Uncharted Territory

Doing it with my "one in a million!"

After living in five countries, ten states, twenty-two cities/towns, it would seem I wouldn’t know the meaning of “uncharted territory.” I could almost sing “Traveling’ Man” with the late Ricky Nelson. However, I did not have a girl in every port, only my lifelong Charlotte girl. More about her in a moment.

This weekend I am preparing for my last week at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in my 10th state and 22nd city. Our days in Madison, Wisconsin, a city we have grown to love are coming to an end as we move to Muncie, Indiana (lived in that state, but city #23). We not only have the uncharted territory of retirement before us and figuring out our daily activities and lifestyle, but a couple of weeks ago we discovered something we were not expecting—truly uncharted territory.

My only girl, Charlotte, who has been my only girl almost 47 years, has been diagnosed with a fast-growing solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) in her left supraclavicular region. For most of us that means above the clavicle (collar bone). She has had a CT scan, a biopsy, and an MRI. This Tuesday she will have a consult with her medical team and surgery a day or two afterward. This is not a common tumor, in fact, she was told it is “one in a million.” I’ve always known that Charlotte is “one in a million,” and now the medical community agrees with me.

Your prayers are appreciated as we trust God for the future. We won’t know the full picture and what the future holds until after surgery. God is with us!

Fear not, for I am with you,
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

And that’s the bottom line!