By HOLLIE ROBERTS
JEFFERSON, Iowa, Feb. 13, 2017 — A poem in honor of my friend Carla Offenburger, as she starts another round of cancer treatment.
—
Philippians, 4:13
My friend has cancer
This is not the first time, sadly.
Decisions have to be made:
What kind of treatment is best?
Should she enroll in a new “study”?
Should she try a new medicine?
Her doctor says surgery is not the best option:
She has done that twice before.
So we talk; while I fight back tears
she thinks about fighting cancer:
Anxious to get started,
Ready to do battle.
She shares information —
I am glad to know the plan.
I want to be one of her soldiers,
a supporter, her cheerleader.
She cannot give up this fight;
She has too much to offer
Too much to share
too much for the rest of us to lose.
I petition God:
Give us a cure, a miracle;
I ask, knowing
He does things in His own time.
So we will just wait;
patient, trusting.
As will the end of this poem wait,
until I can gleefully write a happy ending.
—
The poet Hollie Roberts is both a friend of Carla Offenburger and a work colleague, too, at Greene County Medical Center, where Roberts is director of the hospital’s foundation. She is a regular member of the “First United Coven of Greene County” poetry group and her work has been widely published. You can write her by email at hollie.roberts@gcmchealth.com or comment by using the handy form below here.
Hollie’s touching words share the feelings of many as Carla continues her “dance” with cancer. Our thoughts and prayers are with Carla and Chuck.
Nancy & Dale Hanaman, Rippey IA