Several people have written Dick with their story. We will be posting some of those letters here.

My name is Mike Foshee, my wife Gina and I got married on July 15 th, 1986. We have two adopted girls (that's another long story, full of Gods goodness and grace to myself and Gina, but I'll save that for later) Aubree, 12 and Jordan 5. I turned 45 this last October.

In the fall of 2004 I noticed a small bump or knot under the skin on the right side of my face just in front of my ear. I went to the doctor in November, he looked at it and concluded that it was probably nothing but we should have it sent off for tests just the same. Just after Thanksgiving 2004 we had it partially removed and tested. (We couldn't remove it all without going in the hospital because of a major facial nerve.) A few days later I got a call that he needed to see Gina and myself, in his office, ASAP. I called Gina, picked her up and we went to his office. One of the ladies from our church fills in at the doctor's office so I wasn't alarmed when I saw her waiting for us along with the doctor. The Doc sat us down and then he unloaded.

I don't remember exactly what he said the first time; all I remember was Cancer, 5 year survival rate of 25%, and then seeing my wife falling out on the floor. I've never felt such pain and disbelief. My dad died from Liver/Pancreas cancer in 2002 at 65. Healthy as a horse in October gone by May.

According to the pathology, this was my diagnoses: stage IV metastatic melanoma unknown primary. I had no clue what that meant. I remember trying to find something to hope for, I was asking tons of questions, and the unknown primary really scared me. Doc said that meant that the cancer came from somewhere else, another tumor most likely. Up until then I had no other pains or health issues, after that every little pain I felt, in my mind, was the primary cancer. I asked the doctor if it were him, where would he like the primary to be, (meaning what was the most treatable) he said Brain, Brain I asked, why? He said that was usually the most painless in its latter stages. Not exactly what I was looking for! It all sounds funny now, and looking back from my current perspective, it is!

I began to search the internet for a little more hope, while my doctor began to try to get me an appointment at MD Anderson. From what I remember Stage IV is the most serious stage, metastatic means it has spread and Melanoma, once it metastases, was had to kill, and doesn't respond well to radiation or chemo.

Like the Doctor said 5 year survival rate, 25%�%

I've always been a positive attitude person, If you say you can, or say you can't, you're right! So I put on a smile, went about my normal business. We got the news on a Monday afternoon. Tuesday morning early prayer meeting, then hang around for staff meeting (I'm on as lay staff, Sunday School Super), after lunch, I decided to stay and hook up the sound system for the Christmas Musical. The Christmas Shoes, if you can believe it. You know, little girl trying to buy shoes for her mother's last Christmas, she dies on Christmas Eve. Again funny now, but then. WOW.

I worked that day. I tried trying to keep my mind off it. I wish I could describe what I felt. Hopeless. Jordan was not quite 2 and I found myself thinking I was going to begin to distance myself from her as she hadn't yet begun to cling to me and it would be easier on her if we weren't any closer. A close friend had taken a picture of me and my daughter Aubree on our way to our first trip to Deer Camp. We had really bonded on that trip. I wished I had never taken her. Gina tried to be strong, she was worried. I took care of everything; she had no idea about the future. I had no plan, Dad died a few years earlier and that left me in charge of the family business. I felt like I was failing them all and there was nothing I could do. Helpless, Hopeless and Heavy. Burdened, I had never felt that. Always been in control and even in the face of trouble, I could always see a way out. I'd never been so low. I would work awhile, until everyone helping would leave, then hit the alter and cry. When they'd return, business as usual just hooking up a mic or some lights.

When we finished, I met the wife and kids at the in-laws for a short visit. When we left, I had Jordan, Gina had Aubree. She was going to run a few errands and meet me and Joe (Jordan) at home.

