Pastor Buddy’s Blog

Expect the unexpected (Part 2)

Filed in NHL |

Journal,

I’m still sorting through all my thoughts. Wasn’t sure what to call this journal entry. Thought about calling it ‘the dove on the wire.’ (Reflecting on one of the Lord’s recent encouragements to me. In fact the lady dove made another appearance at my front door the day before we left this week for MD Anderson.)

Let me begin with the natural side of things. (Then I’ll move over to the spiritual.) I had been through eight chemo treatments at Cabrini Cancer Center.

Tuesday, July 24th, I had a bone marrow extraction, and then on Monday, July 30th was another PET scan. These tests were to reaffirm my progress, which, by the way, had been great. The future looked so bright.

When Betty and I met with Dr. Halawani on Thursday, August 2nd, it was time for the “shock” treatment. (He was shocked. I believe that was the word he used. He is such a gracious person.) Both tests showed the NHL (Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) had reoccured, that it was now in the bone marrow. The PET scan revealed two “hot spots” in my abdomen.

The doctor sat down as Betty and I listened. We were expecting a clean bill. The doctor was always pleasant as usual. However, as Halawani spoke about the results of the tests, he said that we needed to go to MD Anderson for what would most likely be a stem cell transplant. (Cabrini does not do that procedure.) To say we were stunned would be a misnomer.

No time was wasted. Our first appointment at MD Anderson was for the 14th and 15th of August. (Tuesday and Wednesday) Two days of consultations and procedures. Had blood/specimen collection, cardiac injection, cardiac scan, and chest, PA & LAT, Bone Marrow biopsy (Both sides), CT Prep, CAT Scan , Lymphoma Screening.

Our next trip to Anderson was Friday, August 24th. This was for Vir pre-procedure eval new LV2, in Interventional Radiology. (Needed to sign forms, etc.)

Our third trip was for the 27th and 28th of August; Monday and Tuesday of this week. Monday was for a biopsy of a lymph node in my abdomen. Tuesday I met with Dr. Alousi, the stem cell doctor. Afterwards was blood/specimen collection.

Then it happens. At 1:30 p.m., Betty,? Nathan and I meet with Sattva Neelapu, M.D., my primary physician. Guess this is where the principle of “at the mouth of two or three witnesses, every fact may be confirmed,” can be applied. (Mat18:16 - I appreciate so much Nathan being with us. He took notes throughout our interviews with the doctors.)

In fact Betty and I came to Houston knowing that we may be there for a good while. At this point it seems everything was pointing to a stem-cell transplant. But as the doctor shared, we kept hearing ‘no NHL.’ (No cancer.) He went through all the tests. He explains each test. They can find no cancer in my body. The doctor will see us again in two months for evaluation.

By the way I want to mention that MD Anderson is far off the screen when it comes to Cancer research and treatment. They have procedures and testings that are still considered experimental and not yet available to other centers.

Well, what do you do with that sort of ‘good news’? Well you rejoice for one thing. Then you begin making calls. And that is what we did. I called my sister Bertie and asked her to let my other sisters know as well as others. Her church had me on their prayer list. Betty and Nathan helped spread the news with calls to several others.

Now for the spiritual side. When the word went out concerning the reoccuring of cancer, the prayers also went out. Churches of various denominations as well as nondenominational churches placed me on their prayer lists. A great many individuals assured me of their prayers. Evidently heaven was being saturated with prayer requests for Brother Buddy.

On the emotional side I began to understand what Paul meant when he said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.” (Phil1:21-24 nasb)

I guess Shana startled me when she told me to stop saying ‘It was a win-win situation.’ That she needed me in this life.

Others spoke into my life. Received a call from Will White. He said that I could not pass over before him, that I had to do his funeral.

And before we made our last trip to MD Anderson, Lori Spurgeon stopped me as we were leaving the church and said that she was not praying for God’s will to be done. She was praying for my healing. (These are just samplings of the things being spoken into my life.)

Did the Lord have anything to say about all this? This is where it gets even more interesting. It was August 2th when Dr. Halawani said ‘MD Anderson.’ Monday morning, August 6th, during my morning devotion, the Lord spoke to me from Isaiah 64:3,4. It was so real that I placed that date in my Bible next to those Scriptures.

What did He say to my heart? Concerning MD Anderson, the Lord said, ‘Expect the unexpected.’ You will find that recorded in an earlier journal entry entitled ‘Expect the unexpected.’ (Not to be confused with this entry entitled ‘Part 2.’)

Because of all the assurances from the Lord, I knew everything was going to be alright. However, at the time I did not know what ‘alright’ actually meant.

In fact I have this prayer recorded in my prayer journal for August 18th - “Father, I ask for a healing testimony for my body in regard to my present health, and I place all this in Your hands. Let your grace flow through my heart & through the hearts of all my family members. In Jesus name. Amen.”

On Monday, August 20th, the Lord spoke to me again from Isaiah 38:9-20, from the healing prayer of Hezekiah. This was also when the dove made her appearance over my head on the wire line. (She has appeared to me twice. The second time was the morning before our last trip to MD Anderson.)

Again the Father’s encouragement was so real that I wrote a prayer of thanksgiving in my journal - It reads, “Father, thank You for Your encouragement to me this morning from Isaiah 38:9-20, in the New Living Translation concerning Hezekiah’s poem of praise, and concerning my healing. I found this on the hill behind Christian Challenge by simply opening my Bible. It has to be Your hand to place this portion before me. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Then I added a PS behind this journal prayer - “Thank you for the dove on the highline that perched over my head.”

Some folk may think it odd to keep a prayer journal, but I don’t. Every prayer that I place in my journal is a prayer that I sense the witness of the Holy Spirit. I even number my prayers. In my latest journal the afore prayer is number 393.

I only share this to give a bit of insight into the spiritual side of my walk through NHL. My prayer journal is very private. In fact every prayer that I record, I consider it a contract between myself and heaven. After all did not Jesus say, “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matt7:8)

Then in another place He said, “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13)

The one thing that has been my request from the beginning is that the Lord be glorified in my journey with NHL. In fact when I found out what I was facing with regard to cancer, on November 6, 2006, I recorded this prayer: “Father, let my health issue be to Your glory. Out of all this let Your healing love be upon me with my testimony as a living witness to Your care over me and all Your people. Strengthen me O my God to Your kingdom work. In Jesus name. Amen.”

There is one more testimony that I want to add. My mother was diagnosed with leukemia in the mid 50s. She was sent home to die. Well the Lord had something to say about that. The small church my mom attended (Church of God Anderson) began praying for mama. Yep - You guessed it. Mom was healed. She passed on to be with the Lord on Easter Sunday, 2005. Mama was 85 years old.

By the way when I shared with one of the Anderson doctors concerning my mom’s testimony, he said that I would live to be at least 85 years old. (Course he was smiling all the while.)

There you have it. The Lord has strengthened me for kingdom work and for the glory of His name.

I only wish that I could thank everyone personally for their prayers and for all the love that has come my way. My sweet wife Betty has been at my side every step of the journey. She has always been my jewel from heaven.

My three children have stood with me in every way possible, with their love and their support. Andre and Judy keep CJ for me when we make our trips to Houston. All three of my kids came to Cabrini to be with me during my various chemo treatments.

All the members of Christian Challenge as well as so many of my extended family, sisters, cousins, and so many other friends, have kept me encouraged with their love and prayers and support. It would do no good to list names. The list would seem endless.

Well, enough for now. I’ll be sharing some of this at our Wednesday service this evening. Looks like I’m back in the saddle again for a regular Wednesday evening service.

Much love coming your way,

Buddy