The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

— Deuteronomy 31:8

I have written a few emails to family and friends about my struggle with cancer but this blog will be a good way for me to compose my thoughts and quickly communicate with them and any interested parties. So, if you subscribe below, you will get an email every time I write an entry here.

I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) last month (November, 2019). Since then I’ve gone through a couple more tests to clearly define which one of the 60 different forms of NHL I have and where else it might be in my body, other than the lymph nodes in my neck.

Last Friday, the 13th of December, I underwent a PET scan at Florida Cancer Specialists. This scan will reveal cancer cells location and tell us if it has spread. I’ll get the results on Friday the 20th and begin chemotherapy immediately, like the next hour.

Meanwhile, this Wednesday they will surgically implant a port in my chest to make it easier to inject the chemicals.

My doctor knows I am impatient. At our first meeting I half-joking asked if he could just give me a shot and cut it out. He said “We could do this fast or we could do this right.” So, as fast as they can carefully go, this week has come soon enough.

Sunday, December 15.

My brother-in-law Wayne suggested I eat all my favorite foods this week because chemotherapy can destroy taste buds. I feel like I have four “last meals” for dinner this week because chemotherapy begins Friday morning.

Today’s 79 degrees with a cool breeze was perfect for gardening. I pulled weeds and planted out Nicotianas. Then trimmed some overgrown Fire Bushes in the backyard. As I tied up the branches and dragged them to the curb I had to think of gardening friends I might need to call on to help me with these chores soon. I’ve heard that chemotherapy makes you weak and tired.