New Diagnosis and Day of Prayer

At Dad’s Nov. 4 appointment at Emory, his oncologist decided to cancel the scheduled infusion because of Dad’s progressive weight loss and cognitive decline. Since then, we have met with the neurologist in Rome to address Dad’s increased confusion, paranoia, and even delirium. At the next scheduled infusion, the oncologist informed us that Dad had been disqualified from the clinical trial because of his symptoms.

After a PET scan this week, today we received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.

This is not the road we could have imagined, even after finding out last year that Dad’s salivary gland cancer had returned and was terminal. The clinical trial at Emory gave us another year with Dad and fulfilled his desire to provide helpful data that will benefit future cancer research. He also blessed many people at Emory with his positive outlook, dad jokes, genuine interest in their lives and shared connections, and his hope not just in medicine but especially in Jesus.

Now, we continue to adapt and arrange support so Mom and Dad can be together at home. And we continue to love, find joy, cry some, laugh (the dad jokes are still there), remember, look forward to Christmas with all their grandchildren, and look to the future with hope.

We don’t have to understand God’s plan to trust his goodness. We say, with the author of Psalm 27, “I have asked the LORD for one thing; one thing only do I want: to live in the LORD's house all my life, to marvel there at his goodness, and to ask for his guidance. In times of trouble he will shelter me; he will keep me safe in his Temple and make me secure on a high rock …. I know that I will live to see the LORD's goodness in this present life. Trust in the LORD. Have faith, do not despair. Trust in the LORD.”

Dad does not have a phone anymore. I know your comments left here for Mom would mean a lot to her.

Mom and Dad’s dear church family at New Armuchee Baptist have organized a day of prayer for Dad on his birthday, Dec. 23, and invite others to join them. This is such a wonderful encouragement to our family, and we are deeply grateful for all of you who have prayed consistently and persistently for Dad’s health over the last year. Thank you for continuing to pray:

  • For wisdom as we make decisions about Dad’s care

  • That we would choose grace and practice patience

  • For Mom’s ongoing recovery from knee replacement surgery and for rest and good health for her

  • That Dad would continually be comforted by an awareness of God’s presence and love and experience God’s peace

  • That this season would provide unique opportunities to share about the hope of our salvation and that we would be bold in our conversations about the gospel.

We thank God for all of you and all that you have meant to Dad and our family. More than one of you, I think, would remember when Dad has encouraged you in your suffering to choose joy. As we strive to choose joy in the days ahead, we hope you will think of Dad as you do the same in whatever you are facing, and we pray for God’s blessing on you.

Allison