Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Pastor John Samson – Health Update:
Last week, Wednesday, to be specific, out of nowhere, the right side of my face started hurting. Within a couple of hours, the pain level out of a possible zero being no pain to 10 being severe pain was indeed a 10. I knew something was very wrong when I looked in the mirror and saw huge swelling on the right side of my face. I couldn’t open my mouth at all. My jaw was locked and closed. I needed help and fast.
To cut a long story short, by Thursday I was visiting, two different dental facilities, and in the second was immediately told to go to the Emergency Room at a hospital as my life was in danger.
I had a CT scan. I was told I’d wait 45 minutes to an hour for the results. Actually, it took 16 hours to get the results and I was told the news that it was not an infection, but that I had a fast-growing mass on the right side of my face. Of course, I was shocked and stunned. It was clear I could easily be facing death unless this spreading mass was halted in its tracks.
Whether or not the mass was benign or cancerous, it was obviously taking over the entire right side of my face. How long would I have to live? Did I have even days to live before this took over completely? I had no idea.
I was then sent by ambulance to another hospital in downtown Phoenix where they have specialists for ear, nose, and throat issues. You can only imagine the thoughts racing through my head, especially as it was not yet determined what kind of mass it was.
I then waited a further 16 hours or so before a second doctor emerged, who had analyzed the same CT scan the other hospital radiologist and doctor had seen. He said that he disagreed with the first doctor’s view and in light of my symptoms and after taking further tests, told me I did not have a mass. He said it is a highly dangerous infection but that it was caught early. He said, “As you continue with the antibiotic treatment, I expect you to be here no longer than two or three days and out of here.”
What a relief! For more than 24 hours I thought I could be living my last few days in this world.
Brothers and sisters, it’s been quite a ride, as you might imagine, but I am home from the hospital and God willing, on the road to recovery. In total, there will be 10 days of antibiotic treatment and management for the pain.
I still have obvious swelling on the right side of my face and am in some pain as I write this. My jaw is open now enough for me to eat solid food, though it is far from normal. I still cannot open it fully. I am physically exhausted. So too is my precious wife Linda. Please pray for us. It has been very hard for her in all this as well.
I am in need of rest. The infection is still there, but hopefully over time it’s coming more and more under control.
I’m very hopeful of having the facial swelling, which is still there, come down. It’s come down some and I’m hoping it will come back to normal.
I love you very much precious brothers and sisters. Lord willing, I’ll be back in the pulpit very soon.
I thank the Lord for His great mercy to me. I am also very keenly aware of your love and prayers and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Linda and I continue to covet your continued prayers for us.
We never walk alone with our family in Christ.
In the love of the Lord Jesus,
John Samson
Psalm 118:17 – I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.18 The LORD has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.