Hello my fine friends and family members!

I know that its been a while since I last wrote.  I believe I had a bit of “writer’s block” as I have been waiting to share with you my experience after radiation and the Opdivo drips (a new type of Immunotherapy just approved for Kidney cancer patients, it’s been on the market for a year now specifically for lung cancer) that I have been taking the last four weeks.

Before I get into the details, first things first.  I thank Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior for the protection and grace he has given me through this entire ordeal.  For those of you praying for me, I have felt his presence on a daily basis.  He has never forsaken me as he promises in His word.  In Psalm 118:5-6 the Bible (King David) talks about how the Lord will be with us in times of distress.  However, in order for Him to be with us we must “call upon him” in prayer and meditation.  Psalm 118:5-6 says, “I called on the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.  The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.  What can man  (or disease) do to me?”  The Bible tells us that “no weapon formed against us can prosper.” Sure, our physical being can be shaken.  But, with Christ all things are possible.  He will never forsake me, nor leave me.

This my friends and family are the promises I count on daily.  It is my faith that sustains me.  Some people say that I am “religious”.  I totally disagree with them.  I am not religious as religion has proven it can get in the way of having a “personal relationship with Christ”.  Religion can get in the way due to formality, traditions,  formal beliefs, ecumenical bias, etc.  Jesus came to become our Savior, to start a movement agains sin and evil.  Its all about your heart.  He even talked against the “religious people” of his time because their heart was not right with their beliefs.  Simply put, I believe I am a “man of faith” that is centered on Christ and has no religious affiliation.  It may be that you are confused by the actions of some religious people.   Perhaps, their actions don’t align with their verbal beliefs.  As a result you have been turned off or have turned away from God.   In fact, you have quit going to church because you feel that it’s hypocritical of them.  Well, we all make mistakes and we all fall short of the glory of God.  Therefore, I advise you to forego judging others and look to Jesus as the gold standard.  Afterall, he was and continues to be the only perfect person to walk this Earth.  Okay, enough of this.  Allow me to give you an update.

To bring you up to date, I just completed 10 radiation treatments on my right rib.  There are 3 ribs negatively impacted by renal cell lytic lesions.  Since we don’t know how the immune system will be impacted with both the Opdivo immunotherapy and radiation done simultaneously, we decided to attack this rib because it needed the attention and we are thinking that by treating this area (which is indirect) we may be able to directly stimulate the immune system to attack the 6 lytic lesions on my vertebrae.  I have been doing far infrared saunas everyday to manage the pain as well as coffee enema’s.  That’s right, I said coffee enemas’.  Never in my life did I think I would ever do this, but they help stimulate the liver and colon to expel toxins from my body.  Let me tell you my daily coffee breaks have taken on a whole new meanig.  🙂  I continue to juice each day as well so that I get crucial nutrients and phytonutrients directly in my body at the cellular level.  Pray that this strategy works indeed.

As I continue to wade through this journey I have found that it is best to take one day at a time.  My motto is now, “plan for the future, but live day to day.”  As I do so scripture tells me in John 16:33 the following; “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulations; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  This my friends and family is what allows me to sleep at night.  I know that I worship a God that is ever present and never ending.  Therefore, I know he’s got my back.

I continue to pray for many of you.  I have mentioned this before, but if you wish to talk or need prayer for anything in your life please don’t hesitate to contact me.  Afterall, folks I’ve got the time!!!

Be blessed and wishing you health, happiness, and success!

All the best,

Craig, aka Papa G

612.804.5630