Storm Clouds

From the urging of friends and family, we did email the doctor in hopes he would be aware of the surgery date, understand how distant it is, and negotiate a date sooner.  The result was a 2.5 weeks of movement -- not what we were hoping, but some progress.  The new date would be March 4 at UVA.

I did attempt to contact Johns Hopkins in order to schedule a surgery date there prior to the consultation, but they were unable to help me out.  They also were unable to tell me the likelihood of Ray being able to get a date earlier than March.  Alas.  We wait until Tuesday with the full intention of asking and hopefully, scheduling surgery there immediately.

The silver lining on an otherwise dark-grey cloud is that Ray would be able to have time to prepare for his substitute teacher, go to surgery a few weeks before spring break, and essentially stop for the remainder of the school year, allowing his recovery to move smoothly into summer.

However, Ray and I are frustrated and angry at the multiple delays in getting treatment.  Had his first doctor been more assertive, Ray wouldn't have lost nearly a month of time, and had the realization of the significance of this cancer not been been understood days before the holidays, we'd have been able to schedule appointments with doctors, line up surgery dates and move things along far quicker.  Meanwhile, with the heavy footed pace of our process thus far, this dark and deadly cancer remains inside him, growing.

Isn't this such a comforting passage?
2 Kings 20:5
Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 
"This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says:  
I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.  
On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the 
LORD.  I will add fifteen years to your life.  And I will deliver you . . .