Thank you for praying with Becky and me about yesterday’s surgery.

Earlier this year, I was admitted to the hospital for seven days with a severe gallbladder attack. A thoughtful and compassionate surgeon came to us and explained that my gallbladder needed to be removed. However, my cancer surgeon didn’t think that was the best course of action. He believed I needed more time to recover from my previous surgery.

I asked for a second opinion from another surgeon in the hospital. After consulting with Becky, the surgeon, and my cancer team, we agreed on a different plan. Instead of removing the gallbladder, they inserted two temporary stents to allow it to drain, hoping it could heal.

Yesterday’s procedure was to determine whether the gallbladder would still need to be removed.

Before the surgery, I asked our family and friends to pray that it wouldn’t be necessary. I was told the odds were not in my favor.

But God.

As I was being sedated, I quietly prayed the Lord’s Prayer. Just before I drifted off to sleep, I heard the anesthetist say, “We’ll insert the blade…”

The next thing I knew, Becky was gently waking me up while a nurse was trying not to laugh at something I had apparently said. Becky later told me what it was. Let’s just say I love my wife dearly, and whatever I said must have reflected that! Evidently, the word blade was still on my mind.

A little later, the surgeon came in wearing a big smile.

The procedure lasted about two hours, and they inserted two new stents. Then he said something I never expected to hear.

“It looks like you cleaned out your gallbladder yourself.”

Neither of us knows how that happened, but the wonderful news was this: they decided it did not need to be removed.

I can’t begin to express how grateful I am to God. Because of my previous surgeries, a laparoscopic procedure wasn’t an option. If the gallbladder had to come out, it would have meant another major operation. I truly did not want to go through that again.

This experience reminded me of a couple of important lessons.

First, wise counsel matters.

Two highly qualified surgeons looked at the same situation and came to different conclusions. One believed the gallbladder had to come out immediately. The other suggested trying temporary stents first to see if it could be saved. After much prayer and consultation, that’s the path we chose.

Second, when you open your life to others, you’ll receive no shortage of advice—from doctors, friends, and family.

One of my favorite comments was, “Just take it out. You don’t eat raw meat anyway!” That came from a very intelligent woman, although it sounded like something one of us men might say! Others warned, “It’s just going to attack you again.” They’re right—that could happen. But if there was a reasonable chance to preserve an organ God designed to help digest fats, that seemed worth pursuing.

Most of all, this experience reminded me that prayer matters.

I believe God heard the prayers of His people.

After all, I certainly don’t know how to clean out a gallbladder.

This doesn’t mean the journey is over. Next week I’ll undergo a capsule endoscopy—a tiny camera that I swallow—to help my doctors determine where I’m losing blood. We would appreciate your prayers once again, asking the Lord to give the doctors wisdom, to reveal the source of the bleeding clearly, and that He would bring healing before the test even begins. Yesterday’s good news has only strengthened our confidence that God is still at work, and we continue to trust Him one step at a time.

Thank you for every prayer, every message, every word of encouragement, and every expression of love. Becky and I are deeply grateful. We continue to trust the Lord, who has been so faithful through every step of this journey.

To God be the glory!

Grace and Peace!