Family Support

This weekend I got a cold and was nervous that without it clearing up I wouldn't be able to receive my chemo this week. So, on Saturday morning I began calling MDA hoping to get a Z Pack and to see if an antibiotic would interfere with the chemo medication. After 4 phone calls and a 24 hour period I finally received a call back asking me to call my regular physician. I then spent the rest of the day trying to get in touch with my family doctor and was told they wouldn't contact the doctor or discuss medication over the phone. Now I'm 2 days away from being evaluated by my oncologist and I'm afraid she won't administer the chemo if I'm sick. I was hoping to begin an antibiotic early in the weekend so she'd never hear me sounding hoarse. I plan on contacting my family doctor this morning to see if there is anything they can do. Also, Friday my mother took a turn for the worse. She hasn't eaten or drank anything in 4 days. Hospice has now determined she needs 24 hour nurse care and have moved in with the family. Please pray that she is not in pain and peacefully joins my father in heaven.

With that being said, I'd like to tell you about how blessed I am to have so many different loving families in my life. First, I'd like to tell you about my martial arts family. I've been doing Aikido for 30 years and spend 4 hours a week working out with these people. When you are hitting each other, putting people to sleep and throwing one another on the ground you get pretty close quick. They have been supporting me through this process and I'm thankful for them.

I also have a band family. I've been playing with the guys in this band for 3 years and have been playing with one of the guys since I was 17. When you are playing music it's the only time you feel no pain and your thoughts are focused on the music and not reality. When you and a group commonly love music there is nothing like producing a song together that brings us so much joy. Experiencing that joy together creates a family because not many people understand the impact music has on our life. I really miss playing my drums right now while sick. Today my son in law is going to help me put them together so I can just look at them. I look forward to playing them soon and I'm so thankful to God for the gift of music.

Exxon Mobil has also been a great family to me. One of the recent retires figured out that we spend 60% of our lives at work. We sometimes worry that the family atmosphere at work is being lost but all the texts, emails, phone calls, visits and especially prayers prove otherwise. We are still a family and it's up to us to keep it that way. Being sick reminds you how blessed we are to work in a place that has good insurance and sick leave. I want to give thanks to God for having worked at Exxon Mobil for 32 years.

Working in the fire/safety department also creates a strong sense of family. When that alarm goes off and there is a fire or someone is down you have to respond as a group and look out for one another. When you are in that situation you are putting your life in someone else's hands and that trust creates a strong knit group. We can argue with one another, but we don't allow anyone else to come into the station and disagree with a family member. If you confront one person you get us all. Our favorite saying in the station is we love you like a brother or sister. There is even one I love like a daughter. Over the years there have been rumors (just rumors) that the company wants to shut the station down. Not only are we the best trained responders in the country, but we also keep people safe 24/7. Like any family, we will fight to keep our family together.

I also have a family in USW and they are very close to my heart. This is a group of people who work together to keep the refinery safe and fight for fairness, respect, wages and benefits for all employees. This is a thankless job and done without any compensation. It's been a pleasure and a honor to be a leader in this organization since 1979. Being the president of this union has been one of my life's biggest accomplishments. When the committee and executive board deals with such serious issues like someone's loss of job or pay it brings a group close together. Some of my best friends have come out of the USW leadership through the comradery and travel. I thank God for the people who have allowed me to lead them for all of these years.

My dad use to say that he was the most successful man and he was just a welder. We all judge success differently and I believe as him, I'm successful because I have a great family. He was proud of his 6 kids just as I am mine. This challenge has put a great deal of pressure on wife and kids and they have stepped up to the challenge to help me. Without support from them I'd be lost. I'm blessed to have my wife and 2 kids! I also have a strong extended family. My brothers and sisters and I have remained close over the years. We see each other daily and stay involved in each others lives. We were taught to love one another by caring parents who raised us in a 750 square foot house. We slept 3 to a bed and had no choice but to love one another. My wife's family has also been supportive during this time and I feel thankful to have so many loving family members checking in on me each day.

You may noticed I did not mention a church family. This is because I haven't regularly attended church in years but that will change. If you know anyone who has cancer you should pick up the phone and call them or email them. Let them know you are thinking about them. Your email may make a difference in their recovery. It's a challenge to remain in a good state of mind during this process and it helps when you know others are behind you. With a good mental prospective, you are more likely to fully recover. I am so thankful to God for putting so many different families in my life. Without them my life would not be as full. These families support me during the rough times, but I must also mention that I get my main strength from God. Although I've forgotten about the love and support He has given me over the years, I will not make that mistake again. Thank you God for all you've done for me.


"Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name." 1 Chronicles 29:13

Thankful

This Thanksgiving I'm thankful for so many things, but this year in particular I'm thankful for the simple things.

1. I'm thankful that I woke up on Thursday with very little pain.
2. I was not only able to eat but also enjoy my food.
3. I was able to spend the day with family and friends. We squeezed 40 people into my mother's 750 square foot home.
4. I woke up to my grand baby being in the house.
5. I've always been able to speak in large groups when it's related to work, but I've never openly prayed in front of people. This Thanksgiving my mother asked for my 2 brothers and me to bless the food. For the first time in my life I was able to pray in front of people and actually found it easy. Why would it be hard to praise God when he made it possible for me to have such a happy Thanksgiving.
6. This was particularly a special Thanksgiving because for the first time ever I knew who to be thankful to....God.

