At the outset of my cancer treatment, whilst at Spring Harvest 2008, I gave my cancer to God to use for His good, whilst wanting to be healed. Then when the news of my cancer spread, I found I quickly lost track of what I had shared with whom about my condition as people enquired how I was. Being a project manager by profession, I decided to bring this under control by writing a regular update which would also enable people to focus their prayers on the real issues at that time, rather than just generally praying for me.
I never expected that these prayer updates would become such an encouragement to so many people. So much so that on occasions people asked if they had missed one when in fact one hadn’t been issued.
My son Daniel first encouraged me to write this book, which is a gathering of my regular prayer updates and which, linked together, became my diary and a replication of ‘my book of encouragement’ where I copied down scripture verses, songs and words that people sent me to encourage me on my journey. Much of that book contains God’s promises and other wonderful gems from scripture that help me when things are tough. On the first page of that book I wrote, ‘My book of encouragement as I face my cancer in the knowledge that God is in control and cares for me’. I still believe that today.
This book was originally intended to cover my year’s battle against cancer, but as you will read, God had other plans for my life and so has covered a longer period which in many ways has tested my faith further, but I will leave you to draw your own conclusions as you read into the second year.
Graham Priddy was born into a Christian family in 1957 in Portsmouth, later moving to the Reading area in 1974, He is married to Ginny with 3 grown up boys who have all become strong in the Christian faith and are now living away from home.
Many friends have been following my journey but like most people, I consider myself to be ordinary Christian, struggling at times to follow what I read in the bible and teaching from Woodley Baptist Church where until recently have been on the Leadership team.
However in November 2007, for the first time in my life, I was to encounter some serious health issues, as after a number of examinations and scans, it was confirmed on 20th March 2008 that I had Bowel Cancer although I had known something was wrong months before.
I gave my cancer to God to use for His good, whilst wanting to be healed, life has continue in a different direction than I had planned as you will discover in this book.
Forward
A while ago I had the privilege of meeting up with Graham. I discovered that we have a lot of things in common. We are both committed Christians. We both regularly attend Spring Harvest and we both discovered that we had been diagnosed with cancer at about the same time.
We met up in the Spring Harvest team lounge with Graham’s wife Ginny and my wife Irene. We both related our cancer stories to each other and discovered yet another thing that we have in common. Although we had both experienced a really tough year, we felt that it had been even tougher for our loved ones and families.
I thought that meeting up with Graham may be a rather sad time but nothing could be further from the truth. Graham is a man full of faith and hope. He is a man who loves and trusts Jesus in the good times and still loves and trusts Jesus in the difficult times. It was such a joy to sit and talk with him. The saddest part was after a while we had to leave. Graham could not tell me when or how his cancer journey would end, but he did know that Jesus is in control of everything that is happening in his life.
Here in this book is Graham’s painful story. Blunt, honest and to the point but full of personal lessons that I believe will be an encouragement to both the healthy and the less healthy. Here is a chance to walk alongside Graham on a journey that none of us humanly speaking, would choose.
Rev Ian Smale (Ishmeal)
December 2007
I have finally realised after a number of months suffering with excess wind and repeatedly needing to go to the toilet that I should consult my doctor. He was very understanding and suggested that I started drinking Actimel which is a yoghurt drink which contains the bacteria probiotics which can help your body improve its immune system, therefore fighting against illnesses and diseases. I was advised if nothing had improved after a couple of weeks, I should see him again.
11 February 2008
Despite drinking the Actimel yoghurt drinks, nothing had changed; in fact things appeared to be getting worse so I decided I ought to see my doctor again. The reason I had delayed another appointment was that over the Christmas period eating habits are different and I thought this may have been part of the reason my digestive system was not working properly. However, the need to repeatedly go to the toilet was beginning to get me down and was becoming uncomfortable. Another reason for putting off this appointment was that I can’t face medical situations - having previously fainted when having a simple blood test and needing to close my eyes when watching medical scenes on the TV or in films.
My doctor immediately recommended that I should go for a flexible sigmoidoscopy at the hospital where the experts could see if anything was wrong. He said that appointments are normally made within two weeks which proved to be right.
26 February 2008 – email to close family
Hi,
It’s probably time to share with you that I have been suffering since before Christmas with a digestive problem and have seen the doctor a couple of times now. He has now referred me to the hospital for a flexible sigmoidoscopy next Thursday at 9.00am. This is an investigation with a camera to look at my rectum and colon. This is something I am not looking forward to especially as you’re not normally sedated and I tend to faint at medical situations at the best of times.
Your prayers appreciated.
Blessings
Graham
26 February 2008 – Book of Encouragement
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm -
He will watch over your life;
8 The LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121 v 7 - 8
(Email from Mum and Dad Priddy)
28 February 2008
Today I have an appointment at the Royal Berkshire Hospital for a procedure called a flexible sigmoidoscopy. The procedure is used for finding out what is causing symptoms such as changes in bowel habit or rectal pain. It is also used to check for inflammation, early signs of cancer and polyps. During the procedure, they may take biopsies (samples of tissue) for examination in a laboratory.
As the doctor has to see clearly, the bowel needs to be completely empty and when I awoke, it was necessary to use the enema I had been sent in the post. This is designed to empty your bowel within a few minutes. I did not find this easy to administer and so Ginny had to assist.
The examination only took about 10 to 15 minutes and was very uncomfortable, rather than painful, as air was pumped through the tube into the lower bowel to make it expand. This made it easier to see with the aid of a camera lens at the end of the sigmoidoscope which sent pictures from the inside of the bowel to a TV screen.
Following the examination, I was able to rest in a ward for an hour prior to being told that they had found something and I would require a further visit to the Outpatients department at a later date.
In view of the discomfort, I took the rest of the day off work and spent some time finishing off the decking I was building in the garden.