There is no one that has experienced the past few months quite like my wife Krystle.  Though many spouses express that an illness of their husband or wife is more difficult than they had imagined, Krystle experienced this illness in a far more palpable way than most. 

Krystle, going through nursing school this entire time, was surprised by some suggestions in school as to the possible severity of some of my symptoms.   Many of my symptoms were used as examples in class for cancers like Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and Hurthle Cell Thyroid Cancer; moments in time where it seemed that her worst fears were coming true, only to be unable to make a difference in the outcome.   We were waiting on CT scans and biopsies to make more definite diagnoses and predictions of what was to come.  Nothing could be done about these fears, or even what might be inferred from them until more substantial information could come to light.

Nevertheless, Krystle experienced each lesson in school with the same gripping fear that could only be experienced by one in her position.  I say that with the utmost of sobriety, knowing that the way Krystle experienced each step of the way was more personal and gripping than even my own. 

It was easy for me to be able to say, “I have not been guaranteed tomorrow, but I have been guaranteed eternity.”  Such a profound statement by one whose tomorrow could be in jeopardy, cut to the heart of one who had committed herself to me until that very death would take me from her.   Krystle’s fear was not for the day that I might be gone, but for the days to follow.

Krystle might disagree with me but I believe that she has displayed herself throughout this ordeal with pose and integrity.

Proverbs 31:10-31

 ¹⁰ An excellent wife who can find?
   She is far more precious than jewels.
¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her,
   and he will have no lack of gain.
¹²She does him good, and not harm,
   all the days of her life.
¹³She seeks wool and flax,
   and works with willing hands.
¹⁴She is like the ships of the merchant;
   she brings her food from afar.
¹⁵She rises while it is yet night
   and provides food for her household
   and portions for her maidens.
¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;
   with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷She dresses herself with strength
   and makes her arms strong.
¹⁸She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
   Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹She puts her hands to the distaff,
   and her hands hold the spindle.
²⁰She opens her hand to the poor
   and reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹She is not afraid of snow for her household,
   for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
²²She makes bed coverings for herself;
   her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³Her husband is known in the gates
   when he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them;
   she delivers sashes to the merchant.
²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing,
   and she laughs at the time to come.
²⁶She opens her mouth with wisdom,
   and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸Her children rise up and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹“Many women have done excellently,
   but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands,
   and let her works praise her in the gates.

Thank you Krystle for being the woman you are, and for teaching me each day how lucky I am to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, ’till death do us part!