Blessed. First, I am blessed with two wonderful daughters; each highly accomplished in her field (credit their mom!). But today October 1, marks a milestone; forty years ago today, Ovarian Cancer was discovered in, and removed from Melanie, our first daughter; she was 16; a “mixed germ cell tumor” weighing nearly half her birth weight. Dramatic surgery, once-a-month-in-the hospital, week-long, infusions of powerful triple-drug chemotherapy, and at last—cancer-free. Back in those days the survival rate for Ovarian Cancer was 10% or less. Gratitude is much too weak a word to use, but the feeling goes to the core.
Three in our immediate family survived cancer; each from a different kind. Which leads me, not only to feel blessed, but also a deeper appreciation for the science of medicine; as well as the care of medical professionals at every level—staff, Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs, who do much of the really unpleasant work), nurses, doctors, to those who labor long lonely hours in labs doing medical research . More than two decades ago, after Paige had Breast Cancer, she asked her doctor if she should accept the invitation to join a clinical trial? He said, “It is your choice. But if clinical trials had not been done, Melanie would not be with us today.” Paige entered the clinical trial.
Today many folks sneer at medical research, dismissing advice of medical authorities, only to turn to Internet hearsay. I Have first-hand knowledge of medical personnel toiling over people who ignored sound medical advice for their care; spurned lifesaving opportunity—leading to severe, often fatal results. Not to mention the emotional toll on the medical staff who served relentlessly, only to see the patient die.
We all are blessed far beyond our comprehension; committed, caring, people roll out of bed each day; their goal, to discover, develop, and use their learned lifesaving medical practices. Their efforts result in healing, rehabilitation devices, and health facilities for humanity. I thank God for every effort and everyone in the journey.
There are those who say “I don’t need medicines or doctors—God will heal me.” I too, believe God heals. Most of the time God heals through the knowledge, physical efforts, and commitment of human beings. Do those people mean, for example, that if their vehicle plunges over a cliff, and they survive that…”God surely did save my life!” Do they believe the physical hand of God reached out and lifted the vehicle to safety? Mostly the hand of God was in the development, and implementation of safety measures (which I believe God inspired into existence through human knowledge); and —-saved through medical procedures and personnel.
Jesus tried to teach this to his disciples; God works mainly through human beings. While Jesus was working wonders on earth, to the astonishment of everyone, he tried to point this out to his followers. Jesus said, in effect, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” (RWV the Revised Willis Version.) God is with you and the best is yet to come. And we are, as Jesus said we would, doing even greater things than he did—think medical research, hospitals, healthcare facilities, laboratories, rehabilitation resources. Jesus healed relatively few; today his healing work multiplies through human beings!
The old song, “Count Your Many Blessings, Name Them One-by-One,” speaks volumes; In our family’s experience, with no way to name them all, I count outsize blessings; Support by family, friends, church, neighbors, and strangers from afar, showing caring and hope. Cards, letters, visits, food, and filling in as needed; the medical folk from research to nursing, doctors, all; bore us up “on Eagles’ Wings.” I cannot forget another huge blessing; Paige had enough personal and sick-leave days that she could be in the hospital, at home, wherever, for Melanie. She had saved them up, having taught school for nearly 20 years.
So, yes! We—and you, —all are blessed—take a sober look around. Take it all in. You too, will count your many blessings—naming them, one by one!. Maybe you too will, as does our family, believe in “Prayer and Medication,” and feel blessed. We take it all quite seriously.
Sweet!
Thanks Toni!
I remember Paige sharing the story of Melanie’s battle with ovarian cancer at such a young age — I think it was at a Circle meeting soon after the two of you had joined Embry Hills UMC. I had never heard of a teenager having ovarian cancer, and to know Melanie was then 40-something was inspiring. Now it has been 40 years! A blessing indeed.
Thank you, Dottie. Yep! Melanie is in the medical records. I’m sure the way the Jesup folks supported us in that time is a bog reason both our girls (not really having had a “Hometown.”) think of Jesup as their hometown. It got the attention of the whole community.