FROM PASTOR COLE
“I WILL DRIVE AGAIN!”
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On January 3, 2013, I was told I had a large brain tumour. I fell to my knees and cried out to God for a miracle. My faith, envisioned my head without the tumour. I wrote on face book, “What tumour?“ God’s got this! The next day, I drove to Moncton to meet with Dr. Charest, my Surgeon, who had already been scheduled to remove the fist size tumour from my VISION (Occipital lobe) the following Thursday. It was at this appointment that Dr. Charest did some tests and told me that I should not drive anymore. I had already lost my lower left peripheral vision and didn’t hardly realize it. I will never forget that day…I was also told that my vision could be much worse after the surgery or even lost completely. Here I was, a husband, father, pastoring a good size Church along with some district responsibilities etc. My wife had a full-time child care business in the lower level of our home. It was obvious that we had to make some major changes quickly. I was told at this appointment that I was about to have the busiest week-end of my life. My surgeon told me to get my house in order. I was reminded that I was about to have a very serious and dangerous brain surgery. I remember how my head felt that day…it was full of pressure from the tumour and major swelling…Even though I had placed my full confidence and trust in the Lord, I have to admit, I was pretty shaken over everything I was hearing. That day was day 1 of my wife being my chauffeur. On January 10, 2013, I had my surgery. Following the surgery, I noticed that my vision was worse. My total left peripheral vision was now gone. They ended up having to remove a good portion of my right occipital vision lobe. The good news was that they were able to do a complete resection of the tumour. I was told the first MRI following surgery is usually very messed up. My first one came back really good. Swelling was down but where the pathology came back a grade 4 cancerous glioblastoma, they felt it was important that I have 30 radiation treatments right away along with chemo. Again, every treatment was directed at my vision lobe. While I was in the hospital, I was told that I would never drive again. If anything, my vision would only get worse. The peripheral vision part of my brain was in Halifax. I was reminded that it had been removed. It wasn’t long after my surgery that I was asked to send my drivers license back to Halifax. I wrote on the bottom of the letter…“I will drive again!“ I also shared this statement of faith with many others including on my face book wall. It wasn't mere words, I truly believed it! Over the past 23 months, I have had countless tests done on my eyes. Recently, things started improving to the place where the Halifax Licensing medical section gave me the go ahead to have a road test done locally. This took place on Thursday of this week. I had to do 2 written tests then an hour long extensive road test. God had answered my prayer in that I was driving in my community again...even though it was with a driver enhancement officer. With his help along with the Lord, I passed all 3 of these tests. I had just one more thing to deal with. It was still up to the Medical Section in Halifax to give me the final go ahead. Today, I received the call and the suspension on my license was lifted. We are celebrating this evening! God has given us so many miracles! Over the past nearly 2 years, God has brought me through a serious brain surgery, 30 radiation treatments, 147 chemo treatments and my blood report is better than when I first started and here I am, driving with my beautiful family again...with no sign or symptoms of cancer. This is a God thing! I will never cease to give him Praise for His greatness. With each new day, we continue to trust the Lord. He truly does all things well. Thanks everyone for your earnest prayers. I love you all so much!