Softball League Bulletin Board

Dear Friends,

Today I was released from the hospital after three difficult days and released with a good surgical report. I suffered bad reactions from various post-surgical medications, had many tubes and needles in me, three near-sleepless days, and now have about 40 staples in my leg, but I believe the worst is now behind me. The surgery was the most minimal of any proposed possibilities.

The head surgeon in Boston told me that it was very unusual for everyone on their medical team to all agree on the same treatment. He smiled amusedly while saying that even the doctor on his team who always disagrees this time also agreed. It was an answer to prayer as their team proceeded in unity. The surgeons cut me open, removed some tissue but did not find cancer where they thought they might and then they closed me up – no amputation, no reconstruction, no muscle transplant, no skin graph, just a big scar as a reminder for my testimony. That was my prayer – Lord, please save my leg, save my knee, save my calf muscle, save my skin…and He did.

Next week pathologists will review additional tissue samples from the surgery to determine if radiation treatment is necessary. I am expecting not to have any radiation, but I cannot say for sure until my follow-up appointment on August 31st. As standard procedure I will have check-ups for the next ten years, but I believe this is already a conquered battle.

As I went through the halls of the cancer ward and saw those with amputations I realized how blessed I am to come out of this with minimal suffering. On April 12th I felt the Lord communicate to me a word that I would run and not stumble (Proverbs 4:12). Since then every cancer specialist that I consulted told me I would never run again…until we prayed and God changed their opinions. The first week of September I will begin physical therapy and soon after I will run again.

God bless,
Darien