Things That Really Matter

           Wednesday night is graduation night here at the Hope Lodge.  Anyone who has completed or will shortly complete their treatments is recognized and given an opportunity to share thoughts and express appreciation.  Last evening six individuals were recognized.   Everyone pitched in preparing dinner. 

Preparing dinner

Some of the grads

It’s interesting to watch the behaviors of different people as they prepare to leave the lodge. 

            The lodge is a home away from home.  It’s place of rest and solitude and lots of good conversation.  It’s a place to share what’s on your mind about what you’re going through. And, it becomes a very difficult place to leave!  Sure, we all want to get back home and to our normal lives.  But, we’ve been touched by the people and this place and our lives will never be same again.           

 It can be hard to leave this place.  Sure, we all want to get back to our normal lives, our routine, but we've been plugged in here for whatever period of time and the experience has an impact on our lives which will remain with us forever.

One of the fellows who left today is Joe and he's quite a guy!  He and I will be talking sometime this coming Saturday, probably at halftime of the LSU/Georgia game.  As you can see from his picture, he's quite a fan! 

From my standpoint, I received an amazing testimony to God’s grace during my visit with Dr. Higgins today.  She said I’m responding to treatments excellently and the best of all of her patients at this time.  She says I’m doing great!!  As I’m now 2/3 of the way through this, I am blessed beyond measure!

            Now, another story about fellow residents here at the Hope Lodge.

           

(I have the Jack and Judith W’s permission to share their story for the readers of this blog.)

           

Jack and Judith W. live in Columbus, Georgia.  Sometime in 2011, Jack realized that he was having persistent pain in his nose.  Over the next two years he visited his doctor many times with virtually no progress or resolution.  As time passed, Jack noted that the pain was also manifesting itself in his lips, teeth and the roof of his mouth.  So, in May 2013 he was referred to the otolaryngologists at Emory Midtown.

            Unwittingly, over the previous two years, Jack had been using a salve in his nostrils, a practice which contributed to the difficulty in reaching an accurate diagnosis.  For his visit to Emory, he did not and this brought on the subsequent chain of events. 

            During his first visit, his doctor examined his nose with a flexible camera. (I’ve had this done also and most times the room is equipped with a monitor so the patient can see what the doctor is seeing.  It’s pretty amazing!  During my first experience, I got very exciting and was talking about how interesting it was.  My doctor said, “Don’t talk, just breathe!”

            The doctor noted polyps and removed two for analysis.  As it turned out, the diagnosis was cancer.  So, in July 2013, the surgeries began.  A good portion of Jack’s nose was removed, as were five teeth, his upper lip and a portion of his palette.  Judith’s eyes tear up as she thinks and comments about these events.

            But, to see Jack today you would never know what has been accomplished in the past couple of months.  The skills of his doctors are utterly amazing.  They have taken skin from his forehead, scalp and neck to re-build his nose and upper lip.  If you met Jack on the street today you would not know.  It takes very close examination to realize the work that’s been accomplished. 

            As a result of the loss of part of his palette, Jack was unable to speak (many may not realize how important the roof of the mouth, the palette is in speaking).  He was seen by a dental specialist, who, in one visit, created a prosthetic device to replace the teeth and palette.  Jack left the office that day speaking.

            Jack and Judith have now been here at the Hope Lodge since Sept 2^nd.  He is undergoing radiation treatments.  It’s a blessing to have Jack and Judith here at the lodge.  Jack has facilitated a Bible Study the past two Thursday evenings. 

             They remain upbeat, encouraged and strong in their faith.  In our conversation this evening, we all agreed that cancer is serious business.  When the diagnosis is cancer, a lot of the rest of our life activities gets put on hold.  The cancer regimen has its own pace which can get quite hectic at times.  But, as I’ve said before, it causes us to think about what’s really important.