IT'S GOOD TO BE SEEN

Well, it's good to be weaning myself back into everyday life. Getting out and about, on my own has really been a treat. As I make my tracks back to the usual establishments that I frequent, I keep running into people I know and haven't seen for some time. Their usual response is how are you doing? and it's good to see you. My usual response is, I'm doing good and it's good to be seen. I really mean both statements. I am doing good. My mouth and throat are continuing to heal and my strength is coming back little by little. The mucous problem is history now and if I were to put a percentage on it, my saliva is probably at about 50% right now, good enough to eat almost anything except hot spicy. The only problem I have right now is putting on weight if that is really a problem. I just need to get my muscle loss back and I know that will just take time. In case you're wondering, I eat like a pig. That is, I eat everything I can, as much as I can, whenever I can. I know it sounds weird, but I eat 6 meals a day and I'm still not gaining weight, but I am holding a pretty steady weight. The radiation is still in my system and probably some chemo too and we feel that when my system is clear of that junk things will start normalizing again. Oh yeah, one little thing, Mr. G-tube is now history, gone, no more. HOORAY!!!! The cool thing is, where the tube once was, now sports a little round scar. It looks like I was shot with a 22 cal. bullet. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
When someone says it's good to see you, you have no idea how good that makes me feel. I am truly blessed to be seen.

I had my appointment with the radiation doc on Mon. He was surprised that I could eat so well. Well, with all the prayer I have received for this, it really is no surprise, is it? He said the next step will be the pet-scan in about 2 weeks. That will show if there is any cancer still hanging out in my body, and of course, there isn't.

That's the area where the enemy likes to play games in my head, you know, the doubts of whether or not the treatment was effective and is God really listening to all this prayer people are sending up to Him. Then I'm reminded of the story in the book of Mark. "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."
"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. I find myself asking the Lord many times each day to help me overcome my unbelief, because I do believe.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Love.

Old Jer