The Chronicles of the P.K. Part 4 (Bone Marrow Transplant)

Once Cory's Cancer came back in September of 1987 he was in need of a bone marrow transplant. Vanderbilt hospital wasn't equip to treat his cancer, so Lexington was the best choice for a children's hospital. So he was moved to Kentucky. With that surgery we all had to be tested to see if we was a match for it. I can remember having blood taken and waiting. Out of all of us the pattern with like this. Jay (the oldest) matched Cory 100 percent, Darin (second oldest) matched myself (second youngest), Shawn (3rd oldest) matched Brett (3rd youngest) and Kristi had no match. It was strange that it worked out like that. I always have wished that I was his match. I wanted to help as much as I possibly could. Even though I was young I always tried to be a big help. That would have been a huge help, but wasn't meant for me to do. Jay was the one and did what he had to do. Jay being fifteen years older knew exactly what was going on and what was going to happen. He had to go into the hospital the night before the procedure and then it was done the next morning. Jay said that it was painful and felt bad for 2 to 3 days afterwards. the marrow was scrapped out in a very painful manner. That wasn't the end of what was needed from him.


For the next few weeks he would have to travel back and forth to Lexington from Portland, Which was over 3 hours away. Jay would get off work at 5 or 6 p.m. and drive to the children's hospital. He would arrive late then be up early. Around 7 a.m. he would have to give plasma for Cory. It would take a long time and the needles were such a big gauge they would prop his arms up to prevent him from bending them. The needles could rip his veins if he bent his arms. Hours and Hours of giving plasma, to help his baby brother. His blood was pumped out, into a machine which spun his blood to remove the blood then pumped back into him. My mom did the same for platelets, due to his low platelets. I didn't know all this, Jay has filled me in on his experience. I had no idea what he endured. Late night driving down dark highways by himself. Car trouble, flat tires, all for Cory.


So imagine that and its just a small glimpse of what Jay went thru. He did what most 20 year olds would not even have to worry about. But it wasn't the only time, he did it twice. On January 29th of 1988 he did it again. Like all of us, doing what he could for Cory. Do you have siblings? If so, would you do the same? I know he would do it again and again. There is a bond with siblings, but with the Gregory name at the end, that bond is like concrete! Jay said once he was up in Lexington when Cory told a couple that was visiting something that is embedded in his memory. He said "When you go to church tell them to pray for a me. Don't tell them my name, just say you have a little friend whose cancer has came back". That was Cory, wanting prayer but without worry. Sometimes things are placed in our lives, without answers. I know if it came down to it Jay would do the same for me. Any of my siblings would. I would do it for them too. Blood is thicker then water and sometimes you have to mix in a little bone marrow.... to be continued

Lessons learned from unexpected places.

A few weeks ago I was in a conversation with my oldest son. It was your normal subject amongst us, sports, well baseball. Those who really know me and know I am a die hard Atlanta Braves fan. After a great season they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Dodgers. Frustrated at that fact and being a passionate fan, I was very upset. I said " Man I hate the Dodgers!". Cedric said "Dad I understand you love sports, but why hate any sports team." He went on to say he tries not to say he hates any team. Why waste energy on hating them. Well he has a strong point. As a Christian we shouldn't hate, anything. I try to be a good example to my kids and sometimes I find my actions aren't always good. It took this point he made to me for me to see that. Its funny that we spend so much time trying to teach our kids things and sometimes they teach us lessons. Cedric came into my life when I was young and I have grown up with him. He has grown into a fine young man and he endures a lot in his life. More then most 16 almost 17 year olds should have to, but it seems like kids have to now a days. The point I'm trying to make is that sometimes we learn lessons from unexpected places. I'm sure he didn't think anything about what he was saying to me, but I took it to heart. Some people know it all or claim they do, I will be the first to tell you I don't. So when someone comes along with advice or an opinion, listen. Maybe you can learn something or apply it to your life. It could make your life better or help you make someone else's life better. Don't shrug it off, think about it. Cedric is wise sometimes, and I'm hoping he uses that wisdom for the better.

