My friend’s aunt recently told me about her struggle with cancer. When her prognosis was certain death, surrounded by her family, she exclaimed, “Do not curse God for this!” Faith in the Creator redoubled her will to conquer cancer. Although inspirations vary from person to person, all strengthen the human will to defy adversity. I had the pleasure of meeting a member of our community whose will to live broke death's cold grip: Glen Cove Police Officer Scott Genova.
On March 11, 2009, doctors diagnosed Scott with stage 4a nasopharyngeal basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (a form of throat cancer). Seventeen years of smoking half a pack of Parliament Lights cigarettes per day contributed to his illness. Six days later, Police Officer Pete Trubish and his uncle Mike McGuire facilitated Scott’s first consultation at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York City. The doctors gave him a grim prognosis of “six months to live” unless he endured 33 radiation and 6 chemotherapy treatments.
During Scott’s intense cancer treatments, he developed thrush, strep throat, and mucositis. In addition, the radiation treatment gave him severe second and third degree burns. He could not eat normally and received sustenance by tube.
An eight day coma and life-threatening sepsis would further test his mettle. In Scott’s words:
On May 21, 2009, my wife [Karen] went out for an early morning walk. When she came home to awaken me “to go for my daily cancer treatment,” I was in respiratory failure. She called 911. Northport Police and EMS arrived to find me at 50% oxygen. I was given a shot of Narcan to counteract my opiates on the ambulance. I aspirated in my sleep prior. I developed pneumonia in my right lung. I was brought to St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown into the intensive care unit. I was intubated. The following day my body became septic while I was intubated in a coma. My organs began shutting down. They gave me a shot called Xigris that restarted my organs. My wife prayed and read healing scriptures over me the entire time I was in ICU [intensive care unit]. I miraculously awoke on May 29, 2009.
Scott's will to live is truly inspirational. Although he suffers from debilitated eyesight (he will undergo corrective surgery later this month) and permanently damaged hearing, he still aspires to patrol the streets of Glen Cove again. “I live by the motto of ‘never giving up,'” Scott said to me last month. “That is how I live my life. No matter what I undertake. I will not ever give up.”
As Scott strives for full duty status, he became a cancer survivor advocate and a motivational speaker for students of our school district. He also credits his recovery to a superb support network of family members, friends, and the brotherhood in blue (he regards Chief William Whitton as a “magnificent person”). I wish him Godspeed on his journey.
"Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart."
And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
― Fuyumi Soryo
But his answer was: "My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak." I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me. I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Credit: Strength Bible Verses
"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Psalm 91:11 ESV
New International Version (NIV) 28 The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Friedrich Nietzsche
John Quincy Adams: Perseverance Quote
Wiesel, Elie
"The development of the will to live and overcome death is a part of what is called mental or spiritual development. It impacts all of one’s life, but in particular impacts health and longevity. Some people seem to have this naturally, while others are either not oriented toward it, or not sufficiently ready to work in this direction. In fact, though, it is an achievement of great proportions for the purpose of promoting health and long life." Credit: Lawrence Wilson, MD
We dance on the strings Of powers we cannot perceive." Credit: Rush (Freewill Lyrics)
Credit: Richard Sibbes
~Aaron Rose
― Jonathan Edwards
Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil." Amen.
The attribute of God by which God perfectly and eternally knows all things which can be known, past, present, and future. God knows how best to attain His desired ends. Our intentions in the things we do are known to God. We need to be sure that our attitudes are congruent with our actions because God knows when we are doing things for the wrong reasons or motives. Credit: Awareness of God "Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed." Samuel 2:3 When people on this Earth know what you are all about, you can be rest assured that the "Powers in Heaven" know Everything.
"Hail Mary, full of grace. Our Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death." Amen.
-George Washington
Patron of the Sacrament of Confirmation. He carries the Sword of Truth for Soldiers of Christ, which we become through this sacrament. Fire reminds us of the descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost and the flames of the gifts of the Holy Ghost. It reminds us that our hearts should burn with love for God like the holiest of Seraphim, like the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. St. Uriel carries the scales by which we are to weigh our actions. It is also a reminder of the Scales of Perfect Justice by which our lives are weighed at our judgement. "Oh holy St. Uriel, come to our aid with your legion of angels! Intercede for us that our hearts may burn with the fire of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts. Assist us in co-operating with the graces of our confirmation that the gifts of the Holy Ghost may bear much fruit in our souls. Obtain for us the grace to use the sword of truth to pare away all that is not in conformity to the most adorable Will of God in our lives, that we may fully participate in the army of the Church Militant." Amen. Credit: The 7 Great Archangels Information Site
"St. Jude, you witnessed the healing power of our Lord Jesus. You saw his compassion for the sick and dying. You yourself touched the sick, shared the sorrows of the mournful, and encouraged the despairing. You received this authority and healing power to work wonders, to cure the incurable, to make people whole. We ask you to intercede with our brother, Jesus, to send his saving grace to heal the sickness and suffering of _________________________________, to uplift his/her despondent spirits, and to instill hope in his/her hearts. Amen."
Thanks for sharing the story of your remarkable recovery. May God continue to bless you and your loved ones. Glenn Dallaire
Thank you Glenn. Your websites and links are very inspirational and informative. I know that you are helping many people with your work and writings on the "Miracles of the Saints" site. God bless you and your family. Always, Scott
― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture
"Holy One, you are our comfort and strength in times of sudden disaster, crisis, or chaos. Surround us now with your grace and peace through storm or earthquake, fire or flood. By your Spirit, lift up those who have fallen, sustain those who work to rescue or rebuild, and fill us with the hope of your new creation; through Jesus Christ, our rock and redeemer." Credit: Presbyterian Mission Agency