Holy Trinity Cathedral
See also: Original announcement; Unction Service 2005; February Update; March Update; April Update; May Update; June Update; August Update; Unction Service 2006

Greetings and Update from Fr. Victor

June 3, 2005

June 3, 2005

Christ is risen!

Dear friends,

This will probably be my last update. I had an appointment with my oncologist today, and he declared that my cancer is in remission. The CAT scan taken last week shows that the main tumor, located in the upper part of the left lung, has shrunk; the lymph node in the middle of the chest has shrunk; and the fluid in the lower left lung is significantly reduced. There are no evidence of cancer being present in my bones, and there are no new tumor formations. The blood test shows very low cancer activity (CEA 1.9), within the norm; and, in general, my blood is good and my white cells count is nearly back to normal. I feel great; I actually feel better than last November, before I was diagnosed with cancer. I have resumed all normal activities and have returned to my full-time job as a priest.

Things like this normally don't happen to patients diagnosed with a stage four lung cancer. But with God, all things are possible; with God and with you who have carried me by your prayers and love through these horrible few months into this light. Thank God for  you, for my faithful parishioners and charitable fellow clergy, for my dear family and especially for my wife, Barbara, who never lost her faith and simply refused to let me go. She wanted to keep me yet for a while; and what other response could there be from a lovingly obedient husband?  OK, OK, I'll stay!

Seriously, as I wrote last time: please don't drop me from your prayers. I rely on them. Now I know better than ever: Sacraments work, prayers work, love works.

With love in the risen Lord,

Archpriest Victor

Last modified: June 4, 2005 - webmaster@holy-trinity.org.