Thursday

March 13, 2025


    Before I share updates from this week, I must take notice of what day this is. Most people probably realize that it is the fifth anniversary of the shutdown, "two weeks to flatten the curve," which became 2-3 years of waiting for life to get back to normal. For me, it was even more significant than that. I didn't know it at the time, but it would be the last time I would set foot in a classroom as a teacher with students. I already had submitted the paperwork to retire in June, but I never anticipated that I would finish my career as a ZOOM teacher, only seeing students through the computer.  

    It made me consider those moments in life when everything changes and we know our life will never be the same. Often, we are there, right in the middle of the moment or event.  Other times, it is a phone call or announcement we never expected. Like most people, I've had a few of these circumstances: when my father died, when I received the phone call my mother had passed, when the principal announced we were shutting down and wouldn't be coming back, and when I received the phone call from the dermatologist that it wasn't a cyst, it was merkel cell carcinoma. 

    In each case, I was blessed to be able to rely on my faith to accept the news, not be overwhelmed by it, and be able to contemplate what would come next without fear or trepidation.  

Romans 8:28

    And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 

Proverbs 3:5

    Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Isaih 26:3

    You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

    My life is His and I've seen Him work in me and through me to not have any doubts. I am able to be "Pauly Sunshine" and "Positive Paul" (Cathy's nickname for me) because I know my strength comes from God and it sustains me. 

    Yesterday we met with the Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Harris, at UCI.  Like Dr. Tran, he was honest but positive and again, we were able to come away feeling confident that we were on the right track for treatment with the right doctors.  He has experience with merkel cell, about 5 a year.  Turns out, he's almost a neighbor.  He lives in Long Beach on the other side of CSULB from us. 

    Once the treatment is cleared by insurance, we will meet again to map out the complete plan but he gave us a rough outline. After two more weeks of letting the site heal from the original surgery he will make a definitive plan for my radiation treatment. Cathy and I both had a good laugh that the preparation includes making a mold of the affected area. The radiation treatment will be 5 days a week for 5 weeks. I will be in the office for about 20 minutes, but the actual treatment will only be a minute in length.  He said I will basically be getting intensive X-rays concentrated on that one area, but, because of the size of "tumor," it would be a fairly large area around my right thigh and bottom. 

    Dr. Harris said I won't feel anything and should be able to do normal activities.  Some people do get nauseous and tired. There is a cumulative effect though.  On the surface, skin will get dry and flaky.  I'll need some good lotion. Inside, the area will get tough and leathery.  They will be destroying cells at the DNA level.  As he put it, it's all about cost benefit analysis and what the radiation will do to you is better than what the cancer will do. 

    I have a number of people ask why radiation is needed if I'm cancer free right now.  Merkel cell is very aggressive, it travels through the lymph nodes and will come back if not treated.  There might still be microscopic fragments of the cancer in the affected area and the doctors want to hopefully kill anything remaining. 

    Our church held a marriage conference over Valentine's Day weekend. Cathy and I won a gift card to Morton's.  We've decided that we are saving it until my last radiation treatment and then we will go there for dinner to celebrate : )

    I want to make sure and say thank you again to everyone who has been praying for me.  Don't let anyone ever try to tell you that prayer isn't powerful, it is, and very appreciated. 

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

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