Proverbs 1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

The long road I've traveled

I find myself looking back sometimes, not to dwell on my past but to see how far I've come. I haven't always been the best person, Christian, father, etc., etc. Too many times I have did what the world wants me to do and not what GOD wanted me to do. I have known all my life that I should make the right decisions based on my faith, its difficult. Life comes at you fast and doesn't always give you chances to step back and ask "is this right?". You make a choice and you sometimes suffer the consequences quickly or a lifetime. Knowing what I know now makes me wonder if I would change things, or leave them the same. I know without a shadow of a  doubt some would stay the same, that's just a gimme! Some decisions cause you to move away from GOD, and that could be the worst thing to do. I have had a time in my life where I moved away from but never truly left. Those that do or choose not believe baffle me. I cant imagine the emptiness that's felt, but that's their choice. I can only pray for them.

Failed relationships and marriages have made me a stronger person. When I say relationships I mean with friends too. I had a friendship for most of my life fall apart because of bad decisions. I cant change it, and I wish I could and pray about it a lot. Failed marriages due to bad decisions also, on both sides. I don't bring myself down with the failures, yet lift myself up! I have strived to the past several years to be a vessel for GOD and let him live thru me. It always seemed like something was missing. Then my life was changed for good. Velvet came into my life and completed the puzzle. Adding the last piece to it. But It didn't come easy. I tried pushing her away. We spent a couple of months dating, then I walked away for a while. She respected my decisions, and let me go. I tried my hardest to "not care", but I did.

So once I realized I did care I was afraid it was too late. Luckily it wasn't, she and I started seeing each other again. This time it was different, it was more about a friendship and less like a relationship. We spent time together but acted like buddies, not boyfriend/girlfriend. We never referred to each other as anything other then "best friend". Everyone around said we was together but was in denial about it. One night I finally realized she was the one when someone else showed interest in her. I can remember getting furious about it. When Velvet asked why, that's when I told how I "really" felt. Once we was official I felt better. No longer fighting my feelings.

It didn't take me long to realize I wanted her as my wife. I planned it all out (story is on my youtube channel) and made her my wife. No our marriage isn't perfect, and will never be. We just try to be a strong Christian couple and parents, that's all that matters now. Tomorrow always brings a challenge, but when you have a partner you can depend on makes it better! There is so much more to me, right, wrong or indifferent, She loves me like Jesus does. The long road I have traveled is far from over, but it wont be traveled alone!

You never know who is watching what you do!

Last week I had to go out of town for work. I was driving to Louisville Ky with a co worker when he told me something very interesting. He is an older gentleman and he's from Ethiopia an has lived here in America for about 15 years or more. I have known him almost 10 years myself. He is a Christian and goes to church and is a godly man. He is Lutheran nevertheless a Christian. He was asking me about my wife and I's new house and how the kids are. I told him that we are enjoying the new house and the kids are good. He said "that's good" and proceeded to tell me that I am the subject of discussion between him and his wife a lot. He said " I tell my wife how good of a man you are all the time. I tell her that you're a good husband to your wife and a good father to your kids. You take care of your responsibilities, provide for your family and take care of your wife's kids as they are your own. That some men don't care for their kids at all and do not help to raise them. You're a strong Christian man that leads your family to follow GOD. You should be proud of yourself for these things." Once he said that I was shocked, and flattered at the same time. I am obviously doing something right that comes natural. I love my life and my family. I have done things wrong and will in the future but I hope that I continue to shine as a beacon for my Lord. The point of all this is, people are always watching. If you live right, it doesn't go unnoticed. I wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary, just what's right. I have had my fair share of struggles, it just made me a better man and Christian. Who is watching you?

Not today my friend...

