Testimonies
Editors Note: Robert Couch passed away in June 2010.
January 10, 2010
Hello my name is Robert Couch and I live in Sequim Wa. For the past 33 years I have been restoring Morgan sports cars and I am at this point considered the premier Morgan restorer in the USA and some say the world. In July of 2006 my world as I new it came to a crashing halt. I would like to share with you what happen and my deliverance from a very serious illness. In July 2006 I suffered a mild seizure and went to the emergency room in Port Angeles and had a cat scan of my brain. I was found to have a fist sized lump behind my right eye. I was sent off to UW Seattle and was told I needed to have a very serious brain operation to remove the lump. It was not known at this point what the lump was. So I was operated on by the best team of brain surgeons in the world. I remember nothing for the 5 days that I went through this from getting into the ambulance in Port Angeles to my recovery after surgery. That was the grace of God, sparing me from what would have been some very intense moments. A year or so later I asked God why I remembered nothing of my intense hospital stay and He said that it was because I was not there, I was safely in His arms! I awoke after my operation to see my sister from Conn. standing by my side, what a friend. I was told by the surgeons at least a half dozen times how excited they were that they were able to remove the whole lump. Little did I know at that point just how important that was. I returned to UW Seattle in 2 weeks and was told that I had a grade 3 Glioma that was cancerous. I was told that I had to have radiation and chemo to battle what was left, this form of cancer being like a spider with fingers spreading out into the brain. So after recovering from the surgery, with no side effects, I entered into 7 weeks of daily except Sunday rounds of intensive radiation to the right side and front of my brain. I want at this point to stress the fact that I had a super-natural peace in my heart about this whole ordeal. I never once considered that I might die from this illness I just had peace in my heart that it would be okay. I hardly ever gave it a second thought, I never worried. I didn't have to work this up in my heart because my hope in God is firmly grounded in His grace and love for us all so I was at perfect peace with God concerning little ol imperfect me. After the radiation as in the surgery I had no major side effects and after the seven weeks I entered into 3 months of chemo. I had no prob-lems with the chemo, I took it at night, slept through it and other than getting a bit moody when I stopped it for 25 days and my taste buds being ruined I did okay. I started having MRI’s in Sept. 06 every 2 months and every one came out perfect. I remember my oncologist saying the fist MRI couldn't be better. I can still hear his words to this day! After reading on the Internet that this form of cancer typically comes back after a month of surgery and 1% survive for more than 6 months I was beginning to feel special. Then in March after 4 MRI’s my radiologist said “as far as I’m concerned Robert your brain cancer is gone”!! Well praise God, him and I both celebrated with shouting and crying and rejoicing. It dawned on me how exciting it must be for this man who does nothing all day but read potential death sentences in what he looks at. He was so happy for me. I then went on 3 month scans and I am now getting ready for my 3rd 6 month scan and every one has been perfect. As my great oncologist and friend Dr. Kummitt says “Robert you still got just one brain” and one brain is good!
So my friends my encouragement to you all would be, no matter where you are in life and your walk with God, no matter what you may be going through “Never Give Up Hope” ! Under Gods grace we are able to do just that, it's where we proclaim that He is the God of all hope! It's the place where there is no condemnation, it's where we find our full righteousness as sons of God and our rest, our peace, our love and compas-sion.
Robert
A grateful survivor
Worship, by Sidney Barthel
There are the usual distractions. Small children excited by the spirit and the music, running and jumping and delirious. Not knowing the words to the songs. Thinking about stuff. But this is so normal. So I just continue to sit with my arms wrapped around me, while others stand, clap, raise their hands; and gradually, it all folds into one, and I am deep in a presence that is big and gentle, profoundly absorbed in a God who is willing to accept us all, as we are, lumped together here, now, in an action called "worship."
Someone comes over to me and whispers in my ear, but it's all flippity flop to me because I am deep in a vast presence.
We chain up in small molecules and pray for one another, and sparks fly, and people feel the zing of electrons that must belong to a very very big atom, and I feel as clear as sheet glass.