grateful I was.
I shared with them my great accomplishment as I went around the third time.
Now, here I am at home, about to celebrate another birthday and Father's Day today. My 55th birthday.
Today we will have four of our five children here, three of them with their spouses and we'll have seven of our eight grandchildren here. What a blessing! Katie and her husband, Nathan, and their three boys moved back into the Boise area yesterday. We helped them move in (actually I did not do much more than lend moral support and carry a couple of light things). How happy we are. Just need to get Rachel over here now. As it is, we have four of five living near by. I love my family so. And how grateful I am to be able to see them all...for however long the good Lord deems it here on this earth.
I have made progress and walk now everywhere without a cane.
My leg, and particularly hip strength in my left leg is still not what it should be...I do not believe it will ever be what it was.
My bowel and bladder management (and I have to do this daily, painstakingly because of the nerves that were cut to take out my sacrum), is doing very well as these things go. it is still one of the hardest things for me and a source of constant worry, despite the fact that it is going so well as these things go.
I find that worries and concerns get to me much easier than they diod before this experience. I suppose my body chemistry has changed. I am so thankful for a loving wife, who cares so well for me and about me and helps me get through these minor crisis...and family that doe sthe same...and particularly, as stated above, for a loving Father in Heaven and His Son, whose plan of atonement salvation helps me understand that it really will be okay, and that I have important things to do and can carry on.
I know one of the reasons I have been preserved is to witness to others, particularly going through such difficulties that there is help...there is comfort...there is relief to the soul. I intend to do that every chance I get...like now.
We will be going back to MD Anderson in September for my next "check up." They will check for any new cancer near the site of the surgery or in my soft tissue. We are very hopeful in that regard...but things will be according to God's will and we will face whatever challenge when the time comes. We will also decide what to do about the three small tumors in my hip bones. They are chordomas like the one that was taken out, but they are very small and very slow growing. If there aren't more of them, we will probably handle it with what they call stereo-tactical radiation using protons. This would be a 2-3 day affair where each one is zapped with a very precise, very heavy dose, precisely onto the tumor.
Amazing technology.
If there are several more of these small tumors, or if some cancer develops in my soft tissue, we would probably use the broader proton radiation which lasts 6 weeks, five days a week, and involves thirty treatments. We hope to avoid that. Because of the dosages and the more broad nature of it, you can only do it once in a life time. it also has potential significant side effects. We hope to avoid that.
While in Houston in September, I have been asked to make a presentation at "Chordoma Day," and annual event they have for all of their chordoma patients. A lot of folks will be there and they discuss and bring out so much new info. I will be presenting with two very distinguished men, that I respect so much. Dr. Lieberman, the Phd Therapist from TIRR who worked with me, and Dr. Rhines, my neurosurgeon who did my surgery and who is the head of the Spine Department at MD Anderson. They will present first, about my case, the surgery and the therapy necessary...and then I will speak as a patient and what it was like and what one can and should do to prepare and then cope with the results and the blessings of survival. See...another opportunity to help and I know if I am humble and seek the help of the Lord, he will bless me with His Spirit so that presentation can touch and help others.
In the mean time...tomorrow I am back to work. Another great blessing. Since getting back last October 1st, three months after release from the MD Anderson and at the conclusion of my intensive therapy at TIRR in Houston, I have been blessed to work full time. It has not always been easy at all...but it has been a blessing. Both for our finances and for me, keeping me involved and focused...which is very important.
Again, thank you to all who have prayed, given comfort, encouraged, helped, thought about us and called or visited. Every one of those things and so many more have helped more than I can explain. I pray I can help others similarly.
Again, thanks mostly to my dear, wonderful wife and children, and those wonderful grand-children who are a great light to us...and thank you to my Father in Heaven and His Son, my Savior and friend, for helping me...for teaching me. I pray I can pass those blessings on always.
Happy Father's Day all!
Sincerely, and in Christ,
Jeff
Thanks for the update - it’s great to see that you’re doing so well.
I’m so happy to hear that things are going pretty well for you these days, Jeff. You are a light to all of us, and I continue to pray for you.
God bless you, Jeff, I'm so sorry about this. I'm very happy that you've been able to spend good quality time with the family on Father's Day. Our prayers are going out for you and your family.
5.56mm
Thank God for your healing!
I pray for you and those who love you a peace that surpasses all understanding. God bless.
RH
Enrique
Enrique
Over here! ;-) Hope all is well with you, friend! {{{{{{{{hugs!}}}}}}}}}}
What a wonderful and most inspirational testimony to your love of God and your family! I can’t tell you how impressed I am with your spirit, and love for life.
God has truly blessed you, and you are returning that huge favor by being such a wonderful witness for Him.
Thank you so much for keeping us updated on your truly remarkable progress. I know it’s been a struggle, but your posts and updates...mostly your faith...inspire me, and give me so much hope.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for the ping! I’m doing well, and hope that you are, too.
I’ve missed your pings!
(((((((HUGE HUGS)))))) for YOU!
I have been so blessed with so many riend..faithful friends...in times of need. Early on in my life I received a blessing wherein I was told that it would be that way if I would be faitghful to mt Fathe in Heaven and His Son...and it has been so.
Particularly my Savior, and ten my wife.
It is so humbling and I hope I can repay the favor to you all by doing as my Savior did...and does...and go about doing good and helping others.
God bless you both...and may He continue to bless this great nation of liberty which has been founded upon His principles!
Jeff
What you don’t understand is that you are now repaying every favor that God and Free Republic has ever given you. Seeing you post again is all that is needed because you have such powerful words, my FRiend.
God love, bless and keep you in His heart, because that is where you most certainly belong.
“...may He continue to bless this great nation of liberty which has been founded upon His principles!”
Amen, bro’!
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