This blog will be different than most, as it is personal in nature, bringing our friends and neighbors up to date with what has been going on in our lives.
Most of you know that Ellen was admitted to the hospital with bronchitis in early September and ended up spending a week in ICU. (Read her post about it here.) Her condition worsened, and at one point it looked as though it was life-threatening. She agreed, with our family, to allow the surgeon to do a special procedure on her that, if it were unsuccessful, might necessitate her being on a ventilator. The procedure was somewhat successful, and when we saw her following the surgery she had nothing on her face but some oxygen hoses to assist in her breathing. She was eventually released directly from ICU to home to recuperate, with many healthcare associates coming to the house in the following days to help her. Her progress has been steady, and just last week we were both able to attend a Sunday-morning worship service together. What a treat! (Flash: just this morning, 10/20, she saw a pulmonologist who examined her and said her progress was good!)
I have now been a cancer patient (multiple myeloma) for over five years and have received excellent care at the St. Francis Cancer Center in Indianapolis. There is no cure for this disease, but it does often go into remission. I have taken treatments for about three weeks out of four, on average. I have not had to receive any chemo therapy for several weeks now, but have been receiving infusions of a medicine that searches out and destroys the rogue white blood cells.
Only three out of five patients live five years with multiple myeloma after having been diagnosed. At my age, it is only through prayer and good care (#1 caregiver is Ellen) that I am still here. I have lost considerable weight and am pretty weak—not in remission—but every day here with family and friends is a gift from God. I am indebted to all who have prayed for our family during this trying time. I have so much more I’d like to share and may do so in a future blog. If you had an opportunity to read a recent “You and God” post, “All Bundled Up” (10/7/26), you received some insight as to the hope I have. Our missions conference speaker last Sunday said that the best day of one’s life, as a believer, was the day he died. I agree, but I told Ellen I wouldn’t mind if the Lord delayed that “best day” for just a few more days if it would be His will to do so.
A Personal Note About a Worthy Cause
I am speaking as a Grandpa now and am taking the liberty to do so as “editor-in-chief” of the “You and God” blog. As most of you know, Marti and Dale (my younger daughter and her husband) had pretty much reared four boys—one of whom the Lord saw fit to graduate to glory in March 2007—when God blessed them with two girls, Audrey (2/10/05), and Amy (3/14/07). Amy was born just days after her 11-year-old brother, David, was ushered into His Savior’s presence, and I am writing now as an advocate for one of her adventures.
She is a second-year student at Anderson University, near Indianapolis, and she is an outstanding volleyball player. Her team, for various reasons (none of which is any fault of the players) has fallen on financial hard times, and they are promoting a fundraiser. So, as Amy’s Grandpa—and knowing that a good many who read “You and God” are friends of our family—I am going to bat for her. If you would care to help Amy and her teammates in this worthy effort, and would like to be an encouragement to some young people, please contribute as you are able. Clicking this link will take you to the team’s donations page, which includes a video and a few words about the fundraiser. Amy and her teammates—and yours truly—will be most appreciative.
Please do not feel any pressure to do this, and please do not unsubscribe to “You and God” for my being so brazen. Most of you who read this blog are grandparents, and I think you will understand. And, thank you very much. Yours truly.
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:10)