Dear Friends,
We have moved our site to
https://posthope.org/robert-gonzales. Please visit Robert there.
Thank you.
I want to begin my story regarding my health by sharing my story and Ruth's (my wife) as well.
From Robert:
At the end of May after a 6-day retreat in Ohio, I had an experience of severe weakness, dizziness, and exhaustion. I went to my doctor and had a blood test. The test showed a very low red blood count. A few days later it was even lower, in the danger zone. I went to the hospital for a blood transfusion to rebuild the red blood cells. They also suspected bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal area. They took an endoscopy, which is a tube with a camera at the end to see the area in my esophagus and stomach. It showed an area that was bleeding slowly. They also took a biopsy. The biopsy showed cancer cells in the lower part of my esophagus.
Several doctors said I was lucky to have caught this at an early stage. There were two more follow-up tests that showed more information about the tumor. The team of doctors recommended radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. In July, I will begin 5 weeks of chemotherapy and radiation. And then after another 5-week period, it is most likely that I will have surgery. I will then have another 4-6 week period of recovery. The first part before the surgery will take 5 weeks. I have been extremely busy taking care of my future treatment and managing the implications for several workshops that I have planned. The surgery is planned for an uncertain time 45-60 days after the chemo/radiation treatment.
This experience has given me the opportunity to process. I feel deep gratitude for all the work I have done in my life that has developed my capacity to meet this experience with openness, acceptance, grace, and love. I am grateful to the richness of Inner resources that are always available to me.
I welcome hearing from anyone who wants to respond in any way. I enjoy receiving any message you are moved to share. I prefer to receive emotional support rather than advice for various kinds of treatments, diets, or other approaches.
Robert
From Ruth:
Thank you for your care and concern for Robert and for your visiting this site to stay connected to him as he walks through this next phase of life.
On May 23, 2018, Robert went to the emergency room at our local hospital with severe anemia. During this visit, an endoscopy was done that revealed cancer cells in his esophagus above the sphincter to his stomach. He is fortunate that this was caught early and is treatable.
He has arranged for his treatment to begin in early July, which coincides with his normal summer vacation. His treatment is multi-stepped and as of now, we see this taking him into the fall. We will know more specifics as his treatment and his response to it unfolds.
During this time Robert will continue to offer the courses that he is confident he can participate in. If there is any question about his ability to attend those affected will be notified about this possibility.
We are feeling fortunate that this was discovered early and that we live near one of the best facilities to treat this. The people he is working with are highly skilled and experienced professionals and he is receiving excellent care.
We are thankful for the loving support of his staff, co-workers, family, and friends. We are also glad that the timing of this corresponds to his vacation time with little disruption of his schedule as this was a great concern of his.
We are resting in gratitude. Grateful for life and for the inner wisdom that has created this.Grateful for what will unfold from this.
You are invited to return to this site for Robert’s sharing of his experiences in his Journal. These will be posted as he is inspired.
Please feel free to share your support and encouragement to Robert here. He values his connection with you. Robert will be reading the posts on this site and I am confident your sharing will be supportive and welcomed by him. Thank you.
With gratitude for you,
Ruth