This is the good part. About halfway home, at the lowest I had ever been in my life, my cell phone rang, it was the doctor telling me something about faxing something to MD Anderson, call this person, do this, Blah, Blah, Blah. I hung the phone up. While driving down Central Ave, I realized something was different. I couldn't put my finger on it. Something was just different. Then it hit me. That burden, that pit in my stomach. That sick, out of control all is lost feeling, was gone. When I was at the lowest I could possibly get, when I could stand no more, God stepped in and carried away my burden. A true miracle! I was overwhelmed with the feeling that everything was OK, God knew me and my family, and He truly cared. I cried! And I couldn't stop crying, I'm crying now as I type this, and I cry every time I repeat this story. I tried to tell my brother what had happened, but I couldn't get the words out. He thought I had gotten some more bad news. (Insert another funny story here)

As I could, I began to tell this story to everyone who was concerned for me, I must have told the story 50 times. I was telling it to a close friend at church, (one who firmly believes in Gods Healing power), when she stopped me and asked, "Do you think God healed you?"�. Up until then the thought hadn't crossed my mind. I answered her as honestly as I could. "I don't care!"

And to be completely honest, I didn't. I was so relieved, so satisfied, so free. I wouldn't have taken anything for the assurance God gave me, He knew me, and He knew my needs and the needs of my family. And 2 years ago when my daughter was diagnosed with auto immune hepatitis, a rare liver disorder, and at 9 years of age she had developed cirrhosis and might be in need of a liver transplant, He knew me!

And just last summer, When it looked like the family business was about to sink, He knew me! And above all he knows me! And He knows you! And your wife! and your kids! and your job! And your Insurance! And your house payment! And anything else that might be a burden to you.

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version) says: "for I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I don't preach, "name it claim it" or any other kind of "prosperity gospel" in which God makes our lives completely trouble free if we only believe. I only know what God did for me. I thought I knew what was needed. God saw what was killing me, and in an instant he took it away. Looking back, I've never been happier than I was that day.

One short story and I'll quit. I was riding back from Houston in March, following surgery by Dr. Weber, at the Head and Neck Center, in Jan. I had just finished the last of my radiation and was heading home; all that was left was a strict regiment of checkups over the next five years. Instead of being Happy, I couldn't shake the feeling of sorrow, like I had lost something. Then it occurred to me what was making me sad.

This chapter of my life was closing, while I was extremely happy about the outcome, I felt like life was back to normal, the way it was before Cancer, when I felt like I was OK and in control. It's hard to explain but I was actually sad it was over.

I always used the story of Paul and his companions singing hymns in prison (Acts 16:25) as an example of always being positive, looking at the bright side and making lemonade out of the lemons life deals you, I was wrong, I now know they weren't making themselves sing, the hymns were an outflow of love and joy and peace that comes from trusting 100% in God. I still long for the closeness I felt to the Lord when I was the lowest points in my life. And my prayer even today is to live everyday as close to the Lord as I did in the midst of my darkest storms.

My prayer is that this letter serves to encourage you, your family and all who read it. Feel free to contact me if I can help you in any way.

Just so your not hanging, we went to Houston for testing to find any more Cancer and kill what I had. After all the tests we couldn't find any obvious tumors other than the one we already knew about (most of my prayers were directed at protecting my body from spreading cancer cells, I'm praying this for you now). The Doctors concluded that all we needed to address what we could find now, and worry about whatever else showed up as it became necessary. Dr. Weber preformed a prodictectimy(spell check didn't help on that one) with a radical neck dissection, in which he removed my Cancerous perodid (slavia) Gland and 48 lymph glands/nodes two of which were “iffy”. This left a sunken place in front of my ear and on my neck, not nearly as bad as I was expecting. I'm lucky, I never was that pretty. The radiation regiment for melanoma is a little different; I had a total of five high power/longer doses 2 times a week, for two and a half weeks. I had to have several teeth removed because they were bad I might eventually loose them and that's bad if you've had radiation on your jaw. Several stitches and about 20 or 40 staples and a nasty sore on the inside of my mouth from the radiation and that was the damage to me. They told me I would have a dry mouth for the rest of my life because of the radiation. I seem to chew a lot of gum but other than that and the fact that I only have to shave one side of my face, nothing to sweat.

Please contact me if you need to talk, I pray daily for everyone who reads this letter.

I close with this. May God Bless you and your Family truly in this time. May he hold you tightly in the palm of his hand in such a way that you will also look back on this time, as I did on mine, and wonder how you made it so long without realizing the depth of His concern, knowledge of and love for you, and your family.

Amen

Sincerely, Mike Foshee

Please feel free to forward/copy/pass this on to any who might find comfort in it.