Friday, May 02, 2008

Joe & my pity party

Most of you who have followed my story from the beginning know about my friend Joe whom I met down at Siteman. If not see blog post December 29, 2006 "Joe" also check out January 10 and 11.

Anyway we have kept in contact with each other. We spoke to each other at Christmas and he left a message while we were in Florida. I returned his call this past Monday finding out he was going to have a CAT scan on Tuesday. He has had some back pain that felt like "pleurisy". The doctor felt it necessary to have it checked out. Since our time together at Siteman, Joe had a second cancer come to his other ear (L) . It was a different cancer than the right side. He called today at noon to inform me of Tuesdays CAT results. A spot was found on his lung. He is to see a lung doctor next Tuesday , May 6 at 8 am. I tried to be strong for him on the phone yet failed. I cried. I could tell he was trying to be strong as well. He is my friend. I feel so bad for him.

Even with his news he was able to tell me the good parts of his day. First being the sale of his home and driving to the bank to deposit the check. (Big deal as you remember driving was not going to happen post surgery at one point) The third good part of his day was that he getting together with his friends at the local Hardees. We have talked about this often- Funny stories. Lastly was that his nephews were coming for a visit/ meal. He even took the time to ask how I was doing. I told him about the chemo increase.

Here I was having a pity party about my chemo increasing today when he called. Life has been put into perspective. I need to be thankful and look for the blessings for what God has and has not allowed me to go through. Does that make sense? I am not trying to dimish Joe's pain. Here he called to give me the news and also his thankfulness of his day. Whew!

I found comfort in the following scripture today.

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 32:7


Please pray for me to trust God's ways and also for Joe's new journey.
kate


Also a good quote:
Don't put tomorrows clouds on todays sunshine.

5 comments:

OKGardners said...

It is VERY understandable for you to have pity parties. You should be able to express those type feelings with us so we can pray for you more. I'll remember your friend, Joe, too.

Love to you AND Joe,
Betty in Oklahoma

Anonymous said...

Thanks for updatng us as to specifics about which we can pray. Prayer from all of us bloggers are not void and are into God's heart immediately. He answers all of them in his own way. May you and your family, as well as Joe and his family feel renewed strength in soul and body as we wait upon god's answer to our prayers.

JohnnyB said...

Kate,
Rejoice in all things, and again I say rejoice. As true as this is, remember that your fears and feelings are just a real as anything. Trust God in these things, but remember, God is concerned with everything that we struggle with - no matter how big or how small they may be. Those things are real to us, and thankfully, they are real to Him too.
John B.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for updating us on Joe. I'm thankful you share your heart with us and are real....we all have pity parties at some time or another. This is very heavy stuff. God is bigger than it all, but for us, it's heavy.

How are you doing with the increase in your chemo. dosage?

And finally, Praise Him for 12 years!!!!!!

Lifting you up,
Sue Stark :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the comments about Uncle Joe. He is always upbeat and encouraging. He is a very strong person who treasures you as his friend.