Dan will begin chemotherapy and radiation treatment for pancreatic cancer tomorrow (Monday, Nov. 10) at UT Medical Center. If I understand correctly, they will be outpatient treatments so he will be coming home each day. He begins with “chemo school” Monday morning. We were kind of kidding about what do you have to learn in “chemo school”? The regimen ahead will be physically tough on Dan. It will be chemo and radiation on Monday and then radiation Tuesday through Friday. He will keep this up for 4-6 weeks depending on how his body responds. One common side effect is loss of taste that can affect the desire to eat. Please pray that Dan retains his taste and appetite.
Friday, we went to visit Protomet and Jeff Bohannon. Dan has mentored Jeff for many years in his business of machining specialty parts. The company makes parts for autos, boats, radiation detectors, etc in a spotless and highly automated facility in Oak Ridge. I could see how much both Dan and Jeff cared for each other - one the mentor sharing keys about success and the other the willing student learning and applying.
Dan came to the UT-Wyoming football game (if you could call it that). With the coach (Fulmer) being asked to resign this week, one didn’t know what to expect from the team. What we got was a spiritless performance and one of the most embarrassing losses in UT history, hey, but its only a game. There was one great highlight though - halftime. The Pride of the Southland (UTs Marching Band) brought back the alums and added the Tennessee Bagpipes and Drum Corp - over 500 instruments were on the field and the end of the show was the massed band playing Amazing Grace. It was spine-tingling good and we both stood and sang along. Except for the disappointment of the game, we had a fine guys time just enjoying the pleasures of an East Tennessee fall Saturday.
Today in church, we sang a worship song by Matt & Beth Redman called You Never Let Go. Dan was on my mind with every word. The chorus words are:
Oh no, You never let go through the calm and through the storm. Oh no, You never let go in every high and every low. Oh no, You never let go, Lord You never let go of me.
As I consider the fight Dan has ahead and the faith and courage he is facing it with, I am totally humbled to walk through this with him. Dan has been so successful in life and yet he has remain so humble and gracious, it should be no surprise to me that in facing this difficulty there is no anger or bitterness, just a faith that he is in His hands.
Thank you all for your continued prayers, emails, inquiries and notes. Every one is a source of encouragement.