The Fifth Trial- The First Week, Monday June 25^th

Well after a month of going back and forth to my doc for an answer to my persistent coughing, I followed Tammy’s (my girlfriend) advice and went to Kaiser ER for a chest x-ray. Doc comes in and says that they found a shadow or what could be an enlarged heart. I knew right then and there that my life was going to change. I called Tammy and she was there immediately.

The next two days consisted of Tammy and I receiving one bad report after another. Monday and Tuesday were the worst days of my life; I’m glad I was not alone! Tuesday night I had the needle biopsy and Thursday was the bone marrow biopsy. I was not “Living and Thriving” like Kaiser had promised.

While sitting with my BF (Troy) on Friday night we received the official diagnosis, Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Diffused Large Cell B. Stupid name! I HAVE CANCER and a tumor sitting on my lungs and irritating my heart. The irritation has caused significant fluid around my heart.

Sunday 3PM I started chemo round 1 of 6 (every three weeks). Not fun! 11 hours of pumping poison into my body. As the poison entered my body my girls prayed for the drug to do its job.  

On Monday, July 2, I was released from Kaiser after a week in the hospital and very thankful to be home!

Lesson- God never left my side. I felt his power every step of the way. He spoke to me about the good that will result from Trial #5. How it will mold and shape me, build my faith, make me a better man, a better pastor and a better father. I learned that Tammy knows what love is. I am at a loss for words when I think about her strength.

Stay tuned