Last Day of Treatment

This morning will finalize my radiation treatment. Yesterday I signed completion papers for this phase of radiation treatment protocol and yesterday took my last Temador chemo pill. There is huge sense of relief and new freedom. No more daily trips, Monday-Friday, to Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. The radiation team has been wonderful. My radiologist has been personable and very helpful. So where do we go from here?

On August 20 I will have another MRI to see what has happened to the tumor. On August 24, we will meet with the Jefferson Brain Clinic Team: Dr. David Andrews (neurosurgeon), Dr. Jon Glass (chemotherapist), and Dr. Maria Werner-Wasik (radiologist), and see what they recommend based on the MRI and where I am at that point. I anticipate continued challenging decisions.

This very intriguing journey continues. How will it turn out? What combination of ingredients will determine the outcome? Since I am a kind of math guy, here is the formula: God’s sovereign oversight + the instrument of people’s prayers + medical skills in a variety of forms + our stewardship and seeking God’s guidance in medical decisions = God’s desired outcome. The ruling factor is God’s oversight. He is the one who will determine how this journey progresses and what combination of actors He chooses to use to work out His outcome. If the last ten months has taught me anything it is to wait on Him and trust Him. That is hard to do for a guy who likes to plan ahead. Just when I think I have had enough, He has new lessons. I do not anticipate that will end.

(Romans 11:34-36) Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Check out my Pastor Blog for a letter that I am leaving with each of my radiation team.