Journal entry by mark szymanski —
Recent Health Update: Friday June 2nd I woke up feeling pretty bad and after noticing a deepening yellow cast worsening in my skin tone, increased pain in my abdomen, and some confusion setting in I decided to go to the hospital. Cathy drove me in and I was quickly admitted.
Though a series of tests and an MRI it was determined that a large tumor was squeezing a bile preventing bilirubin from exiting my system.
After a number of IVs and medications I was prepared for a procedure to install a steel stent into the bile duct. If successful this would keep the duct open and prevent it from collapsing.
Thanks be to God and your prayers things went well. I am now able to eat and on a new medication regiment. Presently I'm weak from not eating and having a buildup of poisons in my systems. I'm limiting my activities to bed rest, computer stuff, and praying.
Friday I meet with the oncologist to debrief this event, determine if I'll go back on chemo, what kind, how often, etc.
This is another close call that reminds me of my immortality, how close to eternity I am, it's just one heartbeat away. I'm also just took a step down... I'm no longer running the race but now I'm walking it. But I'll faithfully walk until it time to crawl it.
One last thing... While I was in the hospital I met again with Dr. Metcalf. On July 7, 2021 he finalized my diagnosis and he offered to pray for me. Finding our we were both believers we shared our life's work and we prayed for each other. Well, almost two years to to date we prayed again for each other.
God just these ways of encouraging us along.
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