Miraculous Year of Recovery

Since April 14th when I stopped the radiation and chemo treatments, I have progressed rapidly in my rehabilitation, and for the next seven months, I regained my strength, energy, balance and coordination to the point of where I could once again fish my 40 foot stern trawler, Petrel, single handed. The last MRI and full body PT scan in November showed that I was free from any lingering cancer cells.

A great deal has occurred in those months, and I would like to summarize the treatments, procedures and assistance that was instrumental in both my healing and my rapid recovery, for the year has gone by rapidly.

First, I would like to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for the strength, healing and guidance during the physical and chemo therapy, for He has made me stronger spiritually as well as physically. I was guided to the doctors who could treat my condition and the physical therapists who provided the therapy and exercises that helped me restore the strength and coordination on my left side. This past week, I have gone on four 2.5 to 3.5 kilometer runs and have felt good after each. It was the first time running since January 7th of this year. I keep up with my exercise program every day and have been blessed with good health.

Second, I want to thank my wife Lynda who was my logistic support, soul mate and even ship mate as I went to over eighty appointments for medical consults and treatment as well as physical therapy during those months. She made several trips with me to and from Greenport, NY where the new gallus frame, net reel , trawl door racks, railings and winches were installed. Like a true companion, she stuck by me throughout this whole period and gave me encouragement as well as kept me in line so that my fishing operations and travels were conducted safely and productively. I was so happy to give her the news on November 17th, that I was free of cancer, for it brought great relief and joy to us both! Of course, I will have to continue the monitoring of my condition for the next thirteen months with bimonthly MRIs starting in January.

Third, I want to thank my family for their prayers and support over this entire period of rehabilitation. I feel that all of our prayers have been answered and our faith in the Lord has increased as they observed consistent improvement over these months and particularly while we all gathered together for a family reunion the third weekend of August. I particularly appreciate having a family counsel with Lynda, my children, and there spouses for it gave me a true perspective of their concerns about my fishing after Zack had to return to Utah with his family. I didn't want them to worry about me out on the water by myself and for the remainder of the season, I had a shipmate with me. I especially want to thank my son Zack who helped me rebuild the Petrel's after deck and prepare its hull for launching on June 2nd. This was two months behind schedule, but we were doing it even while I was still undergoing monthly chemo treatments. Zack and I started fishing on June 24th and for the next eight weeks we fished every good weather day except Sunday. The daily catch of fluke was good so that piqued my interest to keep fishing at least until November. Zack and family returned to Utah on August 18th and he returned to fish with me for five more weeks in September and October.

Fourth, I want to thank my friends who prayed for my recovery during this whole year and the several friends who filled in as shipmates on fishing days while Zack was away . Because of their help, I was able to fish up to Thanksgiving even though the catch dropped off significantly and Fall storms went through routinely limiting the number of productive days. Rob, Brayden and Nicholas were good shipmates whenever we could get a day of fishing in. My shipmates over the course of the fishing season all helped me advance to the point where I could once again safely fish the Petrel single handed and the last days of fishing on butterfish were very productive!

This year has truly been one filled with blessings as My Incredible Journey has continued and became a Miraculous Year of Recovery. As Lynda and I celebrate the Christmas Holiday in Tokyo, Japan, we wish that all of you felt the joy that our Savior brings into our lives as our Faith in Him grows ever stronger. May He bring you peace and happiness this season and throughout the New Year. I testify to you that He lives,that He loves each one of us, and that He answers the prayers of the faithful! I share this testimony in His Holy name, Jesus Christ. Amen.

30 January 2009

It's taken me a while to publish in the blog that was so expertly initiated by Peggy and Sam Edwards and designed by a friend of theirs. I would like to thank them for their creativeness and patience that went into this blog of a Long Island fisherman. I also want to thank all my family anf friends who have helped Lynda and I so much over the past three months since my diagnosis of the malignant brain tumor. Over this period, the tumor was removed on January 17th and I started acute rehabilitation which got me walking with a cane when I was discharged from the hospital on January 30th. It has truly been "An Incredible Journey"(see below) and I have truly been blessed.

Through outpatient therapy at Transitions of Long Island Jewish Hospital over the past seven weeks and 2 to 3 hours of exercises each day, I have gotten my strength and most of my coordination and balance back on the left side. I no longer require a cane and can accomplish some work around home when not travelling to appointments. Now, that I have been taking chemo and radiation treatments for the past 4.5 weeks, its cumulative effect has caused me to be quite a bit more fatigued and has slowed up my progress. After these treatments are completed on April 14th, the remainder of the healing process should start so that I can complete my rehabilitaion.

An Incredible Journey

While in Paradise, CA. on 8Jan09, I started to lose feeling on my left side. Having strained my back shoveling heavy snow in Juneau, AK 2 days before, I thought it was a pinched nerve.
I seemed to get more unsteady on my feet the next morning, so I went to a chiropractor to have my back checked. They evaluated me and immediately directed me to Feather River Hospital Emergency Room to get a medical evaluation, and on 9January I was diagnosed with a brain tumor based on a CT scan and MRI. The ER doctor told me to get to a neurosurgeon as soon as possible.

