Hi Family,

Tonight’s post will be brief, but I trust it will be a blessing to you. I find myself very emotional this evening. When I think of all the prayers, scriptures, songs, humorous stories, and videos that have been shared with me during this time, I’m overcome with a deep and teary gratitude. Sometimes I just break down and weep before the Lord—tears of joy, of thanksgiving, and of awe at His faithfulness.

I am so thankful to the Lord—and so thankful for each of you.

The surgery was a great success. The doctor was able to remove the tumor and the affected portion of my colon. The procedure required two ostomies, which will take some adjustment—physically, mentally, and emotionally. One of them is expected to be reversed in three months. Each day in the hospital, the staff provided valuable guidance on how to live with and care for the ostomies. It’s a learning process, but we are making progress.

As many of you have already heard through Becky’s updates—I am cancer free. We received the best possible news: clear margins, clean lymph nodes, no tumor deposits or buds, and no evidence of the cancer having spread through veins or to other areas. Thank you for your faithful prayers over this surgery. Rejoice with me! Give thanks to the Lord!

Please also give thanks for my incredible wife and the loving support of our family, and for the compassionate, skilled, and tireless care teams at the University of Michigan Hospital. Every nurse, every doctor, every specialist brought not only their expertise, but also genuine encouragement and kindness. I truly cannot say enough about the level of care I received.

Becky stayed with me every night in the hospital. Often awake, I would simply gaze at her and experience peace. Phillip and Sherry, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law stayed with us for the week as well—helping with daily walks, praying with us, and simply being present, even when I didn’t have the strength or words to engage. Their presence was a gift.

I was discharged Sunday evening. As we drove away from the hospital, a wave of emotion washed over me, and I began to weep—unexpectedly. Becky gently placed her hand over mine, and in that simple act, peace returned. This journey has been filled with challenges, but it has turned out so positively, and I am full of gratitude.

Today has been a day of adjustment—putting into practice everything we learned in the hospital. It’s a new life in many ways, and yet Becky keeps reminding me: “We are in this together.” That truth makes all the difference.

Please forgive the brevity of this message. I simply wanted to say from the bottom of my heart: I love you. Thank you.

Peace!

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 4:4–7 (NLT)