On 5/19/2008 Jojo1968 wrote:
Hi Guys
I thought I should share with you my story about my kidney cancer that may help some of you..
First of all - my name is JOE..
Age 42, Tall, Keep Myself Fit, Not Overweight. Married, 4 lovely children.
In June 2007, on a Sunday Evening - 4pm, had a fine day, nothing wrong, life was normal. 5pm, I passed dark blood in my urine - no pain. At 7.30 I felt unwell. At 8pm I was in severe pain, and vomited. 8.30pm - drove myself to after hours clinic. Got pain killer injection and was transfered by ambulance to ER.
9.30pm was admitted. 11pm was transfered into a ward.
Monday: 2am.. Pain is gone COMPLETELY And I feel fine.
Monday still passing blood but not as dark as Sunday and I feel great. Just want to go home.
Tuesday blood colour is week in urine and I just want to go home. Wednesday - have ultrasound: Wednesday evening - told that scan showed a syst on left kidney. Friday have CT Scan.
Saturday, told I have a 8mm Tumor in my left Kidney. Discharged from hospital.
The following Wednesday my left kidney was removed.
Was cut from about the centre of my belly - following my rib cage line around to the back. ( 25 staple stitches ) .
Thursday afternoon ; big orderly lifts me and puts me on my feet. Friday - was dressed and walking, eating, laughing and joking with other patients.
Monday - discharged.
Three month later - visit hospital, got ultra sound, X Ray, blood tests, urine tests, see consultant.
Same thing every three months. So Far Everything is clear.
The best explanation on how the kidney cancer was in me was from the guy doing the ultra sound. "Your kidney is like a car tire with an inner tube. The tumor grows on the inner tube - once the tire stays intact, the changes of the cancer spreading is greatly reduced.
So far so good for me.
This is the point that I become religious : So if you want to stop reading - thats fine.
The day I was told I had cancer, I began to shake. My whole body - like someone had hold of my spine and was just shaking me. That lasted for a week. I spent a lot of time running to the toilet. A lot of time spent crying - asking God why??? Why Me??
It was about 4am and the sun was rising, and I was sitting in the back room watching the sun appear. I asked again for the 100th time - WHY Me?
And then it happened - I felt God telling me.. I have a plan for you .. I have a plan for you...
I told my wife that I think God is talking to me.. And again I told her what he was saying.
The feeling of love, peace and relief was immense.
The following day - My wife went to the next village to do a bit of shopping.. I was feeling confused. And the words kept going around in my head again and again.. ' I have a plan for you '.
At 12.30 that day, I remember that, some who worked for me, his wife was a faith healer.. OK - I hear you say.. "This Guy Has Lost The Plot" A month before this happened - I would have thought the same. Anyhow, I jumped into my car and went to her house... When I arrived, her first words to me were - do you want me to pray with you. This was an interesting first words - as I only met her once before, she didn't know what was wrong with me and I never said why I was there...
She placed her hand on my head and with her other hand open to heaven, she prayed asking God to fix me. " Joe is broken' she said, " and needs you Lord to fix him".
She prayed for about 10 mins - I said nothing.
Then something amazing happened - She stopped dead in her tracks looked at me straight in the eyes, sat beside me and said, " I have a message for you" ( Oh I am filling up just thinking about this again.. wow ) , " God told me to tell you that he has a plan for you" . I began to cry!.... "What does that mean Joe " she said. I explained what had happened that morning. " Its very clear Joe" she said " God said to tell you that he has a plan for you" " Is the plan for here on in the after life" I said. " God doesn't make plans for the dead... he just tells you what to do when you get there... she replied...
To this date - I still dont know what that plan is but I am very content.. I thank God every day I am alive. I look at life differently. I no longer just live life... I now take part in it.
If my plan is to tell all you, dont wait for the end to happen, its going to happen whether you like it or not.. but its how you live your life between now and then. Don't give up on yourself. Fight with every ounce of your strength. Every day you wake up, don't think - is this the day it will end.. Say aloud - Thank you God for another day on this wonderful planet. Dress in nice clothes. Shower every day. Go on Youtube and watch a funny video that will make you laugh. Sing.. Dance .. Go For a walk... Get up early when it is bright, listen to the birds singing. LOOK around you at the colours in your garden or in the park . Be brave... Call old friends and just .... say hello... Repair that relationship with your mother, brother, sister or friend..
And for me.. NOW... Stand in front of a mirror... put your arms around yourself and every day .. ask God to FIX YOU.. Tell him you are broken and you would be grateful if he could take some time and fix you. And thank him for his deed.
And finally..... Remember, you have cancer, cancer does NOT have you.... Take control. eat well.
My gift to you is this.... Lord.. the person reading this is in needs of your help... They are worried about their future and their family... Give them the strength to get through this worrying time. Give them peace in their mind and help them live everyday with their eyes open.
God Bless You All..
Thanks for reading
JOE
First, I wish you all the luck in the world, and also to your family.My husband also has kidney cancer,it started just like your story.It all started in Nov. 06. So far, O.k. THANKS TO GOD !! your story bring so much hope and joy, when we could all use some good stories.Everyday I Tthank God for keep my handsome man around, Prayer is what keep us going.Please stay in touch.Are on some kind of med.? Mick is on Nexavar.He is 50.Thanks for sharing your most welcome story.
Rally53