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Hal Wilson, Founder of Christians With Cancer

In May 2006 while on a motorcycle trip to North Carolina with my two brothers I noticed a pain in my left shoulder. After returning to my home in Nashville, I called an orthopedic doctor and set an appointment. After x-rays and an MRI, I was told I had a bad rotator cuff and needed an operation to correct it. The tests also revealed small spots on my bones in several locations: back, shoulder, hip, etc.

My orthopedic doctor sent me to an orthopedic oncologist at Vanderbilt Hospital. He reviewed the tests and suggested the spots were calcium deposits but set an appointment for three months from that exam.

When I returned in three months one of the “spots” had grown exponentially in my left arm in the humerus and had almost eaten through the bone. Within about a week I was having my operation to remove the cancer, attach a steel plate, and stage the cancer. I was diagnosed with advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma (stage IV kidney cancer).

From there I was referred to Dr. Sam Chang, a urologist at Vanderbilt. Dr. Chang suggested, after reading all the previous findings, that we should remove my left kidney, which was done in October 2006. Prior to the kidney removal, I underwent radiation on my arm. In talking to my radiologist in private, he asked me how I felt about dying, and I responded, “I don’t want to die, but I feel I’m ready if God is ready to bring me home.” He looked at me and basically said I was lying. Needless to say, I was somewhat taken aback.

After the kidney was removed I was referred to an oncologist who, despite being a nice person, was way overworked. As a result I changed oncology groups altogether, and I’ve been on a clinical trial at Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville for over a year. At this time the cancer seems to be stable. Yea God!

The main thing that has gotten me this far is a strong faith and a strong positive mental attitude. After my original diagnosis I, like many of you, needed more than the medical profession could or would provide, and that is what inspired this site – I hope and pray it is helpful to all who visit.

E-MAIL Hal.

LISTEN to an inspirational talk presented by Hal at The Gathering on Father's Day 2008.