Friday November 21, 2025
Hello dear friends. I apologize in advance if this tardy update is longer than expected. I will do my best to sum it all up quickly. I have a great deal of things to share with you to catch you up to speed on all the ups and downs I have experienced over these last three weeks.
On Wednesday night October 29th (which is by the way my middle son’s birthday) I had a scheduled visit from the home health nurse. I had been in bed for couple days straight fighting off what I thought was a just stomach bug or another infection. I hadn’t eaten much or drank enough water for a few days. I was running a slight fever and having (what I call) “chemo sweats”. When the nurse attempted to sit me up in bed my blood pressure dropped quickly and I passed out (Orthostatic Hypotension). She recommended Melissa call an ambulance to take me to the emergency room. When EMS arrived and while they were moving me to a stretcher I had (apparently… because I don’t remember it) a seizure.
Upon arriving to the hospital I had (despite having no memory of it) four more seizures one right after the other. The doctors and nurses quickly scrambled into action with IVs, bags of fluids, medicines, injections and many tubes of blood drawn. Heavily sedated, I was admitted to the neuro floor of the hospital with many unanswered questions. What the heck is going on?!?
I spent a week in the hospital. I felt like a lab rat with all the tests, medical exams, CT scans, MRIs, EEG, tons of blood work, and dozens of medicines around the clock. The good news was all of the scans of the head showed no evidence of damage, tumors, stroke, embolism, or hemorrhage. The doctors concluded that severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance was likely the cause for the seizures. Nevertheless I am now on seizure medicine for the time being.
The doctors arranged for me to go to a rehabilitation hospital. I had spent the majority of the last four months in bed battling cancer, chemo side affects, infections and any random bug going around. My mobility was nearly gone as my leg muscles would give out quickly. The rehab (having been there before three times in the last two years) specializes in getting people in my condition up, mobile, and independent.
I spent two weeks in the rehabilitation hospital having three hours of physical therapy every day. It was hard work! I was able to push myself toward lofty goals. When I arrived I could barely take five steps. At the time of my discharge, a couple days ago, I walked 122 feet with my walker. Hallelujah! I rang the bell of successful discharge and celebrated a small victory as I returned to the comforts and peace of my home. There really is no place like home!
I spent a great deal of time in prayer during those three weeks lying in a lumpy hospital bed. And here it the crazy part: it seems like the sicker I get the closer I feel to God. And let me tell you friends, lately God has been whisper close. That is not a fluke. It is a direct result of answers to YOUR prayers being lifted up on my behalf
I want to leave you with a couple verses from the Bible that have comforted me in times when I have felt distant from God. Psalm 139:7-11 “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.”
I have spent many seasons of my life where I felt distant, far far away from the presence of God. I am ashamed to admit that many times I have played a form of spiritual ‘hide and go seek’ with God. In those dark moments I hide in my shame, my sin, my regrets. But unlike Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden there is no bush or fig leaf large enough to hide behind. Why? Because even in the darkest moments of life God is right there with us. One of His many names is Immanuel which literally means “GOD WITH US.”
Even fighting cancer on my worst day I am still in His presence. He is close. He is here and now. He hasn’t abandoned nor forsaken me. He filled my hospital rooms. He was cheering me on during physical therapy. He wipes my tears through the pain. And he reminds us we are never ever alone.
Thank you for hanging in there to read that long winded update. Before I go however I want to remind you of all of our social media support links. Please continue to visit each page often for updates, share the links with others freely, and please leave comments. Your support in every form or fashion is still very much needed and greatly appreciated. God bless you for your love and support. Although financial donations have slowed down in a dramatic fashion I know God will get us though this. If He nudges your heart to help, please do so. Thanking you ahead.
From the comforts of our Home shared with our Lord and yours, God bless you!
-Steven
