I can not believe that I haven't posted a single blog this year! I have written several, but never finished them. Well, today I sent the following message out to the Gateway family and wanted to share it with you... thanks for your prayers!
Dear Gateway Family,
This morning I shared with our church staff about my recent
doctor’s visit. To get directly to the point, Mary and I were told that my
cancer has returned. This is not what we wanted to hear, but we are ready to
accept it and deal with it.
Because you are family, I wanted you to know quickly so that
you could pray. Let me share with you the course of action we are taking. Soon I
will have a scan to establish a base line for the possibility of any other
cancer location. At this time my doctors are confident the cancer is located in
one place… where my prostate was removed. That’s very good news.
In January I will begin radiation therapy… five days a week
for 6 weeks. The best outcome would be
that the therapy eliminates all of the cancer. Following the radiation, I will
continue blood work every three months to monitor the results.
Mary and I are at peace and we are very hopeful. We want God
to be glorified through all of this.
For those of you who are new to Gateway and do not know my
story let me share a brief overview. In 2010, I was diagnosed with prostate
cancer. I was given two options – radiation or radical surgery. God lead us to
a world-renowned robotic surgeon in Florida. He had performed more robotic
prostate surgery than anyone else in the world. The surgery was a complete
success and I experienced none of the normal side effects that men experience
with such surgery.
If one opts to do the radiation first, then surgery is no
longer an option. If you do the surgery first, then you can use radiation as a
back up treatment if needed. We wanted to have a back up plan and of course, God’s
leading turned out to be exactly the right decision as my tumor did not have
clean margins and the probability of further treatment was increased.
The biopsy of my prostate showed that I had pattern 3, 4,
and 5 cancer cells. Pattern 5 is the nasty type that is fast growing and fatal.
Radiation treatment of the prostate with pattern 5 usually will not eliminate
the cancer. Because of the pattern 5, my doctor told me that if I had waited or
opted for the radiation instead of surgery, I would have been dealing with a
very negative result. Wasn’t God
gracious to lead us to have surgery?
My urologist is convinced that the cancer pattern that I am
dealing with now is pattern 3. Radiation should easily take care of the cancer
cells.
As far as my role as senior pastor of Gateway, there should
be no problem with me fulfilling my responsibilities. I will be able to work
during my radiation treatment. In order
to be wise with my time and energy, I have cancelled all of my events outside
of Gateway, including 2 international trips. I want to give all of my energy,
focus and attention to you, who are the people I love and who God has entrusted
to me as pastor.
You are our family. We covet your prayers. Pray that the
treatments will be sufficient. Pray that God will grant my body full energy and
health.
My life verse is more relevant to me now than ever before…
“For I can do
everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Phil. 4:13
I love being your pastor!
Pastor Don
