My beloved Heidi died of her metastatic breast cancer(Stage 4) on September 24, 2012. My (Joe) bladder cancer is in remission and my prostate cancer was surgically removed, with ongoing PSA monitoring for potential metastasis.
Time for an update on my journey without Heidi - how I miss her!
CANCER: I got the fantastic news from Seattle Cancer Care Alliance on April 1 right after reaching the summit of Kloshe Nanitch that all the abdominal scans to locate suspected new tumors (causing bleeding) showed NO SIGN of cancer! And the bleeding has stopped, without any treatment! I'm thanking God for a little miracle on that one and all of you for your prayers..
SHOULDER INJURY: A few weeks later, during a climbing safety class on Mount Rainier with The Mountaineers, I had a climbing accident and severely tore the tendons of my left shoulder and damaged muscles of my left arm. Ironic, eh? I've already started Physical Therapy in preparation for inevitable surgery after I meet the surgeon on May 13.
At least I am allowed to continue hiking and exercising within careful limitations.
GRIEF: All I can say is that I still feel ripped apart without Heidi. I am still crazy in love with her and dumbfounded that she is gone. But still determined to live a life for Christ that she would be proud of. Outdoors adventures continue, with almost 40 hikes/climbs since she died..
A couple videos of hikes I've done, before and after the climbing accident are in the links at the end of this blog post. As always, thanks for your compassion. - Joe
I didn't think this holiday would be difficult like Thanksgiving and Christmas were.. but I was wrong. So I decided to continue the tradition of getting Heidi a rose every Valentine's Day and here it is:
I continue to find solace on tough nights by remembering the good times together..
I'm hoping to hike at least 100 trails this year.
They will all have brief videos\clips posted on this page:
I am really grateful for all the compassion and support these past 4 months since Heidi died! Offline and online, family and friends have been wonderful.
My next cancer followup is due some time in March, for both my prostate and bladder cancers.
It's really hard to head out on a hiking adventure without Heidi, but that has proved to be the best medicine for my sorrow at her death. I've sought God's companionship in the mountains on 18 hikes so far since Heidi's death. And God's Spirit has comforted me greatly there.
I wanted to share with you two YouTube videos I uploaded of the latest hikes..
January 25, 2013 - my hike up Storm King Peak
January 18, 2013 - the Duckabush River Trail:
Thanks again for your support, for stopping by! Blessings, Joe
CANCER: I got the fantastic news from Seattle Cancer Care Alliance on April 1 right after reaching the summit of Kloshe Nanitch that all the abdominal scans to locate suspected new tumors (causing bleeding) showed NO SIGN of cancer! And the bleeding has stopped, without any treatment! I'm thanking God for a little miracle on that one and all of you for your prayers..
