On February 28, 2011 my dad, at age 75, was diagnosed with Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor found in humans. His prostate cancer diagnosis two months prior was alarming, but GBM (without treatment – three to four months life expectancy, with treatment – possibly two years) was unbearable. Life became very dark in one day. Chemo, radiation treatment and days of uncertainty consumed our lives.
A man who had refused retirement and had enjoyed the hustle and bustle of managing a metal fabrication shop for many years was now faced with a life style of doctors, tests, treatments and sedentary long days. Family and friends became prayer warriors. Medical teams began the treatment and test schedules setup. Jeanene, his wife for 28 years, was hurled into a new life role as fulltime “care giver.” Learning to administer daily injections, respond to his reactions from various medications, and continually encourage him to persevere, while at the same time maintaining the home, were exhausting for her.
One month into his diagnosis, my sister and I realized Jeanene could not do it alone. We worked out a monthly schedule where she and I rotated weeks flying in from Pennsylvania to Atlanta two weeks out of the month. Jeanene counted the days until we arrived for our visit. Relief, emotional support, household care and additional help caring for Dad were welcomed by both parents.
In April we recognized we could not provide the continued support they needed. The gutters needed cleaned, the toilet needed repaired, and depression and loneliness consumed Dad as Jeanene grew weary between our visits.
Desperately searching for support services in a town I was not familiar with had been a challenge until Cannon Cancer Care Ministry (CCCM) in Snellville, Georgia answered our prayers. Within a few short days, emotional support, home care, meals, transportation, prayer and, most import, friendship for Dad arrived. Men his own age engaged him in conversations and discussion that allowed him to experience camaraderie again. Prayer partners came to the home on Sunday and called throughout the week to offer prayer and spiritual support. A group of women came once a month to clean. A caring man came to install a threshold ramp, with Dad’s assistance from his wheel chair, it was a heartwarming task to watch. Though each doctor visit was met with apprehension, Cannon’s volunteers accompanied them to provide encouragement and additional support.
Folks listened and genuinely cared for the person, not the disease; that is Cannon Cancer Care Ministry.
Cannon’s presence lifted some of the burden of caring for Dad so that my sister, Jeanene and I could focus on loving Dad and enjoy our time together during his last few months.
We felt God’s love every time Cannon visited, called and cared for our family. In May 2011, my sister received her breast cancer diagnosis. Cannon once again reached out to our family.
God called Dad home on October 3, 2011. Jeanene, Compassionate Care Hospice and I were by his side; we never felt alone. Cannon embraced our family, performed a celebration of life service and still continues our friendship.
In November 2011 our pastor preached a sermon “When God Whispers, Listen.” My husband Jeff and I both heard God calling us to bring Cannon Cancer Care Ministry into our community. We presented the model to Pastor John and Grace United Methodist Church of Millersville’s lay leaders. Everyone agreed there is a huge need for this type of ministry in our community.
And so began five months of planning, brain storming, meeting, revising and developing the Grace Cancer Care Ministry for the Grace and Penn Manor communities. Many volunteers gathered each month to shape the services that have been defined. Processes and procedures are in place thanks to their dedication and hard work. Training and now volunteers are prepared to step out into the community and share God’s love through simple acts of kindness like our friends at Cannon Cancer Care Ministry in Georgia.
