Golfing This Summer

The good news is that the only thing that’s going to get buried this summer is my golf ball. Right in that nice little white cup. Many times. With much enthusiasm and joy!

Well, maybe we’ll bury that piece of my leg they removed too. Why not? It deserves a dignified disposal don’t you think? (What do they do with that stuff?) After all, it served me well for over 63 years. Got a little lumpy towards the end, but then which one of us wouldn’t after being walked on for that long?

Seriously though (must I be?), my appointment this morning with Dr. Bahl, the radiation oncologist at the BC Cancer Agency, produced some very encouraging news. The CAT scan (or CT scan if you’re boring) that I had last week revealed that there are indeed no cats in my body. That’s a relief.

It also showed that the cancer has not spread beyond the lymph nodes in my left groin area. There is no evidence of cancer anywhere else in my body. Truly this good report is an answer to the prayers of many people and real evidence of God’s grace and mercy to me. For these things I am very grateful.

So what’s left to do? The surgery scheduled for February 26^th will still proceed of course. At that time the surgeon, Dr. Granger, will make a beautiful 16 inch incision to remove all the lymph nodes in the groin area. Based on the CT scan results it’s unlikely that he will proceed further, as he had previously indicated might be a possibility, to remove the lymph nodes residing closer to the pelvic region. I’m glad for that, because I need to keep as many lymph nodes as possible to protect my blood from impurities. Recovery from this surgery may take some time—weeks probably. Mobility will be restricted. Golf will be on hold for some time. Brain may sleep, but won’t die. Back to normal.

Dr. Bahl also wants us to proceed with a PET scan, which is yet to be scheduled but will take place sometime in the next couple weeks before the surgery. The PET scan (designed to find things other than cats of course) will be done just to make sure, sort of thing. If there are cancer cells anywhere in my body they will light up, he says. The CT scan revealed a small cyst above the stomach area, which he is certain is just a harmless thing, but the PET scan will confirm that.

Oh, and one more update (or encouragement, depending on your point of view) for the benefit of those who are by now aware of my less than amorous relationship with cats (as pets, that is), here’s a comment from my friend Del: “I actually don’t mind cats. (If you cook them right. You know, Kitty-a-la King, Chicken Chow Meow…)” More things that leave you going "Hmmm."

This cat thing is getting me into trouble. My niece, a self-diagnosed ailurophile to the extreme, is now threatening to never again make me a pumpkin pie. I might have to stop being so prejudiced against cats. Or resort to buying pumpkin pie from a bakery. Will probably settle for the latter.

Got time for one last update about the wound on my leg? We’re seeing some good progress in healing there, underneath and beside the skin graft that wasn’t taking. The loose part is shrinking and to the untrained eye there appears to be a new layer forming all on its own. We’re leaning toward the decision to opt out of getting another skin graft and let it do its own healing. Wonderful!

Thanks to all who have been praying for me and encouraging me in so many ways. God is very good and has provided great peace in time of need.

Selah. Indeed.