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In Memory of Earlene F. Wagner

November 11, 1941 – January 8, 2010

She is Gone by David Harkins

You can shed tears that she is gone or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she’s gone or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back or you can do what she’d want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

To our dear loved ones:

Our family is very thankful to you for your kindness and comforting words of condolence on the death of our wife, mother and grandmother.
Thank you for all of your prayers as we grieve Earlene’s death.

Warm regards,
The Wagner family

I miss you Mom.

Today I got the results my 4th CT scan. I started down this road almost 3 years ago. November 17th 2006, I found out I had a tumor the size of a cantaloupe in my colon. Well it didn’t stay contained in the colon. It had attached itself to the abdominal wall, small intestine, another section of the large intestine and the bladder. December 4th, 2006 I had surgery to attempt to remove this beast. The surgeon was successful in removing the tumor along with a bladder resection and colon and small intestine resections. On December 7th, 2006 the pathology report showed that there was no cancer to be found in my system. Nothing in the margins, and 22 out of 22 lymph nodes completely clean. Since then, I had six months of intensive chemo. My oncologist termed that preventative. I have been since visiting my oncologist every three months. I was scheduled to do that for 5 years. I have been informed if my results come back like all previous results that I can be declared “cancer free” by the oncologist. That would be two years earlier than the best case scenario I was given in January 2007.

The results today showed a spot on my liver that has never been there before. They are not sure what it is. It could very well be nothing, or just a cyst. It could be a metastasis. So right now the course of action is to wait for a few months and retake a CT Scan. We will find that A) the spot is gone, B) the spot has not grown, or C) the spot is growing. If the spot is there, or if it’s growing, surgery is in play. Then we may have to look at treatment options again.

While yes, they found a spot ALL other labs, blood work and markers are “exceptional”. So what are we to make of this. Well, this journey has never been about me. This is not “Why me, why now.” Honestly why not me. It has always been about God and His glory.

Here are some lessons I am learning from having cancer. (The catalyst for this was something that John Piper wrote. I would encourage you to read it.)

• I am learning that cancer is the best thing that has happened to me.
• I am learning — and continue to learn — to rely on God for everything. Only God can continue to get me through this. We can only LIVESTRONG™ if we’re GODSTRONG™
• I have begun the process of getting my affairs in order. No matter how long I live, it makes sense to know that my affairs are in — and remain — in order.
• I am learning that dying is not a loss and that staying alive is not the ultimate goal.
• I am learning that having cancer is a great way to develop deeper relationships with other people.
• I am learning that this is a process and not a destination. Cancer will always be a part of me.
• I am learning that sin is worse than cancer. Some of the things I have excused away as “just who I am” are sin.

I am an unkind jerk to many people including my wife and my boys. That needs to change. I am quite arrogant.

Having cancer has greatly humbled me, but I seek more humility.

• I am learning that I don’t need to sweat the “small stuff”.
• I am learning that it is better to influence others rather than simply inspiring them.
• I am learning that I can be just like the Israelites of the Old Testament. I was given a miracle 3 years ago and the further away I get from that, I find I can forget the miracle.
• I am learning that every day I wake and my feet touch the floor, it is a great day!
• I am learning that God has a purpose for me, my wife and my boys with this journey that He’s placed us on. May we be faithful.
• I have been given a platform to share what I believe and I am learning to use that.

“What’s the next step?”

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A year ago today my doctor called to inform me that the mass he found was Stage IV Colon Cancer. Wow the time has passed so quickly. I’m doing well. I’m healthy and I’m very blessed. I just wanted to say thank you to for your prayers and your support during this last year. You have been such a blessing to me and my family. This journey has been such a blessing to us. We’ve been able to encounter so many individuals that got to hear of God’s miraculous love, grace & mercy.

Well summer is about gone. My doctors are very pleased with my continued improvement. All the tests that I have had throughout the summer, as well as the reversal of my illeostomy, have come back very positive. Starting September 18th I will begin my maintenance visits with my oncologist. They will be every 3 months for 3 years. I just want to say thank you all for your continued prayers for these past 9 months. We have seen God just do the miraculous. It is so good to be feeling good again.

Things around our household are totally crazy right now. Everyone’s doing great. Josh’s wedding is about a month away. He moves in to their new place in about 10 days. Austin is in the midst of applying to colleges and marching season. Lori is back at school dealing with all her other kids. I’m still doing what I love to do. How could I not….everyday what we do has the chance to change life for all eternity. That is what got me into the music business and what has sustained me to almost 20 years.

Thanks again for all your support and your prayers.

– Scott

We can only LIVESTRONG™ if we’re GODSTRONG™.

Just wanted to give everyone an update on my progress. We’re approaching the halfway point with my treatment schedule. Next Tuesday (March 20) will be the mid-way point. The new treatments are going well. Whatever the new “cocktail” they’ve mixed for me appears to be working well. I am feeling great. I appear to be getting stronger every day and I’m actually gaining some weight back.

The only issue we’ve had is that my last blood work showed that my white cell count dropped substantially. It wasn’t low enough to interrupt my treatment schedule so my oncologist is not alarmed. However, it concerned me because it was the first big drop.

I appreciate all the emails and notes that keep coming my way. I am constantly amazed at how God is using this ride for his glory. I’m finding myself in conversations everyday where I get to share His story. In fact my whole family is having the same experience. We’re currently going through a series at church on Romans 12. We’re all learning new meanings on being a “living sacrifice” and “one body” as we continue on this journey.

We serve an awesome God. I must admit I don’t understand the reason for the adventure however, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I am learning so much on this adventure about me , about life. We as a family have been taking this opportunity to examine ourselves and look at what is truly important to us in this life we have. Oh how that has changed in the last 4 months. Instead of being completely wrapped up in my career, I’m looking for those opportunities to serve others. It really is amazing to see the responses of people when you say the word cancer. It really opens doors. The conversations get flowing.

I hope this update finds you all well. If you have any prayer requests please let us know as we will be sure to stand with you in prayer.

– Scott

We can only LIVESTRONG if we’re GODSTRONG.

If you can help with our fundraising for the ING Georgia Marathon on behalf on the Lance Armstrong Foundation please click below.

Cliff Phillips’ site: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=158934&supid=162