The Journey Continues: An Update and How Cancer has Changed My Husband

I haven't posted an update in a while and several people have asked me for an update.  Richard is doing well.  He did have an endoscope last month and will have another follow up one.  They found that he had swelling and ulcers on his esophagus.  They had no idea why he was not in pain.  They did start him on treatment and he is supposed (emphasis on the supposed) to be eating blander food. His counts have been good and his appointment with his cancer doctors are every two months.   His immunoglobins still run low  and about every three months he gets hooked up for an infusion.  He acts like he feels better and has been cooking like crazy.  I am trying to ignore the cookies, coconut and banana cream pies that keep calling my name.  I have had my limit of pie for the rest of the year in the last two days!

There have been many changes since Richard's cancer diagnosis and I am going to tell you about one of them today.  Before cancer sometimes my husband was just a tad impatient with me when I would get sick.  He would be good for maybe the first day or two but after that I could tell by his tone of voice or his body language that it was time for me to get well.  The way that he would do dishes or sweep the floor was far louder than any word he might have spoken.  Don't misunderstand me, I am not saying that he was mean to me but impatient.

This is how something that is bad can become a blessing.  The way cancer has changed my husband has had many good side effects.  I am not saying that he doesn't get impatient, mad or frustrated but there is a change.  I have not really been sick since November 2012.  I have had two virus' that did not last long.   I did not have to see a doctor and I didn't miss work but they just made feel yucky for a few days.  The second time that I didn't feel well is when I saw something that cancer had changed in him.  He was very concerned and kept asking me how he could help me.

On the second or third day of feeling yucky this is what he said to me when I came into the living room after getting dressed for the day.  He said that he had prayed for God to give my affliction to him.  What an amazing change that God has brought forth in my husband's life through this journey with cancer.

God can change you too!  God can help you with your afflictions!  Just give Him your heart and see what can happen!

John 3:16-17New International Version (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.