What can I expect from my surgery on Oct 28

Apostle David E. Taylor Revival

On October 28, one day after my 61st birthday, I go in for surgery again at Florida Hospital Celebration.

I had a CT Scan in August to determine the effectiveness of the last few months of radiation and chemotherapy. The medical oncologist's office thought, for the most part, that it was a clean bill of health as related to cancer. They had a concern, however, about a lymph node that had grown in size since the scan prior to the treatment.

When we met with the head and neck surgeon a couple of weeks ago, he decided, after reviewing the report from the scan, that the lymph node needs to be removed. He also thought I may need chemotherapy following the surgical procedure. While that is being done, they will also remove two nodules from the previous surgery and take a biopsy on my gums.

There is lingering pain in my gums and the radiation oncologist referred me to a pain specialist when it was determined the pain was not in control. That was still not effective.

It is our hope, as you can imagine, that there will no more cancer found. To help enforce that hope, we attended a revival when David E. Taylor was in town last week. He had said during the introduction to his evening of healing that there were 5 people with cancer in the building.

The first thing we had noticed was that each and every person in the building was extremely nice and made us feel comfortable and right at home. In many ways, sadly, we felt more welcome there than in our own church.

I cannot do justice by trying to explain the energy in that sanctuary that night. There were several people who had other ailments like arthritis, back pain and migraine headaches among others. During a very enthusiastic and eerily spiritual process, he vigorously declared that he had cast out each of the sicknesses each person had.

Afterward, he asked that each person that had an ailment come to the alter and explain their condition and what they felt when those ailments were cast out from them. I stood in line waiting to tell my story, but returned to my seat when I heard people say they felt a sensation come over them when the ailment left. I did not feel anything so I didn't want to be responsible for losing the momentum that was very much present.

A member of the church that we had been talking before the revival started found me and asked if I was going up to the stage since we discussed my cancer. I explained my concern and he said that was ok, to just say what I felt, even if it was nothing.

I returned to the line leading up to the stage and heard one or two others indicate that they "really didn't feel anything" either. I was the last to share my story and I told everyone about the cancer, where it was and what was going on with me now. He assured me the cancer was removed from my body but he also made it clear that I need to continue with all the medical procedures I was involved with. He did ask, however, that when the doctor reveals that I am cancer free, I tell the doctor what happened to me at the revival.

 I later learned that while I was on the stage and Apostle David had asked me to raise my hands in praise, that the entire audience stood up and raised their hands for me and with me.

So here it is, less than a week before the surgery, and while I am hopeful that the cancer is gone, a part of me says wait and see. I want to believe that Apostle David, as he is referred to, accomplished all that he said he did. I have no reason to doubt what was claimed, except for the practical side of me. But then, miracles generally seem to defy practicality.

Soon we will know the entire story. We will know if the cancer is gone. And what if it is, how will we explain it? Was it a miracle? Was it medicine? But then, does it really matter?