"I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart..." Psalms 9

Great Christmas Gift Idea

A close family friend of ours is an amazing artist and has just come out with Christian art. Some of the proceeds go to help families who are out of work at his church. Each print is $25 and for a limited time only if you buy 4 you get the 5th free. Please check out his website. If you look under the gallery section you can see pictures of the art. Thanks for checking it out.

www.jasonrobichauchristianart.com

Patience

Today my family and I met at my mother's house and had a head shaving party. I wanted my grandson to watch my head being shaved so he wouldn't be scared of me. My niece Hayley cut my hair while the rest of the family took pictures and had a good time. My son still wants me to shave my mustache, but I'm just not ready yet. I'll attach a picture so you can see my new look.

I've always been a patient man when it comes to big issues like bargaining contracts or fighting fires, but I'm not so patient with life's little issues. When getting ready for work at 4:30a I've been known to wake up my entire family by yelling, swinging open doors, and flipping lights on looking for a hair brush. Having cancer has definitely given me a lesson in patience. Not only do you let the little things go and focus on the big picture, but you are also forced to do a lot of waiting. I will spend hours waiting for a doctors appointment at MDA, but I don't mind and I'm thankful for the great treatment. Several months ago if a doctor were running late I'd get irritated. I've noticed at MDA cancer patients are nice people. They no longer let life's little annoyances irritate them. It's a shame you have to get sick to realize what's important in life.

Although I've learned patience, I'm a terrible patient. I've always been active and I'm having a hard time sitting around. This week I've had a great deal of stomach pain and it makes me nervous. In my heart I know the chemo is working but doubts still enter my mind from time to time. I'm ready to KNOW the chemo is working and for my life to return to normal. I have to remember that I'm not in control. God has a plan for my life and although I don't know His plan I need to trust that He knows what's best for me. I must have patience and wait on his timing. It took being diagnosed with cancer to slow me down and force me to stop and listen to God. Do you take time to stop and listen to God? To praise Him? Are you prepared to be patient and wait for his timing? To follow His will for your life instead of your own?

"We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." Proverbs 16:9

It may look like I have a lot of hair left, but it was falling out by the handfuls. It was only a matter of days before it was all gone. Once my hair was shaved I felt like my ears doubled in size and my nose grew 3 inches.

Good Bye 70s Look

Today I had pain in my stomach but other than that my day was better. The other news is my hair started falling out. Today in the shower a handful of hair fell out and each time I brush my hair the counter top is covered in hair. Soon we will be having a hair shaving party at my house. It also appears that my mustache is going to fall out. I've had a mustache since I was 18 years old so it will definitely be strange to not have one. After researching chemo on the internet, I learned that depending on the dosage and chemical all the hair on your body can fall out. I even read that when your hair grows back it can be a different color, straight, curly, thicker, etc. In most cases the hair comes back looking the exact same and sometimes even thicker than before. One of my fears is that when it grows back I'll look like Buckwheat from the Little Rascals or Einstein. If my hair grows back crazy I'll be sure to post a picture. My kids have been urging me to change my 70s hair cut for years, so I guess they are finally getting there way.

"God never asks us to suffer for the sake of suffering. He never asks us to give up something good unless he plans to replace it with something better." Commentary from a study bible.

See, I may even look better like McDreamy from Grey's Anatomy.

Perseverance

The last two days can be summed up in two words: cancer sucks. I've been nausea, throwing up and just plain sick. The affects of the chemo are starting to wear off and today has been a better day. I haven't been as nausea but have been extremely tired. I've just got to keep my eyes on the prize.

Throughout our life we all face challenges and it's up to us to determine how we handle them. We are either strong or weak and our attitude affects the end result. I realize being weak can be a good thing because when you are weak you may turn to God for his strength. Weak is not a good thing if you choose to handle problems by whining and complaining all the time. For example, 52 years ago I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I was diagnosed before they had disposable needles, glucometers, technology, or knowledge on the disease. The kids in school never understood what was happening when I'd have a reaction. They didn't understand why I was able to eat in class and they weren't. I was even occasionally forced to beat kids up who tried to steal my food. I remember passing out at school or not being able to participate in the holiday parties by eating all the tasty treats. I was different, but it made me stronger and work harder to be my best.

Another example is being a union president. The committee and I are forced to make tough decisions that do not make me a popular person. I've had to stand up in front of 100s of people and make announcements that irritate the crowd. You still have to go to work the next day and face all the people you frustrate.

Lastly, I've been diagnosed with cancer twice and if I go down it's going to be after a hell of a fight.

I was born with a certain strength as a Hidalgo, but my experiences have made me even stronger. Recently, as I looked back on my life I distinctly remember looking up to God and asking for strength, patience, and knowledge. I never realized that I turned to God in each of those situations. When facing angry people at work I always pray that God gives me the wisdom to say the right words or when facing a doctors appointment I always ask for strength. Not only have I never noticed I prayed often but I never admitted it either. God has given me strength. Everyday day when you wake up you can decide whether you are going to be strong or weak. You can decide whether or not you have a good attitude about the situations God hands you. Are you going to allow God to have control of your life and make you stronger?

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

Bracelets

Hey guys, this is Tiffany. My mom has about 50 of the bracelets with my dad's name on them to give away. Anybody who is interested in getting one just email us or leave a comment. We can get them to the union hall or one of his close friends to pass them out. Thanks for the support!!!!