Hi, my name is Joseph Witt. I’ve been married to Robin Witt for 19 years. We lived a pretty normal life until everything changed for our family a few months ago. Robin was diagnosed with Gastric Stomach Cancer. We weren’t prepared for such catastrophic news as I think that no one really is ever prepared for such things. We need to pay her medical bills, which are adding up real fast. Her prescriptions are not cheap, and we still have quite the road ahead of us. She will have to have surgery to remove the tumors that she has in her stomach. When we talked with the surgeon about the procedure, we did not realize the gravity of this surgery. We were informed that the doctor will be removing pretty much all her stomach and reattaching it to the esophagus and the lower intestine. The surgery will cause her to lose a lot of weight as she will have to get used to eating and drinking with no stomach. My wife really doesn’t have any weight to lose but obviously with cancer in the stomach we don’t really have a choice in this. After she is done with surgery, she will have to go through several rounds of chemotherapy to ensure that all the cancer is gone. We have five children and are all trying to stay positive through this very difficult situation.

A life-threatening disease such as cancer makes us confront realities and questions that cause us to step back from our lives and reflect on the meaning and implications of the illness. Our perspective and questions on these realities emerge in large measure from our religious and spiritual views and it influences how we experience, how we feel about it, and how well we come to terms with it. A God centered perspective has helped us as we grapple with these issues and seek to keep our bearing through the mental and emotional turmoil that comes with having cancer. Robin and I will not let this cripple our love, shatter our hope, and this will not define us. We are both fighters and will not surrender to this setback. She is strong, and I have no doubt that we will overcome this. God has held our hand and brought us through many difficult situations in the past and has always showed us the way.

It is evidenced through both Old Testament and New Testament Scripture that God does have the power to heal our physical bodies. "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven." James 5:14-15.

We thank you in advance for any help that is given. Most importantly, we ask that you pray for healing.