Personal Testimony

Revelation 12;11a, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony..." (NKJV)

One year ago today I was sitting in a waiting room in Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee awaiting results from surgery that was taking place on my wife's right lung. Three Doctors (two of which were Oncologists) and two Radiologists had diagnosed Ann with what was described to us as "non-smokers" lung cancer. The first Oncologist that we visited was so definite about her prognosis that she was prepared to start radiation and chemotherapy immediately. Our friend scheduled an appointment with her Oncologist for a second opinion. He also agreed that she had cancer but felt that we should visit a group of Doctors who specialized in the treatment of this unique and life-challenging cancer. This is the short version of our journey which led us to her surgery in Nashville.

It is different when it is you and your family walking down a road of concern with many unanswered questions. I had walked these types of roads with many families through the years but now we were the ones waiting on an answer from the operating room. But I need to add that we could feel and sense the prayers of the family of God that were being prayed on Ann's behalf. Our personal family was praying. Our local church family was praying. The office staff where my wife was employed were praying. Our friends were praying. The extended family of God was praying and people who did not even have a personal relationship with us or our family were praying. LET ME MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR TODAY; THERE IS POWER IN PRAYER!!!

I could write many words which could describe our thoughts, prayers, concerns and even some anxiety that we faced during the Summer months of 2014. The Doctor's plan included the removal of several lymph nodes that looked very suspicious and cancer laden. He would also remove the places on her right lung so that they could identify the type of cancer and how to treat that specific strain of cancer. The removal of the tumors in the lung would take place after the lymph nodes were removed. The Surgeon who was a lung transplant specialist said that he would call me with the initial results of the biopsy of the lymph nodes and that would determine how aggressive he would be in the removal of the places on the lung. Surrounded by some dear friends we set waiting on that first call to come from the Surgeon. The surgery was delayed for a short period of time and this delay only added to our anxiousness.

Finally, the first call came in and the initial biopsy of the lymph nodes DID NOT show any cancer cells. The Surgeon then proceeded to remove the two places on her lung. They were the size of two golf balls. The initial biopsy of these two golf ball sized growths DID NOT show any cancer cells. These initial results were confirmed in our follow up visit to the Surgeon's office in two weeks. We believe that God provided a miracle for Ann on that day. I do not know if she had cancer and the power of prayer removed it from her body. I do not know if she never had cancer and the prognosis of the Doctors was incorrect. I do not know if there was a combination of both of these possibilities. BUT WE DO KNOW THAT ANN DID NOT HAVE "NON-SMOKERS" LUNG CANCER THE DAY HER SURGERY WAS PERFORMED IN VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL!!!

This post is not about debating what did or did not happen in her body from the time of the diagnosis until the final lab report was prepared. This post is about honoring and praising God for His amazing love and concern. This post is about testifying of the power of God to heal regardless of the situation. This post is about declaring that God is the ultimate HEALER of our bodies. This post is declaring; "THANK YOU JESUS FOR TOUCHING ANN AND PROVIDING THE HEALING AND STRENGTH THAT SHE NEEDED THAT DAY!!!"

All Praise is due the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Healer!!!!!!!