Bishop's Pages
January 17, 2008
In this very short Epiphany season, let us remember that our work is to let the Light of Christ shine forth in the world. While the darkness has not and will not overcome the Light of Christ, it is up to us to bring it into all the dark places in our neighborhoods, bringing hope and expectation to all God's creatures.
During the final three months of last year, I was able to rest from the chemotherapy and radiation treatment that is helping me fight the cancer in my body. However, in mid-January I
resumed chemotherapy because the major tumor on my chest is growing again. Some of the tumors originally sighted have dissolved, and we expect that the current treatment will once more shrink the large tumor, perhaps to nothing. In this chemo regime I get one dose every three weeks. Those of you who have made a "Harry sighting" recently know that I have yet to lose the rest of my hair, but I continue to be promised that it will yet happen. Something to look forward to, I guess.
There is a genetic component to my disease that makes for an interesting situation. I show a strong possibility of having a gene associated with breast cancer. (My mother is soon to undergo a genetic work up to determine whether she carries this gene, a strong possibility given her family medical history. If she does, then I, my sisters and our children will have the opportunity to be tested too.) This means that I can probably benefit from a very expensive drug authorized for treatment of breast cancer - but not for lung cancer. Would you believe that the Church Medical Trust (through whom many of our clergy are insured) persuaded the insurance provider to pay for this drug - even before the results of the genetic testing have been completed - and all within 36 hours time! I am reminded that we may not pay our stipendiary clergy very well, but providing good health care insurance is an important way to let them know we do in fact care about the well-being of them and their family.
I cannot say enough about the effect of prayer in the healing process. Each day Kit and I grow in a deepening appreciation for prayer as it impacts us going through this process of healing. Your prayers have made an incredible impact on what is happening in my body and on our spirits, and we thank you for holding us up in your daily prayers as this journey goes forward. We count it all blessing.