It's been a while since I wrote a blog. With coaching basketball and working on the new house I've been extremely busy. Not to mention working two jobs. This doesn't mean I don't have a lot to say. The month of March is always a hard month. Most people that know me well know I've lost two brothers in this month. One in 1988 and the other in 1998. Leukemia and Brain Cancer are the horrible diseases that took my brothers. In fact tomorrow marks the 15 year anniversary that my brother Darin lost his battle with Brain Cancer. Being fresh outta high school, still a kid, dealing with death again. Most normal kids don't have to deal with death as many times as I did as a kid. With my younger brother it was hard but with my older brother it was very difficult. I blamed GOD for his death, and hated GOD! I can remember turning my back on him and vowing not to go to church anymore. I slipped into a deep depression and couldn't get out of it! I had to be put on an anti-depressant to cope with it. Many years of not dealing with the death of my younger brother and losing a second made it worse. I spent a lot of time alone, wondering if I could go on. I thought of suicide but knowing what it would do to my parents could have never done it! That would have also been very selfish of me!

It took me years before I could find the strength I needed to stand up as a Christian and admit I was wrong for blaming GOD. I understand that he does things that he doesn't have to answer for in our eyes. He does things to make us stronger as Christians! Turn my back on GOD, not today my friend! Not ever! When you feel like you have no one, he's there! I turned my back on him but he never turned his back on me! If people turned to him everyday they would live better lives. I am a soldier of CHRIST!

Camo Christians

I will start off by saying I'm hooked on Duck Dynasty! When this show first came out I thought to myself, Oh no, not another stupid reality show! I kept seeing people on Facebook talking about it, saying they love it! It wasn't until My wife was telling me that one of the people on the show was a graduate from Portland High School in Portland Tn.,Tim Guraedy nicknamed "Mountain Man". So one night we decided to watch it to see this guy from Portland, who went to school with my mother-in-law. It was a goofy show about a family business in East Monroe Louisiana, making duck calls. They are always doing something silly and causing problems from the CEO of the duck call business. It was funny and even though I know some of it is staged, I enjoyed it. But what really hooked me was at the end of the show the whole family gathered at the dinner table to eat. But before they ate the eldest of the family blessed the food with prayer. I couldn't believe it. I was happy to see this on national t.v. too! Our country prefers that we don't have public display of our faith. As I've watched the show more I've found out the faith is a big part of this family. They are very vocal about CHRIST and most of the family goes around the country speaking about religion. I am glad to see that they are like that. If you haven't had a chance to watch it, do it! I would recommend it to everyone. Some of what they teach their kids is what we all should teach our own. Yet some of it is just silly. Watch it, you will enjoy it!

The Chronicles of the P.K. Part 3 (A childs understanding)

Some dates are hard to remember for the fact it's been so long ago. My mom kept a journal for most of if but some dates are fresh in her memory. As if it was yesterday even though its been 25 years. She said that he was cleared the week of Mother's Day 1987. But relapsed in July of the same year. At the age I was I had a difficult time understanding. I just knew that he was really sick, then better and then really sick again. I was 8 years old at the time, and it was explained to me the best way they knew possible. Honestly ask yourself if you could explain that to your 8 year old. Or could you explain to a 6 year old that they are really sick. I look at my kids and know that it would be one of the most difficult things ever, even facing that in my childhood.

Cory always seemed strong even when he wasn't. He was also wise beyond his years. My parents said most conversations they had to stop and think, am I talking to a child? He would talk about and discuss things that most kids wouldn't even care about. The bible being one of his favorite subjects. He knew a lot and would carry on full discussions about the stories in the bible. He said "when I grow up, I'm gonna be a preacher like daddy". I think to this day he probably would have been. He would hit the front door after Sunday morning service, climb up on the coffee table and get a short 30 second sermon. The faith he had needed to be bottled and given to Christians of today. The amount of love he had for The Lord Jesus Christ was phenomenal. I could only try to love our savior as much as he did! If you learn anything from part 3 of my installment it needs to be this; love GOD with the love of Cory Brandon Gregory, be as faithful to GOD as Cory Brandon Gregory and live life like there's no tomorrow like Cory Brandon Gregory..... To be continued.....