You Don't Have to Come Back

A few weeks ago, I had a routine 6-month check with my Leukemia Doctor who has managed my case. After the blood work came back, he said this with a smile... Everything looks great, blood counts are terrific, there is no trace of Leukemia. And then he said this...You made it, you made it to the 5-year milestone. You don't have to come back, unless you want to. If it was going to come back, it would have come back by now--it was that aggressive. In 10 years, I've never heard those words... you don't have to come back. It's always been 1-month, 3-month, 6-month checks for 10 years. Each time collecting several vials to do a deep/complete panel of my blood. 500+ needle pokes in my arm over 10 years. I never made it to 5 years. A relapse one year later after the original diagnosis (2010) when in 2011 I had to have a bone marrow transplant. Then another re-lapse with Leukemia four years later in the form of a solid tumor in the brain (2015). I was on the edge and could almost feel the 5-year mark back then, but it was not to be. But today it is. No more needle pokes, MRIs, appointments. 

The words, you don’t have to come back, reminded me of the invalid in Bethesda who was given words, by Jesus, to release him. This is the man who had been this way for 38 years. He could never find healing for his condition because he could not get into the healing waters at Bethesda—no one was there to help him into the pool. He moved too slowly by himself and someone else would get in ahead of him. Until Jesus came, and said these words…

“Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” (John 5: 8)

Instantly the man was healed and picked up his mat and walked away. In my journey through Leukemia I was not healed instantly like this man. In many ways, you can say I’ve been healed three times—each time, each re-lapse, the diagnosis looked dark. But there was a rescue each time. And now, with these words from my doctor, you don’t have to come back, the rescue is final. 

I have a lot to be grateful for. And I’ve come to this conclusion…When you focus on what you have vs. what you don't have, you are graced with an amazing heart of gratitude. I'm grateful to be alive

Amazed by His Love,

Terence