After another two and half weeks in the hospital, Dave is back home again. It always feels so good to be home. You don’t realize how good it feels to sleep in your own bed until you’ve spent some time in a hospital bed… or in Carol’s case a hospital cot. We so appreciate our friend who made sure we had all new, soft, comfy bedding. Wow! What a difference! Like sleeping in a cloud!
This last round of chemo was pretty tough with some crazy side effects that we hadn’t experienced before, but God is good. He is always with us and without the comfort and strength of His presence and His hope, the journey would at times be unbearable.
The encouraging cards and messages on this blog that you are all sending are truly a light in our day and an encouragement that nurtures our hearts. Thank you for reminding us that God is using our journey to grow your love and relationship with God. Here’s a couple comments from cards we received just yesterday:
- “Pastor Dave, You have been such an inspiration to me. I hope you feel better. God is doing amazing things here. I just came back to the Lord recently after seeing your blog. I now know God’s Got This!”
- “Dear Dave, We love and miss you. Our growth in our walk with God has increased ten fold! Although we have not seen or heard you, you continue to inspire us! I am doing a study on Philippians in my small group and just read how Paul used his chains to preach the gospel. I thought of you - you are using the chains of this disease and treatment to encourage us in our faith. Thank you!”
- “I do not know you personally, but you have had a tremendous impact on my life. Not a day passes that I do not think of something you taught in church. I know one of the reasons I am still married is because of your many wise teachings. I pray that His will would prevail and selfishly pray you would heal quickly and return to IHC.”
At this point, the plan is to be home to rest, eat, and regain as much strength as possible to go back for the stem cell transplant in three or four weeks. We will keep you updated!
Thank you so much for all the love, kindness, prayers and encouragement you are showing us on this journey. It is horrible, but there are also glimpses of beauty in the journey and you are truly part of that beauty!
The Stoecklein family