Promise of Relief
Well it wasn’t good news but it wasn’t necessarily bad news today. My oncology team noticed a “spot of concern” on my latest MRI. My main oncologist wasn’t there to look at it so once he sees it we’ll have total confirmation regarding that “spot”. I did have my surgeon look at it and he was concerned as well but didn’t want to jump to conclusions until he sees the next one which will be 4 weeks from now. What this means is that it’s possible that the tumor may be growing back which is actually quite common. This is obviously not what I wanted to hear only a year out of surgery and still in the midst of treatment. I don’t want to get too ahead of myself here and so I’ll just now ask for prayers that whatever we have here be gone or not of “concern” at the next MRI.
It’s interesting because I haven’t been feeling my best lately and found myself being more nervous than usual leading up to today’s MRI. I’m trying to spin today’s information into a way that makes me stay hopeful and in the end I realized that the anxiety I’m feeling stems from always hoping and longing for the “promise of relief”. Meaning, if I can just get that confirmation that everything is going to be alright, then I can keep going forward with the same attitude. The reality is that way of thinking isn’t fair to myself or Amy. Relief will never come in the way we want it to. In other words I won’t ever have Dennis Eckersley warming up in the bullpen to relieve us of that anxiety. The uncertainty will always be there and that’s why hope and faith are one in the same. My story this past year has been built on that foundation and we’ve seen some amazing things happen, so I believe that this is one more piece to help raise the stakes to make this story even more amazing. I need some intercessors though and so I ask you to pray everyday until September 12 so that we can get some good news that will at least give us the feeling of “relief”.
Dennis Eckersley, the greatest “relief” pitcher ever.
Much Love,
A
Dear Alex; Wasn’t it Shakespeare who said: “Out, damned spot!”? I will be praying every day for the ‘spot’ to be gone. Blessings, Anne
Stay positive! I got the crew in MRI and my family praying for you. Oh I agree about Dennis Eckersley especially in the 89″ World Series against the Dodgers.
alex, you remain in my prayers and i’ll say some extra ones too! this disease is like a rollercoaster that you can’t get off of . don’t be discouraged and keep your positive attitude!!!! hope, hope , HOPE!!!!!!!
You are both in our prayers daily, but please know how much we love you and want to be there for you.
Right there with you, Alex. I know it is so hard to do, but I am praying that you can stay in the moment and not go to that dark place of worry and anxiety. Love to you and Amy.
Oh Alex, I’m so sorry your scan wasn’t “clean,” but I’m praying for you that everything turns out OK. I’m definitely rooting for you! You’re doing so many amazing things for the brain cancer community! So glad we can count you and Amy as friends!
I am interceding on your behalf – “raising the stakes to make the story more amazing” How can that kind of faith be denied? Peace be with you and yours!!
From a stranger who knows a thing or two about recurrences: nothing good comes from chaos. Breathe and be, my friend. That’s the only thing we can do, breathe and be. I think I learned that one from one of your posts.
Alex,,,
Thoughts & Prayers continue to surround you in this journey. It’s hard to deny the unbalance effect you are having from the result of today’s MRI.
One test result is never 100% conclusive.
You have shown us this year how balanced you have been thus far . This is a little bump in the road that will pass.
Continue your steadfast Love for the Lord that he will make his face shine upon you and guide you to comfort & balance !!!
Love ya Buddy :-))
Woah A-mo- just got a text from Amy that had this info, which led me to read your blog. I have been amazed by your journey and how God has brought you through Stronger than ever- although you prob didn’t physically feel that way alot of the time— but believe you me brotha… i have seen it in your Soul! & i know that God is smiling on your Faithfulness!!! Keep Hoping, you are covered in prayers- and i may even let you “snot” on me again, if that’s what it takes. ha ha! Love you! star*
Alex,
You are in our prayers…praying for feeling of relief!
Love from Lance and Kari Schinkal
Oh Alex…that damn “area of concern” is hopefully nothing. Maybe a bit of necrosis, but from what I see, it has not affected you in any way. Regardless, you are ALWAYS in my prayers. You have been since the day I found/met you here in cyberspace. You are in my prayers, always. Hang in there. Do not let this discourage you. Rock on and rock the cure my friend. ❤
Alex,
I am sooooo sorry to read this news…..As always, know that you are in my thoughts and prayers, daily. I sent an email out to my church family at Overlake Christian Church, so not only do you have the ’30 Somethings’ Life Group praying & pulling for you, but I let our Pastoral & Church Leadership Team and the Praise & Worship team know as well. I also added you to the prayer request list with my friends at Rain City Church as well…..
I know for me, when I first got my diagnosis, the more prayers I had coming my way when I was going through all this cancer stuff, the better I felt in my heart, soul and mind, cause I honestly feel that there is no such thing as to many people praying for you!!
You are such an inspiration to me and sooooooo may others, and I KNOW that your work here is nowhere NEAR finished!! Your light, insight, thoughts and stories help me to get through my tough days because, while we haven’t actually talked to or seen each other in years, I feel like you are right there beside me fighting this fight against the many variations of this disease!!
I feel so blessed to call you a friend, and I hope that you know that I am always here for you, one cancer fighter to another, if you ever want or need to vent or just talk.
Know that God has BIG plans for us, and that He is there with and for us as we battle cancer!
Hugs to you my friend!! Know that I am always thinking of you and praying that we both push through this and end up on the other side of it sooner rather than later!! I truely believe that we both have so much life left to live, and that eventually we will be living that life cancer free!!
Fighting this fight beside you in Christ,
Kjrstinleigh
Alex, I have appreciated so much your eloquence and openness in sharing each step of this difficult and inspiring journey with others. You are surrounded with an abundance of love and prayers, including mine on a daily basis. I really like the “BREATHE” comment, because, after all, that is what each of us can be thankful for each day.
You continue to be hero and inspiration to so many