These past few days I have been reminded of God's goodness to me when I was actively battling my cancer. I doubt I am the only one who takes for granted good fortune.
Early Saturday morning, a young seven-year-old boy we know, died due to surgical complications. Last week this young boy was diagnosed with leukemia. Friday's surgery was to put a port in him to use for needed treatments for his leukemia. He ended up dying from internal bleeding that occurred after the surgery It was a known risk at the outset; but like most who deal with cancer, it is a risk you take without a lot of thought.
Initially I did not give this much thought. But when my husband and I were talking about the events of Saturday -- I had been out of town for a few days and he was bringing me up to speed on thing here at home -- he made this comment, "You had a port put in, didn't you?" I said that I had -- he had been there at the time. I am not sure that he was familiar with what a port looked like and how it is put in, other than making an incision. I said to him that I could understand a problem arising, as a port has a small tube that is inserted into a vein near the neck. It works better in situations in which a person will get a lot of needle-jabbing over a period of time. For me, it was for my chemo; but I also had the medical staff do blood draws there. It is meant to save on the veins in the arms.
My port was inserted by a surgeon when I was sedated. Before I was released to go home, my surgeon had a portable x-ray machine brought to the room. He wanted to see that everything was looking right with that port before he let me go home.
Was there a risk to me in having a port put in? Yes. Did I know that? Yes. I had to sign off on the procedure. Did I give any thought to the possibility that there would be complications? No. I think that most of us fall into that line of thinking -- unless we are, by nature, worrywarts.
I look back at my surgery, implant of my port, chemo, radiation . . . I really was fortunate to get through it all without any real complications. I really ought not take that for granted. God was good to me, and the past few days have been a good reminder of that.
Talan's dad and Dennis have been good friends for years, and so this has been a bit difficult for Dennis. He can't begin to answer the questions TJ puts to him, as it related to life after death. I am sure that this will be a point of discussion for weeks, even months, to come.
