Till We Are Home

Goodbyes, in general, can be really hard. But some goodbyes just are not. This week was full of doctor’s appointments. It feels weird to be at an age when those start to become more regular. I cannot say that I particularly like this new season, but oh well. However, two of those doctor appointments this week were cancer follow-up appointments for my wife.

First was the appointment to see her ENT. Since her diagnosis of tongue cancer two years ago, at least every three months since her surgery she saw this doctor at follow-up appointments. Thankfully, by God’s grace, the scope this week continued to show no concerns and they were pleased with her progress. But, we’ll keep going to those appointments for the foreseeable future…this was not the goodbye.

Her second appointment was with her radiation oncologist just yesterday. When my sweet bride endured cancer for the first time, she underwent rounds of radiation after a course of chemotherapy that, though not pleasant, were not that bad. However, this time around, radiation was more intense and focused on the area of her neck and mouth where the cancer occurred…and it was very hard on my dear bride. 

Radiation caused a lot of tiredness in general and burning on her skin. It was a long process and bout each and every day. Since that treatment regimen ended about a year and a half ago, the Lord kindly healed her and today she is doing great overall. We continued to have follow-up appointments with the radiation oncologist as well about every three to six months, with her latest appointment yesterday.

The doctor came in, reviewed her health, chart, and decided that it was no longer necessary for her to see him. She should continue to follow with the ENT doctors, but she did not need to follow up with him anymore. 

When an oncologist says you no longer need to see him…that’s a good day.

What joy overcame my sweet bride and me! We left the oncology office, very mindful of our facial expressions and mannerisms for so many in there are not receiving the same news – we know, we’ve been there. But once we got into the car, we hugged, cried, and praised God for such wonderful news and progress. Though we think highly of the staff at that facility, it was a sweet goodbye, one without a hint of bitterness.

I’m so proud of my darling bride. Her first bout of cancer years ago was around the time when the first Captain America movie came out. In the movie, Steve Rogers would get knocked down but kept getting up. This was my bride back in those days. No matter how much chemo knocked her down, she kept getting back up to fight for us. This second fight with cancer she did the same. Knocked down by surgery and radiation, she’d get right back up and fight for us again. 

So, she’s my Cap.

And, I’m so proud of her. And, so thankful to the Lord that He’s spared my wife that I may continue to live these days with her. 

It doesn’t always end this way for everyone. We know. We understand. But, when God gives you the grace of his gifts and the mercy of His sparing, we should turn and praise. And, even when He doesn’t, when His providence is hard, we should still turn and worship.

Today, I get to praise Him for getting my bride this far, and for saying goodbye to her oncologist. What a joy and blessing to do so. But, whatever the day may bring, in joyful goodbyes to oncologists, or tearful goodbyes at the grave, the Lord is good and His ways are perfect. We will continue to praise and worship our amazing God…

Till we are home… (and even when we’re home)