I shared this at the Poland Relay for Life on 7/10/09 during the opening ceremony:
I have to start by thanking God for each one of you, for the Relay for Life, and the American Cancer Society – because without all of you I don’t think I would be standing here today. For you see, that what we are doing here this weekend provides hope, strength, and encouragement to every person that has cancer.
My Cancer journey started 2.5 years ago when my family and I moved from Cincinnati to this area so that I could become the senior pastor of New Hope Community Church in Boardman. Within a month of moving up here, I had pneumonia and then all kind of crazy symptoms started, which led me to doctors, doctors, and more doctors and finally to a diagnosis last August that none of us wanted to hear – you have cancer – Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. After surgeries and 6 months of chemo, my journey continued and I got to hear the words that we all want to hear 3 months ago – the cancer is gone.
So many people helped, encouraged, supported, and prayed – God, my healer, my wife Stacy was my caregiver, my kids Rebecca, Jacob, and Micah, my family, my friends – some are here today, my awesome church family, and all of you carried me when I couldn’t go on my own.
It reminds me of a story – Derek Redmond was a 26 year old Briton, who was favored to win the four hundred meter race in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Halfway into his semifinal heat, a fiery pain seared through his right leg. He crumpled to the track with a torn hamstring. As the medical attendants were approaching, Redmond fought to his feet. He set out hopping, pushing away the coaches in a crazed attempt to finish the race. When he reached the stretch, a big man pushed through the crowd. The man was Jim Redmond, Derek’s father. “You don’t have to do this,” he told his weeping son. “Yes I do,” Derek declared. “Well then” said Jim, “we’re going to finish this together.” And they did. Jim wrapped Derek’s arm around his shoulder and helped him hobble to the finish line. The crowd clapped, then stood, then cheered, and then wept as the father and son finished the race together.
This story reminds me foremost of God carrying us through the tough times. but it also reminds me of all of you, my family, and friends, Relay for life, and American Cancer Society carrying me when I couldn’t do it on my own. We all, as a community, are carrying one another, and will continue to carry one another around the track of our lives until one day we will finally hear the words that we all want to hear – “We have found a cure”. Let us all Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back. Let us never give up. God bless you all.
Timeline:
(Feb 2007) – Pneumonia
(May 2007) – First noticed Pain from drinking a sip of alcohol in arm (and shoulder and neck).
(June 2007) – Severe Generalized Itching begins
(August 2007 – January 2008) – Treated for Scabies, Dermatitis, etc. – released from Cleveland Clinic with no dermatological causes for symptoms
(January 2008) – Other Symptoms surfaced: night sweats, pain in shoulder and neck, asthma
(February 2008) – Blood-work shows high liver enzymes. CAT scan of Abdomen is clear.
(February 2008) – Chest Xray is clear
(May 2008) – Allergist determines severe lung issues – breathing at 50% – severe allergies
(June 2008) – Went to Florida for 7 days to determine if symptoms are environmental (negative) – symptoms continue. Itching is worse.
(July 2008) – Chest Xray clear, Blood-work shows liver enzymes normal, white cells high; CAT Scan of Chest shows huge tumor in chest (mediastinum)
(August 5, 2008) – Biopsy through Chamberlin Procedure was inconclusive
(August 27, 2008) – Biopsy and removal of tumor through mediastinum sternotomy (6 weeks recovery for surgery)
(August 30, 2008) – Biopsy results show positive for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
(September 2008) – Staging 2b; Medical Insurance was rescinded by American Community Mutual due to a paperwork error
(October-March) – 12 Treatments of Chemotherapy (AVBD)
(January 2009) – Pulmonary Function Test showed significant lung issues – Chemo Drug Bleomycin was discontinued - continued with AVD
(April 2009) – PET Scan showed spot on lung but doctor considers it scarring – will follow up; giving the “All Clear” – CELEBRATING BEGINS!
(July 2009) – Follow up tests show no signs of cancer – tumor in lung is gone!