Multiple Myeloma
“I had to trust the Lord all the way through this.”
-Dr. Lichi
Life was going well for Dr. Lichi when the unexpected happened. He was very active, a father, grandfather, psychologist, speaker and runner. In November 2011, he collapsed, fell to the floor and could not stand up. He went to the emergency room where he received a diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma, a cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. The doctor told him his life would never be the same.
“It rocked my world” said Dr. Lichi. He couldn’t walk for over three months and was in a wheelchair for over a year. He fought the cancer with chemotherapy, but it kept getting worse. Many times he questioned God and asked: “Why is this happening to me?”
Eventually, God brought healing to Dr. Lichi using a complete stem cell transplant. Dr. Lichi said he received a divine process rather than a divine intervention. Like most of us, he wanted instant healing, but God had other plans. God’s plans included opportunities for Dr. Lichi to give hope to other people, including the very people that provided care to him. “I had to learn to let the Lord work in my life,” he said.
If you are struggling with a serious illness, here are some points to consider:
- God will give you opportunities.
- Look up to the Lord Jesus Christ. Put your trust in Him.
- Be open to ways you can help or comfort others in the middle of your struggles.
- Stay open to God. Use this time to draw closer to Him. Take your questions, fears, sorrows, and anger to Him. He is a great God who loves you.
Words to Live By:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” II Corinthians 12:9 (NIV).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5 (ESV).
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” II Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV).
Dr. Ron’s Perspective:
Cancer – the terrifying word no one wants to hear or speak about. It strikes fear in the hearts of most people, triggering images of suffering and death. A cancer diagnosis makes one feel vulnerable and fragile. Shock, fear, and disbelief are also common reactions. Many people wonder, “Why is this happening to me?” Some are afraid to die, and indeed, some will. You are not alone in these feelings and reactions. Many others who have received a cancer diagnosis are afraid too, but there is always hope! Death may be the end of life as we know it on Earth, but it is also the beginning of a new life in Heaven for those who are saved through Jesus Christ.
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