Michael Armstrong graduates from Pfeiffer College Saturday, August 2, with a Master's degree. It's a pretty good accomplishment, and one that we're proud of. Michael could tell the story better, but at the moment he is tied up with some other pressing needs. I hope you read on, as Paul Harvey says, "for the rest of the story".
In addition to being a husband, having a full time job with the city of Charlotte as a fire inspector, and serving in his church, he decided to go back to school. His plate has been pretty full. Oh yeah, there's one other thing that has taken some time and energy... more on that in a moment.
Michael will not be walking the aisle to receive his diploma. There will be no family members or friends there to congratulate him for such a worthwhile accomplishment. There will be no pictures of him with cap and gown, or diploma in hand. He will not even attend the ceremony.
Michael is my son in law. He and my daughter, Tina, have been married for 4 years. One day after they celebrated their first wedding anniversary, back in June, now 3 years ago, Michael discovered he had lymphoma cancer. It was stage 4.
The word cancer brings dread to many. It is a horrific disease. Michael certainly is not the only one to have this disease. As I write this, I am thinking of several friends. We visited a precious lady yesterday in the hospital, who is raising a 5 year old grand daughter. She has cancer, and will begin the process immediately of treatment. My dad just recently had surgery, and will be undergoing treatment shortly for cancer. I just received an email update from some precious missionary friends in El Salvador who have a daughter in law here in the states with cancer. The church I pastor has several cancer survivors. We (the church) have participated in the Cancer Society Relay for Life for a number of years. My point is that Michael is not the only one battling this disease. His story may be your story, as well.
Now, back to Michael-- Over the 3 year process, he has had numerous treatments. Much of it with little or no success. From Charlotte, to UNC, to Duke. Chemotherapy after chemotherapy, with all the other things that go with it. He would go back for scanning with little or no results: shrunken in one place, but other places coming up. He received a stem cell transplant of his own (harvested), and that was a tedious process. Staying confined to a small room for about 3 weeks, and then in a nearby apartment in Chapel Hill, where he would go in for tests every day. Then, what seemed like a breakthrough for a season was quickly replaced with more apprehension when the cancer began to grow again. Finally, UNC had gone through the process, and pretty much did not know what else to do. Insurance regulations had at first prohibited Michael from receiving treatment at Duke, but that changed. Upon arriving at Duke, Michael began to receive new treatment. It is an experimental treatment that only those in the stages Michael is could receive. Immediately, things began to turn around!
The reason Michael can't walk the aisle to receive his diploma is because he is now at Duke preparing for a stem cell transplant. His brother, Aaron, is there with him. Aaron is the donor. While Michael is receiving chemo for the next few days, Aaron is going through the procedures a donor has to undertake. Next Wednesday and Thursday Michael will recieve the transplant. He will be at Duke for about 2 months altogether.
Please keep Michael and Tina (our daughter, his wife) in your prayers, along with Aaron, his wife and kids, and all of their families. We are believing this will result in the elimination of every remaining fiber of cancer in Michael's body.
Michael's priorities have all been in order through this ordeal. His faith in God has remained strong and intact. His family and friends have been vital to him during this time. From church to community, to work place, many have sacrificed to help him and Tina. Fellow workers donating their vacation days for Michael to continue to receive pay, and various groups doing fundraisers, churches helping. They have appreciated every thing done. His faith, family, friends, and his future- you see, Michael has never given up. That's why he kept digging with the education. He believes greater things are in store, and he plans on being ready for it.
Keep Michael, Tina, and the family in your prayers during this time.
Be Blessed,
Pastor Ronnie
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