An extension to my expiry date?

This week, in a sermon on hope, I was reminded of Romans 5:3-5: “but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint”.  I’m not so sure I’ve done much glorying in my tribulations (I’m trying!), nor got much perseverance nor character, but I continue to have hope.

Today I finally got to meet with the surgeon who performed my most recent surgery.  It was a wonderful meeting!  He started by telling me how blown away he was with my recovery.  He was practically gushing.  He stopped short of calling it miraculous, but I guess I’m his star pupil this year.  :-)  In fact, he casually asked my secret.  I told him quite simply:  a lot of people were praying both for him and for me!  He admitted that in his line of work, death is a very real possibility with each patient.  He went on to read through the pathology report with us, and it all sounded like good news.  Whereas in the first liver surgery the pathology on the margins came back somewhat ambiguous (which is the most likely reason for the recurrence), this time it was more clear.  He was able to get the margins he wanted, and the testing from the edges all came back negative for cancer.  So, as far as he is concerned, there is no cancer in my liver.  Admittedly we’ve heard that before, but it was still great to hear.  It also seemed to be spoken with a little more confidence than the last time we heard it.  So, perhaps my expiry date has been extended a little bit. :-)

Of course, we see the oncologist in a week and a half, so I expect my world will come crashing down again during that visit, but for now, life is good!  God is good!