Most everything was going along just fine for me . I was 71 and enjoying life , but I was having difficulty swallowing certain things . Eating became difficult . By the time I was able to get into a gastroenterologist , several months had passed . And then the words came , “ You have esophageal cancer ”.
Everything changed .
I made some plans about what I was going to do alongside the radiation treatments , chemotherapy , and eventual Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy . I didn ’ t anticipate 36 days in hospital and a nasogastric feeding tube from multiple complications . Those plans I made included a theme song to repeatedly listed to . Many years ago , a dear friend of mine , Chris Wimber , was dying of cancer and chose to put Scott Underwood ’ s , “ You Bless Me Lord ”, on his cd player ’ s repeat mode . I ’ ll never forgot those moments during my last visit with him .
But for me , the theme song that I chose was “ Psalm 23 ”, set to music by the great Howard Goodall . Howard was the musical architect for the original Mr . Bean series and is a gifted arranger and composer for multiple movies , tv shows , and church music pieces .
On day 21 of my first hospital stay , I literally thought I was not going to survive . Dehydrated , weak , unable to walk , on oxygen and in pain , I felt at death ’ s door . I truly believed that I was “ You Bless Me Lord ” Scott Underwood The Lord is My Shepherd ( Psalm 23 ) [ Goodall ] — Choir of Wells Cathedral visiting the Valley of the Shadow of Death . I knew that I had the prayers of many hundreds of friends and family members and had the pleasure of many of them visiting me during this time . I felt loved . But during this particular moment , I was broken . Ravaged . Devastated .
Once again I cued up my theme song , Howard Goodall ’ s “ Psalm 23 ”.
[ Verse ] The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want He maketh me to lie down in green pastures He leadeth me beside the still waters The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want He maketh me to lie down in green pastures He leadeth me beside the still waters
[ Bridge ] Yea , though I walk Through the valley Of the shadow of death I will fear no evil
Yea , though I walk Through the valley Of the shadow of death I will fear no evil
For You are with me You will comfort me You are with me You will comfort me ( Comfort me )
You might also like
[ Verse 2 and conclusion ] Surely goodness and mercy Shall follow me All the days of my life
And I will dwell in the house Of the Lord forever Forever ( Forever ) Forever
As the bridge section hit , I became undone ,
November 2023 Subscribe for Free ... 15