The Gift of Healing
/Just over six years ago my brother-in-law Brad was diagnosed with AML - Acute Myeloid Leukemia. His diagnosis came the same week the mother of two of his grandchildren was brutally murdered. If anyone knows Brad, he is the most positive, easy-going, kind, big hearted guy you could ever meet! Brad is always “doing good” – even if he isn’t, but you would NEVER know that! He is the most positive human being I’ve EVER met! He went through difficult chemo treatments, long hospital stays, and won an award from the nurses for not throwing up in the process – not even once! Whenever you see Brad, you know you’re going to get a great big Uncle Brad smile! He’s always concerned more about you than he ever shows about himself. His service to others has always been self-less, quiet, and behind the scenes. He is a kind and gentle teddy bear!
Just over two years ago my other brother-in-law Rob was diagnosed with CLL - Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with a subtype Small Cell Lymphocytic Lymphoma. Rob was an accomplished eye surgeon for many years, and continued practicing through all of his chemo treatments. Just when it seemed like he had kicked cancer, last year he was diagnosed with advanced Prostate cancer. Due to the long recovery from this surgery, he made the difficult decision to retire a few years earlier than he had originally planned. Rob was so much more than a gifted ophthalmologist! He was a Jack-of-all-trades! His surgical skill rivaled any plastic surgeon you could go to. He removed many cancer spots from my face and neck, and you have to look really hard to see any of the scars! He has also stitched more family members back together than we can count! He indeed has the gift of healing!
When Brad and Rob were each diagnosed, we ordered silicone bracelet “Cancer Bands” and gave them out to family and friends who wore them in honor of these two great men! The color for Leukemia is orange, and Brad’s bracelet read “Team Brad – Faith Hope Courage”. The color for Lymphoma is lime green, and Rob’s bracelet read “Believe in Christ, by His grace we are saved.”
When Brad went into remission – we waited for a year before we took our orange bracelets off. Rob announced at Mother’s Day Brunch just yesterday, that his cancer markers are at zero, and his latest CT scan shows nothing but scar tissue. With this news, he said it was time to take off his green bracelet. Hearing this news today, Ron and I also removed our green bracelets which we have worn for over two years now.
What a blessing it is to have these two great men in our lives still today! I love them both as the brothers I never had! One of the things I noticed about both these men, is how they refused to give up hope, and remained positive through their cancer journeys. They live their lives serving others, and make a positive difference in the lives of more people than they will ever realize! Through faith, hope, fasting, and prayers, miracles happen still today. Brad and Rob are both walking miracles, and bright lights in the lives of all who know and love them! I am grateful to Heavenly Father for the gift and blessing of healing! May we all look for the positive light in the midst of our dark trials.
Love Ya, Les