Posted on 11/06/2014 3:38:56 PM PST by NYer
A man diagnosed with the same form of brain cancer that led Brittany Maynard to kill herself last weekend says he chose a different path because of his faith in God.
Thirteen years ago, David Williams of Newport, Arkansas was told by his doctors that he had a progressive brain tumor called glioblastoma multiforme, and that he had 6 months to a year to live.
Williams told WMC TV that although he trusted his doctors, he refused to believe that he couldn't fight the disease and live. As a result of his determination he's undergone surgeries, chemotherapies, takes daily medication, and refuses to give up.
He credits his faith in God for prolonging his life and giving him a unique perspective from which to spread a message of hope through counseling others who find themselves in similar situations.
“There's nothing else I could think of that I could even start to give credit to except for my faith in God," said Williams.
“We look at things that happen as bad, when we can actually look at them as a blessing. I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing without the cancer," he said. "Without me going through what I've gone through, I don't think I would be able to reach people the way I reach people.”
He tells those who seek him out at his church in Newport, “I'm going to make it through it. You can make it through what you're going through too."
Williams said he wishes Brittany Maynard had not chosen to kill herself.
“That's a life you're taking, that life that can mean something," he said.
“There is more than one way to help the problem that you've got. You need to find what it is that is going to help you," said Williams. "The best is always yet to come!"
I wonder what Brittany is thinking now..
And also her family — what if she had lived for 13 more years?
I am not sure surviving is the same as living.
What do you need?
I’ve survived for 67 years under sometimes onerous and painful circumstances. Was I “living” only when I was young, strong and in excellent health? And now - in my old age, weakness, and in ill health - am I only surviving but not “living?”
_________________
Ever work in pedes onocology? Parents agree to treatments with miniscule survival rates. They do not understand that survival means breathing but not consciousness. They are handed back a slowly dying child, who has been tortured.
Brain cancer? You can survive a long time. Breathing, in pain, dying by the inch. Watching an friend do this now. Not a death I would wish on anyone.
The difference between brain cancer and your example of ill health are not even in the same planetary system.
I wonder what part of his brain is affected.
My mom died of a Glioblastoma Multiforme. She lived 6 months and one days from her first (known) seizure. I found her (returning home from HS) on the Kitchen floor. Once mom was hospitalized many bruises were found and they thought she possibly had other seizures (when she was home alone). She never complained of dizziness or headaches, and the initial diagnosis was a stroke (how many brain cancers could have been misdiagnosed as “strokes” in the generations before CTs, etc?). In the morning she was fine, I found her on the floor late afternoon, and within a couple days her speech was gone. Seizures (even w/meds) came regularly (once she was stable then the 1st surgery). Glios are stunning in their growth and with the damage they cause.
She had two surgeries (resulting in an indentation). She also had radiation. All that resulted in was the growth of the glio slowed. My mom was breathing on her own til the end, but lost the ability to speak BEFORE she had her first surgery (seizures had to be stabilized). She eased into a vegative state, but anti seizure meds could not control the violent seizures she had (some times dozens a day). Dental issues (from breaking her teeth and biting her tongue occurred because the fury of her facial spasms made mouth guard dislodge). I say all this because from what I recall (30 years ago) the tumor is invasive w/the Multiforme referencing how the cancer spreads out (like taproot) around and between healthy brain tissue. So I question where this gentlemans tumor is located and what functions that portion of the brain governs. My moms seizures were so violent she made her hospital bed “jump” w/the wheels locked and with her restrained (to keep her from falling out of the bed).
I am thrilled to learn ANYONE can BEAT this horror. I also hope that he is being treated at a teaching hospital where every nuance of his tumor can be recorded, studied, and learned from.
I must add, that from my experience with my mom (and what “blanks” filled in when I was older) I can say I fully understand why Ms Maynard did what she did and her families support of her decision. If you read longer accounts of her final days, she opted for the suicide because she started having seizures. And again, I wonder what part of her brain was affected, what it controlled and what damage those initial seizures may have caused.
Saying a prayer for the repose of the soul of Miss Maynard and prayers for this gentlemen’s continued VICTORY over an awful cancer
Chickensoup,
Thanks for your thoughtful post.
Those who have not seen terminal patients are well advised to consider twice before typing once.
Just a hint.
YMMV
Good for you, Conor. :-)
Probably most people have seen terminal patients. It's not so unusual.
Count me as one of the people who's known terminal patients, most of whom were my own relatives. Those patients wanted to live and were willing to continue to fight as long as possible. Their will to fight made other people uncomfortable. But the patients themselves were perfectly comfortable trying everything possible.
Seems like it would be more productive to teach others how to cherish life than it is to keep pointing out the badness of the flip side. I believe a pretty nice man and His followers usually started things off in the tenor of "Blessed is he who (fill in the blank)" instead of "Damned is he who (fill in the blank)".
If anyone knows how to get in touch with this guy, A cousin of mine is going through this now and would appreciate any help or inspiration that he could give.
My suggestion would be to contact the journalist, Thaddeus Baklinski, at Life Site News.
good idea, thank you
I guess, by your measure, I should just cash it in.
Not going to happen, FRiend.
________
No my solution is not pulling the plug.
There is no solution.
These are tough places to be, and criticism doesn’t help anyone.
We help people walk their walk. That is all we can do.
Thanks. Tough subject.
The Lord is not through with him, obviously.
Just goes to show you that the “experts” aren’t always right.
Indeed. :-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.