Last PET Scan At Portsmouth Naval

Well, today was the end of an era. I had my final PET scan at Portsmouth Naval Hospital (Naval Medical Center Portsmouth). This is a big deal because it's where I had the high-risk operation that removed the cancer from the head of my pancreas and where I received all subsequent, cancer-related care.

The phrase that I haven't been able to get out of my head since last night is, "The river of life runs deep." I don't entirely know what this means but can somewhat connect it to a comment I saw on a facebook post once. A man had just lost his wife to cancer, like hours before, and a wise leader in my life and mutual friend of ours said something to the effect of, "My prayers are with you; you're in the deepest waters life gives right now." That was four years ago and it still sticks with me.

I learned what it means to fight at PN. I learned what it means to grieve and help others through their grief at PN. I learned what it means to give up gracefully at PN. I learned what it means to receive grace gracefully at PN. I befriended countless doctors, nurses and staff at PN. It will always hold a special place in my heart. The river of life runs deep.

The river of life runs deep. Sometimes we're blessed to sunbathe in the shallows but sometimes we are thrust headlong into the raging middle. What I can say is thank you. Thank you to family and friends for holding me up on the darkest nights. Thank you to the medical professionals who save our lives. And finally, after much fighting, I can say thank you to God. For all of it. As my old Young Life leader who also beat cancer always says, "all a gift."

The river of life runs deep.