I’ll never forget that night, ten years ago, when a lifelong dream died. We had made our decision, and I was realizing that I would never have the chance to work alongside my oldest son, Clint. We hugged and cried as we both let go of a vision that we had nurtured together from the time Clint was a young boy.
Clint had worked at our company after school since seventh grade. We loved to be together and to work together. But now Clint had finished his freshman year of engineering at Purdue, and he had to make the choice between Civil Engineering in order to come back to our company or Biomedical Engineering with the plan of applying to Med School.
The “Parable of the Talents” rattled around in my heart. Could I be so selfish as to persuade him to come back home when I sensed that his gifts needed a bigger platform? I knew that medicine would provide the opportunity to save lives and honor Christ in the process. I knew I had to let Clint go. I felt like Hannah dropping Samuel off at the temple.
Today, Clint is a Urology resident at IU in Indianapolis. His days involve removing masses from cancer-ridden bodies. So when my recent Cat Scan showed a mass in my Pancreas, he sprang into action like a trained soldier. Within hours he was plotting a strategy with the top surgeons at IU.
It just so happens that IU does more Pancreas surgeries than anywhere else in the country. Because of Clint, I have immediate access to the top Pancreas surgeons in the world. Skilled surgeons and timeliness are keys to beating cancer.
Ten years ago I could have never imagined that a life my son would save could be my own. Or that I would work alongside him after all, as we battle cancer together. Thank you, Clint. I owe you everything.
I am also thankful for my two son-in-laws who have been a key part of getting me in a position to win. Two weeks ago, Luke Schafer (ER Dr.) instructed me to get a Cat Scan for some abdominal pain unrelated to the cancer. Without his wise council, I wouldn’t know that this silent killer was stalking me. And Luke Gutwein (General Surgery resident) has been invaluable in planning our course of action with Clint.
But most of all, I’m grateful to God for keeping His promises.
And let us not be weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
I love how God works in the details. We will be praying for you (and your family!) tomorrow morning and in the times ahead. We love you guys!
Joel and Amber
Although I am not acquainted with you and only slightly with some of your extended Bahler family, I am most empathetic and also encouraged by your response to the issues you face. I am a 15 year CA survivor. I also looked at “the stats” and came face to face with sobering reality. But, oh, how great is our God!
Two written resources which “resonated” with my experience:
1. An easy to read book (available on Amazon), titled, “My God Is True! Lessons Learned Along Cancer’s Dark Road” by author, Paul D. Wolfe.
2. The widely circulated essay,”Don’t Waste Your Cancer”, by John Piper and David Powlison.
And yes, it’s a promise – you will look back and proclaim with wonder and amazement, “My God is True!” “How Great is our God!”
I Pet 1:6-8 – In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
C Kieser
Ed,
Sorry to hear the news. Please know that I am praying for you and your family and will add you to our Church’s Prayer list as well. God is good and I know you will honor Him no matter what the days ahead bring. Thank you for being such a great example of a Christ follower. Be strong and very courageous.
Dave Sims
Sterling CC
Ed,
Grace and I are praying for you and yours! You will always have a special place in my heart and I often recall the counsel you gave me during those tempestuous years of my life. Love you brother.
Ed,
Please know that you are being held in prayer by many. We have you on our prayer list at church and your situation was shared ovet the pulpet. You have blessed our church and I pray that our prayers might bless you!
God is Amazing! Thanks for sharing about your son, I am in tears yet encouraged!
Love and Prayers, C
Thanks Joel and Amber.
This has been a special faith building experience. We can’t wait to see you again.
Love,
Ed
Hi Charles,
I’m sorry its been a week since you shared your wonderfully placed comment. I needed hope and you understood.
I believed I was being called to walk through the deep, dark, cancer valley. There was no “answer” to the why. I tried not to harbor the question. My prayer was that I could simply be faithful and trust him each step. I prayed I could reflect Christ’s love through out the journey.
We hoped and prayed for a miracle but knew we had to be ready to step in the river. I’m still trying to process this truth that he set me free.
There is no answer to that “why” as well. I’m just thankful.
I’m grateful you took the time to share….God bless you.
Ed
Hi Dave,
How kind of you to follow along in my journey and share words of hope and encouragement.God has given us all a modern day miracle.
Now we must honor and praise him in ways that those that still hurt or are lost in the pain of sin are drawn to the light.
Love you Dave,
Ed
Bro Mark,
How kind of you to stop by. I hold special memories as well.
It appears God isn’t done with me just yet. I’m so grateful and am simply trying to grasp His goodness and calling from here.
keep the faith,
Ed
Dear Cindi,
I’m so humbled and encouraged that the church held me up in my very dark time of need. Those prayers changed everything.
They gave us hope and courage. They gave us confidence. They blinded us to the horrible and insurmountable facts we were facing. They kept us moving. They equipped me to be the dad I could only pray to be through this ordeal. They allowed me to sleep at night.
Your and others prayers were everything. I’ll never be the same.
I am so grateful.
I love you,
Ed
I am very inspired by your faith, graciousness and love.Thank you for sharing your story. May God grant you and your family as well as your caregivers continued blessings in your journey.
Kay Maibach Irwin
Thanks for your kind words of encouragement Kay. The love, prayers and support of so many have carried us.
We are grateful for yours here.
Blessings,
Ed
I hate to here this and you will for sure be in our prayers. Mike loves reading your blog and thinks you’re a great writer. That is saying a lot, because he is too. : – )
Merry CHRISTmas
Thanks for your prayers as well as your sweet compliment.
I do love to write, provoke and inspire. However, its important to note my daughter Ashton edits all my posts. She cleans them up and makes them easy to read. She’s a special talent and is working on her masters in creative writing. And, I just love working with her so it inspires me to write as well.
I hope you had a peaceful holiday.