2025 – A Summer and Fall of Surprises – God has a Plan and Purpose for Our Lives – Part VIII

After a delay so I could enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend, I was supposed to start chemo on Monday, December 1^st. The chemo educational class was scheduled for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, where I learned, among other things, I would take one chemo agent by mouth and the rest infused, including an immunotherapy agent, Keytruda.

Herzberg family Thanksgiving 2025

After finishing the class, I received a call saying that the insurance company hadn’t authorized the procedure, so the first infusion would be delayed until at least Friday, December 5^th. Never mind the Thanksgiving delay. Having advanced cancer, I just couldn’t wait until Friday, and called the insurance company when I got home, and learned it was just a technicality and the procedure would be approved. I called the oncologist office back and all had gone home until Monday.  With my messed-up voice, I left a message with the finance person, who returned my call and left a voice message saying that she would do her best when she returned on Monday to get the chemo scheduled earlier in the week, but no guarantee. I went into the insurance company’s website and took a picture of the authorization approval and emailed it to her.  We’ll see when the first treatment gets scheduled. Bottom line – you again must be your own advocate and push for a timetable that achieves your goals, particularly after a long holiday weekend!

Thanksgiving was super! All eight of our kids and all but one of our 13 grandkids made it to Amy’s house, where she hosted the event. I made an extra effort to spend quality time with the family, as they did with me, aware of my diagnosis. An extra bonus – our first-born grandson, Landon, is engaged to be married to Mallory, his high school sweetheart, in August 2026. I plan to be there!

On Wednesday, I had the privilege of having coffee with former Augusta mayor Deke Copenhaver, an esophageal cancer survivor, who shared with me his journey and challenges in combating the same adversary, including voice problems. Deke is two-years cancer free, having been through extensive chemo and radiation therapy. His active life- style, including exercise and a deep abiding faith in Jesus strengthened Deke and made him determined to beat his cancer. To treat his voice, he had Botox injected into his vocal cords, which normalized his sounds.

Next time I’ll share my experience with my first dose of chemo and immunotherapy.

“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”  Philippians 4:13

Blessings!

Joe