At this moment I am sitting in a dimly-lit room, my feet up in a recliner, a curtain surrounding me to lend privacy, with my iPhone 7 in my hands.
There’s a noticeable, but calming mechanical noise … maybe it’s electrical … in the background. Maybe it’s the AC system? Regardless, it’s relaxing, especially considering the surroundings.
A few moments ago a technician inserted an IV into my right arm, then he injected a radioactive substance into my vein. After that, while sitting here, I drank about 16 ounces of a “contrast.” In a little less than an hour from now, once all the stuff inside me filters through my body, I’ll receive a PET CT scan to determine whether or not I’ve got cancer. More specifically, whether or not the mass (lymph node) in my chest above my heart is malignant.
What does one think about during times like these? Do I worry, think about what may or may not happen, or write about my experience in real time? I choose the latter.
Why?
Because I believe that God is real. I believe that there are times when we believers in Jesus Christ need to be transparent, letting our experiences and how we handle them be a testimony to others of the grace of God on our lives.
There’s an old cliche that goes, “I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow.” It’s in the uncertain moments like these that Christians need to shine, not only voicing the cliche, but demonstrating a genuine hope and trust in Christ.
This afternoon I will receive a diagnosis from the surgeon scheduled to review the tests. I’m not scared. Honestly, I am barely nervous. God has me in the palm of His hand, and nothing about to happen will change the plans He has for me.
If it’s cancer, so be it. If it’s not, then great! Nevertheless, I am not alone…not in this dark little room, the CT chamber, or anywhere the Lord leads me. And the promise He gives to me is the same for you, if your faith is in Him – “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
Those are my thoughts at this time. I’ll update you, later, with the results.
Anthony
UPDATE: No cancer 🙂
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May 20th, 2019 at 3:54 pm
Prayers brother
May 20th, 2019 at 3:55 pm
I’ll make an update to the post, but no cancer.
May 20th, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Awesome!
May 20th, 2019 at 4:00 pm
Yeah, it was benign and not worth doing surgery. Something is causing pain in my chest that is not heart related, but it wasn’t this. Now, the next step is a bone scan. It could be related to an old injury where I was punched in the chest and it never healed correctly. Who knows? But I’m not dying from it. That’s the good thing.
May 20th, 2019 at 4:02 pm
I certainly agree thats a good thing!
May 20th, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Reblogged this on Truth in Palmyra and commented:
Friends, let’s all be in prayer for brother Anthony Baker as he undergoes this test. He’s a good pastor, blogger and friend to many.
May 20th, 2019 at 4:10 pm
Great to hear the scan was clear!
May 20th, 2019 at 7:03 pm
Oh!!! I read this with my heart pounding in my chest, remembering my husband’s four biopsies two weeks ago — benign! I was also remembering my compression test and ultrasound in January, because there was something on my mammogram that “should not be there.” The thing that “should not be there” was still there when I had the compression test 4 days later, so I was immediately given an ultrasound by a different technician. The “something” was there at the beginning of the ultrasound, but then it disappeared, before the technician’s eyes, during the test! After much searching with the wand, it stayed disappeared. So the radiologist advised me to repeat all these tests in six months, which I will do in July.
I was remembering all these and many other medical tests as I was reading your post, feeling like I was right there with you. Then, BOOM, when I reached the very end with your update — No Cancer — I SHOUTED for JOY! And then had to explain to my husband and our two startled dogs, lol.
Praise God!!! And yes, I agree 100% — cancer, no cancer, or whatever, God’s got us, when we belong to Him. And it is well with my soul!
May 20th, 2019 at 7:40 pm
Just saw the update, Praise God, I’m been there so I can identify. So glad for you Anthony!
May 20th, 2019 at 10:14 pm
In prayer. Peace that passes understanding is holding you.
May 21st, 2019 at 3:36 am
Glad its no cancer
May 21st, 2019 at 3:54 pm
Amen!!!