My wife went back to work today.
On May 11th of this year, my wife went to our family doctor fighting a bad sinus infection. In the course of her visit, John took XRays which revealed a mass in her right lung. Three days later we recieved the diagnosis of inoperable lung cancer in her right lung.
The world began spinning beneath our feet.
Surgery was not possible due to the location, beneath her esophagus and trachea and atop her aorta, too crowded for the best surgeons to think of diggging around, even in a doctor-rich environment of Nashville, with Vanderbilt, HCA, etc.
After several weeks we reported to Tennessee Oncology, a partner of the Sarah Cannon Cancer Foundation, set up by the country comedienne Minnie Pearl before her passing. Over the following months, her team of her doctor, nurse practicioner, research and case nurses, along with the radiologists who oversaw her radiation therapy saved my wife's life.
The day before Thanksgiving, we learned she was cancer free, by the grace of God Almighty. I don't believe in luck and believe all good things only come from God, and am just 'God-smacked' that he will let me keep her.
Cancer is a whole 'nother world I was blissfully unaware of. The chemo, the radiation, the other patients, I never knew . . . .
Our lives together can continue, and after 22 years of marriage, this is the greatest gift I could have ever hoped for, and it is just sublime to be in my very own 'happy ending'.
I've said that to say this:
Value and cherish your life and the lives of those you love dearly. None of us is guaranteed tomorrow. All things are just material, and there's always something else you can buy.
Amazingly I can only now pick up my bass again. All through my life, no matter how grim things were, my music was always an escape. After May 11th, my Spoiler felt like a fence post in my hands and my inspiration utterly left me. Only now do my hands recognize my old friend as a familiar face.
Take good care of you and yours, and my very best to all of you.
J o e y