It is uncertain the exact time this journey began, for there were things already moving into place to meet our need. It was at this time, as news spread, that the prayers started to be sent in my behalf and I have felt every one of them. My home branch of the church held a fast for me on 11January and I received a priesthood blessing on 10January. We changed our flights from our planned trip to Tokyo for New York on 12January and our son Samuel got time off from work to help us when we returned. He met us when we flew in to JFK, helping Lynda immensely.

We returned to Amagansett on Tuesday 13January. There was a wheel chair ramp already built to allow the wheel chair into the sunroom; a wheelchair, walker, shower bench and a hospital bed in our living room to meet my needs, all gifts by friends and family. Without that ramp my family would have great difficulty getting me in and out of the house. The orchestrating of the efforts to get me to the right doctor and facilities was in the Lord’s hands!

On Wednesday, 14January, Sam sat down with me early in the morning and we had a very spiritual discussion, for my mind was racing with anticipation. I was excited, for I was gaining greater vision, and knew that the Lord has greater work for me to do here on Long Island and in His vineyard. Sam also started me in resetting my roles, goals and daily milestones for the next 3 months. My mission was intensifying and I was feeling excited. During that one day at home, safety bars were installed in my bathroom so that our home was handicap equipped, thanks to masterful coordination and good friends.

Elan and Peggy researched where I should go and whom I should see, and two different sources brought me to Dr. Michael Sisti. On Thursday, 15January, we stopped at the branch chapel in Riverhead, and with the missionaries, Samuel gave me a 2nd priesthood blessing, then we headed to NY Presbyterian Neurosurgical Unit with 3-5 inches of snow on the ground and a google map that directed us to a Brooklyn address. The cell phone saved us as we found the correct directions and to Dr. Sisti’s office in Manhattan about 30 minutes late. When I was wheeled into his office lobby, he walked past me, not speaking, went to his secretary and asked if I was his patient. When she replied yes, he said: get him a hospital bed. When called into his office we had our first conversation about what he observed in my left arm and leg as I sat in my wheelchair, then looked at the MRI. The good news was the tumor was between the skull and brain, easily accessible. I was admitted immediately.

Dr. Sisti told me “if we don’t do something right away, the wheelchair would become permanent furniture”. He explained to me that he would operate on me Friday, but he had an 8-hour operation on another neurosurgeon coming from outside the country. He scheduled me for Saturday morning.

Friday 16January my son Zachariah flew in from Utah to be with me for the operation and to help us out afterward so that Sam could go back to work and his family. That evening, before the surgery was performed, my special granddaughter, Esra, came to see me with her family, and that brought me great joy, for she is a very special spirit, having been born with spina bifida. Sam and Zack gave me a 3rd priesthood blessing and I was at peace, for I knew that my Savior, Jesus Christ, was right alongside me, leading me through this medical challenge.

At 8:00am Saturday, 17January, the operation started and the tumor, which was on the outside of my brain over the upper right side of my head, was removed. It was a gliomous type tumor that is genetically attached to the tissue it was growing in, and although of a cancerous type, it had not metastasized and was not a melanoma, so would not reoccur in another location.

Laying on the gurney in the recovery room, I shared my experience with 2 nurses who were impressed by my faith in the Savior and look forward to my corresponding with them. For those who believe in the love that our Heavenly Father has for each of us, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, know that we have hope. Along with that faith and hope, we become more focused in our mortal life as we develop charity. I had a great discussion of this with my 2nd roommate at NY Presbyterian Hospital. Even though he didn’t believe in God he had sincere desire to help a close friend who was dying of cancer. By showing his friend Christ-like love, he felt great joy!

On Monday 19January, the follow up MRI showed that there was no trace of the tumor and I was sitting up for the first time reorienting myself in a room overlooking the George Washington Bridge, which crosses the Hudson River. It was a beautiful sight and it was a glorious day.

Wednesday, 21January, I was transported by ambulance to Rusk Institute’s Hospital for Rehabilitation, which is a top facility in the Northeast. We started physical, speech and occupational therapy on Thursday, only 13 days after my diagnosis. Working with these therapists I have seen tremendous advances in the restoration of my motion, strength and feeling as the coordination of my left arm and leg improves. I have been greatly impressed by the association of memory, in all that we do naturally, and as my brain heals from the trauma of the tumor, I become more alert, balanced and energetic.

With these strengthened physical characteristics is a much more visionary spirituality and an unquestionable testimony in the strength and healing power of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It has been through Him, and through the skill and knowledge He has given Dr. Sisti, that I have been healed and can get back to doing His work.

I love the Lord, my family and my friends who have lifted me through prayer during these three weeks of January 2009. I was without pain and my heart was filled by the love that had been expressed in my behalf. I testify to you that He lives, He loves each and every one of us and answers the prayers of the faithful. I exhort you to follow the Savior, keep His commandments, study the scriptures and pray daily for you will get closer to Him and find true peace and happiness in this life and have the promise that you will have greater happiness in eternity.

I say this in His holy name, Jesus Christ, Amen.

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