The Struggle Has Ended

Greg Hewlett passed away on January 17th after nearly eight years of battling colon cancer. While we grieve his loss, we are comforted to know that he is with his Lord.

If you would like to leave your thoughts on Greg, please see this thread.

If you would like to make a charitable donation in Greg's honor, please see this thread.

Monday, October 25, 2004

More battles ahead

The biopsy returned positive - the nodule in my pelvic region is cancerous. I'm not considering this a remission. There still is nothing new that wasn't there at the beginning. It was there in June 2003, only no one really noticed it because it is in a very rare place for my type of cancer to spread. So I am hoping and praying that they will agree to surgically remove it.

I asked hard questions of Dr. Hoff. The discussion was odd because I sounded to myself like I was arguing ideas back and forth with him as I normally do with others in life. Only here I was arguing for my life. I get the feeling the normal approach in my situation is to avoid the risks and hardships of surgery and just try to slow the growth of the cancer. But I am young and healthy and just the kind of patient they treat aggressively. He understands my desires and is approaching this as aggressively as necessary. In other words, he is still shooting for long term survival - getting rid of all the cancer.

The lung spot cannot be biopsied because it is too small. So it is impossible to know conclusively whether it is cancerous. But there are some good reasons to begin by taking it out first, which is where Dr. Hoff seemed to be leaning.



Dr. Hoff took my case to conference this afternoon to discuss with his colleagues. There are not many precedent cases, which I take as a positive - they are paying close attention to my case and are willing to shoot for curing this. By now the conference is over, but I won't find out until tomorrow their conclusions. The next step, to begin as soon as possible, will be either pelvic region surgery, lung surgery, or chemo followed by surgery. Sounds like fun.





14 comments:

Colleen said...

Greg, I'm so sorry to hear that you will be facing more surgery and chemo, but I continue to be absolutely amazed at your strength. We'll be continuing to pray for you in Dallas.

Henry Chu said...

Yes Greg, you are young and healthy. Your spirit will not be crushed. We have been following your case, and commit to pray along with you every step of the way.
God does allow Satan to raise havoc in our lives, but ultimately we will taunt him, Satan, "where is thy sting?". For sickness of the saints in the Bible leads to glorification to God.
All things work for he good of those who love Him; those whome He foreknow before the creation of the world, and you are definitely one of them. He has given us His Son, so what can separate us from His love........ Greg, as the Holy Spirit supplicates for us with groans that cannot be uttered, I am sure the effect of His supplications will be felt.
Henry

David Pagan said...

Greg,
I am so sorry to hear this news. I am even further away from Texas this week - up in Maine - and I wish that I could be closer to you and Christine. I will probably not be back to Texas before January, but will make sure to see you then.
Until then, we will continue praying for you and Christine, asing God to grant you strength, continued patience, and healing.
God bless you,
David

John & Ruth Horne said...

Greg, you and Christine are constantly in our thoughts and our prayers.

anne and michael murray said...

Greg and Christine,
We are thankful that your treatment team is so thorough, we are thankful that you are still questioning authority, we are thankful that you have so many friends that love you and pray for you, and WE ARE THANKFUL THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US YOU.
Love,
Anne and Michael

Brian Marquis said...

We often find the testing of our faith so difficult (I know I do) but Christ is working to assure in us, and to us, the realization of our dependence on Him for everything. He is Lord of the universe, and there is a strange but certain peace, especially during life's storms, in knowing that He is in complete control of every aspect of life. All the laws of nature, physics, and yes, even cancerous cells bow humbly before Him in submission.
Greg, you are so loved and dear to many, and I hope that you see that... I pray that the Holy Spirit will grant you and Christine a marvellous peace and serenity so that you both may have great joy in the face of this testing of your (and our) faith.
SDG
Brian

Carl said...

Greg and Christine
God's Love and our love are gushing toward you at this difficult time. Continue to trust in Him as you have so faithfully to date.

Mary Rynsburger said...

Greg & Christine,
I'm so sorry to here that the spot is cancerous. I'm praying for you both.
In God's love,
Mary

Fran said...

Jesus wept. We will be praying. Love, Fran & Terry

Dan And Syd Christen said...

"Yea Tho I walk through the valley of the shadow"
God IS with you as you go through this valley-
He knows your pain and fear-
He walks with (or carries)you-
He IS in control-
We pray it is removed,healed,and that you can continue with your life and love.

Jim and Coco said...

May His Grace shower and protect you.

Bert Grantham said...

Greg ~ Sometimes our hope resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those dry branches would ever turn green again and blossom. But in trusting the Creator, we can have faith that they will.
You are more than a conqueror (Romans 8). In my prayers for you, Greg, I praise God for the inspiration and hope you give so many through your extremely difficult trial. I pray for your medical team, and I beseech the Lord's divine healing on your body.
With you and Christine on the journey.
Bert (and for Bruce)

max said...

I'm doing my part to be helpy. In August I joined a gene sequencing startup. Our goal is to be able to sequence pathogens fast and cheap, so that the treatment can be custom-tailored. No more chemo carpet-bombing.
Also I'm probably coming to Dallas in mid-December. I will let you know when after I get tickets.

Greg & Connie Pettitt said...

Greg .. our prayers are with you both.. Romans 15:13, which says, �May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.� ... we are believing this for you.
We are claiming as we pray that the Power of the Holy Spirit will so fill you that "..streams of living water will flow from within him (you)." John 7:37-38
As you are a "Champion" (Ps 19:5).. a Victor .. "thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore... stand firm. Let nothing move you..." 1 Cor 15:57-58
Our GOD is so proud of YOU! For when He looks at YOU.. He sees HIS SON! So as you go through this trial... Know that He's trusting you to trust Him.. know that He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will see you through this trial no matter how long it takes.. See Jer 17:7 where it promises "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him."
It's already evident with your website.. that.. "a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick." John 6:2
"The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy." Ps 111:7
"Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens." Ps 119:89
"I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life." Ps 119:93
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Ps 119:105
We love you both..
ps. "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes." Ps 19:8
"I (YOU) will walk about in freedom, for I (YOU) have sought out your (HIS) precepts." Ps 119:45