Tuesday, April 3
“I give you thanks O God, with my whole heart….On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.”
2008 was the season of healing for me because I had kidney stones, my Dad passed from Alzheimer’s, kidney cancer had come and gone and to top that off my dog Jack passed away. Here is my story about healing.
I was visiting my parents in Floria to see them at the nursing home. The night before I was going to leave I started getting extreme pain in my stomach. I went to the E.R. and after waiting two hours I got a CT scan to find out what was going on. Because I was alone, they would not give me any strong pain meds. They said I had to wait till morning for a Doctor in California to read the CT scan. After getting mad and frustrated I left in pain.
The next morning I went back to the hospital to get the CT scan on a CD. On my way to the airport to catch a plane back to Boston. I got a call from the hospital telling me that I had kidney stones and a tumor on my left kidney. I pulled over and began to cry in fear and pity for myself. I remember praying to God for help and thinking why me?
Back at home the pain from the kidney stones was the most painful experience I have ever been through. The praying I did for help and relief was all I could do. The stone passed and after many doctor visits I found a surgeon at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital that was an expert in kidney cancer. We scheduled to have the tumor removed in Oct. of 08. I can say major surgery feels like a Mack truck has run you over. With all that was happening to me and my Dad and my dog Jack passing, I have to admit that it was hard to keep a positive attitude. The prayers, cards and visits from the people of Edwards Church meant the world to me. This helped me get through the biggest challenge of my life.
The recovery and healing process from the cancer surgery took me 6 weeks. Thank God there was no chemotherapy. During this time I give thanks to my family, friends and especially my wife Terry for being there for me. I give thanks to my sister Judy for being there those weeks after the surgery to help take care of us. Reverend Debbie and the Church gave me a prayer shawl that touched my heart and lifted my spirits. Now when I count my blessings, I give thanks to God for bringing on the kidney stones. Without that the good doctors would have never found the cancer. Who knows how things would have turned out. I’m cancer free for three years now. ~Praise God, Ric [Carl]
We praise you, O God, for prayers and cards and visits, for prayers shawls and strength and patience. Amen.