An Extremely Significant Day!

September 30, 2004 was a very difficult, life-giving day for our family.

In April that year, my husband was diagnosed with an adenocarcinoma of the lacrimal gland, a tiny tumor in an equally tiny gland that created incredible havoc. We lived in Miami at the time and although there were many excellent surgeons and oncologists in the area, and we visited four of them, no one seemed willing to take action. I was so frustrated. Everytime we saw a doctor it was for tests or more exploratory surgery. A moment came in June when my husband and I finally realized that no one knew what to do. We called a friend, a former family physician, who recommended that we self-refer to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, a part of the University of Texas Medical Center. God ordained that conversation with our friend because it changed our lives immediately.

T began the lengthy process of obtaining copies of all his tests and records and by mid-July, had faxed everything to MDA. Within days we had a response. We were to be there by the first of August for a week. There we had an amazing encounter with Dr. Bita Esmaeli, a teeny-tiny, incredibly brilliant, Iranian, oncologic-oculoplastic surgeon. She was the first doctor we met who had treated patients with T's cancer. She had seen three before him. She ordered a number of tests and after a few days met with us again. She had one recommendation that she believed could save his life, not just treat him while he lived with this disease but cure him of it. She was wonderful! She exuded confidence and assurance. However, the one course of treatment would mean that T would have radical, disfiguring surgery. He would lose his right eye, eyelid, and all surrounding nerves and tissue. She hoped to save the bone structure that comprised the orbit. T was devastated. He wouldn't lose an internal organ or chunk of flesh that could be hidden under clothing, he would lose part of his face. It was not an easy decision for him but he chose life; he chose to have the operation.

Today, six years after that day-long surgery, I continue to bless Dr. Esmaeli and her team who used every bit of their knowledge and expertise to heal my husband. I thank God for His sustaining grace that allowed T to not only endure but to thrive as he inspired all around him with his dry wit, unfailing humor, and positive outlook.

T had only one fear, that his grandbabies would be afraid of him. They have been curious from time to time; sometimes they're worried that Grandpa might hurt but they have never pulled away or shown even a bit of fear. In fact, when Gracie and her family lived with us for a few months last year before moving to France, she became used to seeing Grandpa without his eye-patch or prosthesis. One afternoon he came in from work, took off his patch, and Gracie ran to his arms. He picked her up and she turned toward him, patted the right side of his face, and kissed his empty socket. It was a moment of incredible emotional healing for T.

So today I celebrate renewal of life. We treasure every moment we have with our children and grandchildren. We pour ourselves into our students, doing all we can to prepare rock-solid Christian leaders who will love others as Christ does. And we are thankful, not only each year at this time, but every day, every minute, for the possibility of living... together.