"Earl" meets his Waterloo

Captain Les Switzer has emerged victorious from his cancer surgery, and his opponent, which he ruefully named "Earl" is no more. The prayers of countless friends and comrades, have once again prevailed over the scourge of this ravaging illness. Les' surgery was yesterday, at Duke University Hospital, and was variously predicted to be somewhere between six and ten hours. In reality, the whole procedure took just over three hours, thankfully sparing Les from a more gruelling operation. His physicians, guided by the hands of God, were able to excise all of the cancer from his esophagus, and his prognosis for continuing his normal life, is very promising.

Les is not out of the woods yet, but he came out of surgery yesterday, feeling as good as a man could, having gone through such a procedure. Karen is breathing a little easier today also, with most of this crisis having passed. She has been a rock for Les and their family during all of this. Both of them have asked me to please convey to all of you, their profound thanks for your prayers, calls, gifts and well-wishes. They realize where this outcome came from; you and your faith have invoked the presence of God and the Holy Spirit, in every phase of this ordeal.

I'll leave the details to Les, to tell you as he sees fit, when he can rejoin us around the campfire. That is his goal, to be with us at least one day, at Cedar Creek. But for now, please take a moment to write him a letter or card, to join in the joyous outcome he has been given. He will be in recovery for about seven-to-ten days, at Duke University Hospital. If all goes as planned, he will hope to go home around July 25. In any event, the hospital will forward his mail to his home address, once he returns.

Captain Les Switzer
C/O Duke University Hospital
Room 3116
2301 Erwin Road
Durham, North Carolina 27710

Just before leaving them last evening, to return home, they both were so conscious of the fragility of life and the reality that none of us are promised tomorrow. Even in their most tenuous hour, they preach to you and me, the gratitude we should all have for this precious gift of life, friends and family.

The Word of God teaches us that there is a time for mourning and a time for dancing. I'd like to invite you to put on your dancing shoes, and take a turn around the dance floor with Les and Karen. They're both waiting for you, and the music never sounded so good!

Respectfully,
Colonel Greg Gallion

Next time: "A Friend is a Friend"