Thought I would note it in case I’m not the only one living in a bubble. Please join me in praying for him and his family during this time of struggle as they deal with it. Even though the cancer was caught early, it’s never easy dealing with surgery and recovery.
While you’re praying, don’t forget Jolly Blogger, David Wayne. He switched to John Hopkins hospital for his treatment in July, which should improve the care he’s getting since, according to him, Hopkins ranks third in cancer in the nation. It appears that he’ll be on and off chemo the rest of his life — the most he can hope for with treatment appears to be 5 years, but my brother-in-law was given 5 years and he’s on his way to 10! So, with God, all things are possible 
The good news is that he must be feeling well enough to blog since he has a number of posts up including this one with a great quote on suffering from Geerhardus Vos:
“What the Lord expects from us at such seasons is not to abandon ourselves to unreasoning sorrow, but trustingly to look sorrow in the face, to scan its features, to search for the help and hope, which, as surely as God is our Father, must be there. In such trials there can be no comfort for us so long as we stand outside weeping.
If only we will take the courage to fix our gaze deliberately upon the stern countenance of grief, and enter unafraid into the darkest recesses of our trouble, we shall find the terror gone, because the Lord has been there before us, and, coming out again, has left the place transfigured, making of it by the grace of his resurrection a house of life, the very gate of heaven.”
BTW, for those of you wondering where I am in my fight with cancer, I go back again in September to see my oncologist. My last CA 125 number was 8, so I am in remission. I have to see my surgeon before that but have been procrastinating making the appointment. I guess I just wanted more time off before I have to start the next round of doctor visits, MRIs, CAT Scans and colonoscopies (yech! I’m really procrastinating on that one).
I’m no longer bald, I look like I have a crew cut. You can see a recent picture of me on vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Twitter, my hair had just started to grow in again. I stopped wearing wigs after the chemo and it’s been quite an experience walking around bald and with a crew cut. Kids look at me like I’ve got a mental defect, they can’t understand why I’d do this to myself. I’m not sure they understand the whole cancer thing.
Adults stare and then when I notice them staring they look away. I’ve only been asked about it once. A woman came up to me in a bookstore and asked if I was a cancer survivor and I when I said yes, she hugged and kissed me. It freaked me out! I’m not used to being hugged by strangers, let alone kissed. This is NJ after all, we don’t even say, “hi” to each other. She told me her aunt was a cancer survivor and I was kind of touched when I heard that (though, still freaked about the kiss).
Update: Fixed for typo that the spellchecker didn’t catch. Calm down nameless commenters, it’s a minor issue at best.
posted August 22, 2009 at 2:18 pm
This is NJ after all, we don’t even say, “hi” to each other.
Oh, stop! You don’t know the Brooklyn-Italian transplants in Manalapan, honey.
The Vos quote is nice … has graceful expressions in it. I suppose Vos wrote in English. Whenever I read something nice the pope has written, I always give a word of thanks for his translator.
But even if Vos wrote this in English originally, I imagine the language has been made contemporary. You think?
Sorry people look at you. You’d expect people would know. Maybe it means that you look otherwise healthy.
posted August 22, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I think some people stare at folks they figure are on chemo (which is what I assume when I see a young, bald woman) to see who they are withstanding it. If a person seems otherwise strong and sturdy, it actually gives them hope that chemotherapy is something they could withstand, if necessary.
A lot of folks still recall the days before anti-nausea drugs when many people just withered under the onslaught of the chemo. Seeing people who seem otherwise healthy, is helpful to them.
So, be proud and don’t let the stares bug you. You may actually be encouraging someone!
posted August 22, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Now, Michelle, you’re a Reformed Christian. Don’t put off the colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is the clearest window to your spiritual life.
posted August 23, 2009 at 10:22 am
Who is Jeff Jarvis? I read that the guy who arranged for the destruction of Pan Am 103 has prostate cancer and was released from prison by the Scottish, but Jeff Jarvis I know not.
Nor have I kept track of Laura Ingraham and her cancer; she’s not on WNTP anymore.
But blessings on you, Michelle, and thanks for the quote from Geerhardus Vos!
posted August 23, 2009 at 10:39 pm
For Pete’s sake, learn to spell! It’s PROSTATE, not prostRate!
posted August 24, 2009 at 2:26 pm
“For Pete’s sake, learn to spell! It’s PROSTATE, not prostRate! ”
Ever heard of typos?
posted August 24, 2009 at 2:40 pm
“Now, Michelle, you’re a Reformed Christian. Don’t put off the colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is the clearest window to your spiritual life.”
And your comments are the clearest into yours.
posted August 24, 2009 at 2:43 pm
“You may actually be encouraging someone!”
That’s what I was hoping would happen. I hoped that people would ask me about it, not just stare. I want to encourage people that you can get through it, it’s not always a death sentence. It’s hard but you can get through it with the strength the Lord provides.
posted August 24, 2009 at 2:45 pm
“You don’t know the Brooklyn-Italian transplants in Manalapan, honey.”
Evidently, not because I’ve been all over this state and I haven’t seen much in the way of friendly. No like you get in the south, though, I have to say that the Outer Banks appears to be the exception.