Meet Tony

I want you to meet my friends, Tony and Debbie. Tony is fighting for his life and he is up against a powerful enemy. Tony has been fighting metastatic stomach cancer for several years. He has had numerous surgeries, including brain surgery. He has endured two YEARS of IV chemotherapy. He has battled nausea, pain, grief and fear. He has been part of an ongoing medical study for cancer treatment. He has faced needles, ports, tubes, scalpels, stitches, and all the various side-effects of toxic drugs. And still he fights on. 


Every time I see Tony he has a smile to give and positive words of encouragement. In spite of all he is going through, he continues to look on the positive side. Tony is one of my heroes.


I wrote about Tony on this blog once before. It was early after my diagnosis. I was shuffling between doctor appointments in a cloud of shock and disbelief when I happened to run into Tony in the elevator. I noticed he had a pump that he carried with him so I knew he was most likely a cancer patient. I asked him how he was doing, and he is the one who told me it was "just another day in paradise." I remember being surprised by his answer, but in that moment my thinking was transformed. I may have had cancer, but I still had my life to live. I still had that day to rejoice in all that God had done and was doing for me. Tony's simple comment gave me the courage I needed to fight for life. 


Tony is a husband, a father, and a grandfather. The doctors have told him that they have done all they can do. Many of his tumors have disappeared, but there are a couple of stubborn tumors that continue to grow despite everything the doctors have tried.  Tony is in pain most of the time. It is difficult for him to sleep at night because he can't get comfortable. 


I asked Tony if I could share his story with you. I told him that you would pray for him - for healing, for pain relief, for courage, endurance, peace, and hope. I told him that you would pray for Debbie and for his family. So, as you pray for me, please pray for God's best for my sweet friends, Tony and Debbie. Thank you!

"How precious is your unfailing love, O God! 

All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. 

You feed them from the abundance of your own house, 

letting them drink from your river of delights. 

For you are the fountain of life, 

the light by which we see."

Psalm 36:7-9