Dear friends,
after I have received several anxious inquiries, why there is no message from
me since July, I would like to report at the end of year: I am doing very
well. After the last MRI in September, I am cancer free, and with regard to the next one
on December 22th – according to how I feel – I expect nothing else. „What
is impossible with men is possible with God“
– is the year’s
motto in 2009, and in my case it has come true. When I think back how I felt
last Christmas (and especially a month later at the end of the therapy), I am
full of gratitude. I may have even minor restrictions (such as dry mouth,
little sense of taste, nasal voice), but I have already begun to prepare
for my upcoming semester: In March, I would like to start work again. I am not
going to teach regular classes, but I’ll supervise an online degree course,
under the assumption, my appeal against the notification for retirement will be
successful. This will be
decided by the medical officer in the new year whom I then have to convince of
my workableness. Normally you do it vice versa. For me, it is also a useful
therapeutic approach towards the goal, re-enter into professional life: I have
already begun to miss the university. I enjoyed the few interviews in recent weeks and the
meetings with colleagues and students. This is why I do my
regular exercise (one hour daily Nordic Walking with the dog) and my strength is
already mostly back. Only my stress sensitivity persists: I notice how an
intensive conversation or meeting exhausts me pretty much. Fortunately, I can
slowly start with the summer term: I will not yet have the full workload.
Also our family is doing very well. In August (after Esther's return from
Toronto), we had five days, where everyone was at
home. Our youngest son enjoys being in Florida (in his 11th grade) so much that if
he could he would not come back. The three big ones (the students) come
home for Christmas, we all look forward to the fellowship. For Christmas Eve, we
have invited an Iranian medical student girl – it will be new experience to
celebrate Christmas with a Muslim.
This is what I wish you all for Christmas: To experience God's love, that
made Him become human, anew.
Andrew