Hospice

7/17/2001 was Mike’s first thoracotomy and the day we learned that he had stage 1 grade 4 Non-small cell lung cancer. As a life long non-smoker this was a shocking diagnoses! 24 years later on 7/17/2025 Mike was admitted into hospice. 😭

The decision to start on hospice was difficult to come to terms with, but we feel like it was the right choice! We have had weekly visits with the hospice nurse and massage therapist and have met with the chaplain and social worker. They have started some new medications for pain and they seem to be helping, with a little tweaking here and there. He is, however, having more bone pain, so may need something stronger soon. Every time I have said, “this is the hardest season of our lives”, I have meant it.. But… life is definitely getting harder and harder!

Mike has enjoyed all his visitors, but that is also getting harder for him because he is more fatigued and the cancer is truthfully just taking its toll! Mike is not scared to die, but obviously doesn’t want to leave his family! I am listening to a great book called Imagine Heaven (next is Imagine the God of Heaven) and I would highly suggest it! If however, you are like me and don’t like when the reader of a book changes voices, then I would recommend reading it instead of listening on audible😬

We know that when that day does eventually come, Mike will no longer be in pain and he will literally run to Jesus, a healthy disease-free happy man!

Nobody knows when their life will end, so I suggest saying the things you want to say to your loved ones now. Have hard conversations, have easy conversations, just talk and make memories! Most importantly, repent of your sins and ask Jesus to be your personal savior! We can never be good enough, do enough, work enough.. Jesus died on the cross for us. He took on our sin and all we have to do is repent, believe and receive!

Mike’s favorite Bible verse is Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season, we will reap, if we do not give up.” This verse is perfect for Mike, because he has always tried to do good and to help other people. We know that in due season he will reap, because he has not given up!

In His love and ours,

Paula