Today I had a doctor’s appointment. Upon opening the door of the clinic, I was welcomed by the sight of my ex co-worker sitting for his appointment as well. I got very excited and begun talking about how things have been.
Suddenly he relayed a very sad news. I remembered when I was still working at my previous job, he always have to go to the ER because of severe abdominal pain. He shared with us that his pancreatic enzymes were elevated but doctors haven’t found any abnormalities with his CT scans nor MRIs. I have only one diagnosis that is possible in my mind at that time. But of course I haven’t said it to him unless otherwise confirmed by the experts.
He said after couple of months, it was confirmed then. He has been diagnosed with the most dreaded disease in the world, cancer. It is indeed a sad story. He was a very nice co-worker, a very good father and a very God-fearing person. I almost want to cry when he shared it with me. But in the good note, it was detected early. So he will be undergoing a surgery to remove the cancerous cells and praying it would help. Which I will be praying that it would be a success too.
We had a very long conversation while waiting for our turn to see the doctor. Until we reached the topic of how blessed he is to have such condition. We talked about how his faith has been tested during this battle. We have to be strong for our families, he said. We have to prepare ourselves for whatever happens. We were both talking sadly about everything that is happening and I can clearly see in his eyes the tears forming and how genuine he is with how grateful and faithful he is to Our Lord.
For me, it was a very meaningful encounter. These kind of conversations make me realize that I who is in the path to healing is very thankful for the disease that changed my life. My illness has opened up a door of reality that a healthy person can’t understand. I know that I can’t live my life in fear because I have Him.
It’s the matter of acceptance and strong faith, indeed.
P.S. This entry was a draft I saved approximately 2 years ago. I thought I will be able to share this experience with a great ending but I guess, there is a better story in it.
Unfortunately, after a year I wrote this encounter, my co-worker had found his peace with Our Lord. He passed away of pancreatic cancer. I’ve known him to be a warrior. He speaks for himself. He is kind to everyone. He is generous and soft-spoken.
He fought for his condition for a long time for his family but God may have bigger plans for him. He left 2 small kids and a grieving wife. But I strongly believe he also left very strong lessons for them to remember their whole lives. Which is to be faithful, courageous and kind. I know it in my heart because I learned it from him first-hand.
Today, I decided to post this draft as I want people to realize that “Every story has an ending, But in life, every ending is a new beginning.”
