Cancer - Part 4 (Letter from Dad)

The results that we received weeks later were the best of the worst. We were somewhat hanging on to that .1% that there was no cancer. But that wouldn’t be so. They determined that Mike indeed had cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, to be exact. Lymphoma falls into 2 categories – Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s. All the medical professionals told us, “If you’re going to choose a cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the one to choose.” I remember thinking, “Who would choose cancer?” But, anyway, to them this was good news. Our oncologist informed us that this type of cancer could easily be treated at Boundary Trails. We were so thrilled that we didn’t have to drive to Winnipeg for treatments! May 3 would be the date for the beginning of AVBD chemotherapy.

Our parents were also thrilled about the news. Even though the news of cancer was a devastating blow, we were able to see a faint silver lining. My dad wrote something for us that touched me deeply. This is what he wrote:

Sometimes in life we are dealt a bad hand, just like in the game of hearts. When the Jack of Spades is dealt to you, it looks pretty bleak. Then, as you keep playing, the hearts start to come to you and you can still win that hand.

So it will be in Mike’s case. He has been dealt a bad hand with the Jack of Spades, but the hearts are starting to come to him. First, the diagnosis was quick. Then, the cancer is Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is better than non-Hodgkin’s. We are covered with lots of prayer, another heart. The treatments are in Boundary Trails and not Winnipeg, another heart. And the hearts will just keep coming.

Count your blessings one by one.

Love, Dad.

And that was the hope that we clung to. Seeing the “hearts”, the blessings, was a choice. Sometimes they were hard to find, but they were there.