An open letter to my True Companion, my Princess, and my Best Buddy –
On May 23, 2019, the path our family was on took an unexpected fork in the road.
We have found ourselves on a journey only some family’s have to face…a path less traveled that at times may seem unbearable.
While it may not be the path we chose for ourselves, it is our trail to blaze. And as the poet writes, it will make all the difference.
***
I awoke early this morning. I took a walk and reflected on the coming obstacle of surgery standing before us.
As I strolled in the unusually cool summer morning air, my love for each of you filled my thoughts as peaceful music filled my ears. One song, in particular, resonated with my introspective mood.
An old Christian hymn, How Firm a Foundation, filled me with hope and confidence that we will overcome not just this present hurdle, but this health challenge facing our family.
Verse 3 of the song struck an emotional chord, no pun intended, with me:
“Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.”
I fear not and know that I am strengthened and helped from you and our friends and family. I know I will stand (literally and figuratively) after this surgery.
While on this less traveled path, I have seen Heavenly Father’s hand bless our lives in so many ways.
Shortly after the cancer diagnosis, the oncologists feared the worse in that the cancerous cells in my stomach had already start to spread throughout my body. Later we learned, to the doctor’s surprise, all the cancer was confined to just the stomach tumor.
I know the many prayers and fasts on our behalf kept the tumor in check. Blessing received!
However, I still needed to undergo chemotherapy. At the outset of treatment, I was given a priesthood blessing that my body would endure the rigors of chemo and that I would be made whole.
I made it through the first phase of chemo relatively well…to the point that the surgical oncologist moved up my surgery from late September to now because he was so pleased with how I was progressing. Another blessing manifest!
Not only did the priesthood blessing and countless prayers on our behalf help me through chemo, but taking the sacrament each week renewed my spirit and commitment to our Heavenly Father.
Each time I took the blessed bread and water, I could not help but reflect that the doctor’s were pumping poison throughout my veins and tissue to destroy the sickness and – as a side effect – my body.
Yet, as I took the holy sacrament, I felt it restore my spirit and hope. I knew the poison running through my body would kill the cancer, but it was not going to take me along with it. It was a weekly reminder that I am not alone in this fight and that I have more to do on this Earth. Blessing number three!
Now, on the eve of surgery, I was graced again with additional priesthood blessings that will see me cured of this cancer and that the surgeons and staff will be guided in their work. Blessing in waiting…
***
We will continue to create a new trail together on this path we now tread. I look forward to this adventure placed before us. Where it will take us, I do not know.
What I do know is that we will do it together, as an eternal family, united in purpose and devotion to each other.
I love you all more than words can describe. You are my everything. I fear not as I go into surgery. We have the Lord’s promise that He will help and strengthen us; we will stand and dance and play and love and move forward!
With all my heart,
Your loving husband and Daddy
Twentythree/5 