People get on roller coasters to receive a thrill associated with the ups and downs, curves and slow climbs up a steep grade that lead to a sudden drop making them squeal and scream in delight! They choose to ‘ride the roller coaster.’
Looking back at what has happened during the onset of this journey of Rev. Enoch Fuzz, pastor of Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church, following his diagnosis of stage four lung cancer, Fuzz wanted to share the two pictures above. We have talked about his continued ‘roller coaster ride’ leading him to the hospital, sending him home, sending him on a stay with church members or family so that he would have solitude in order to ‘get well.’ The roller coaster ride led him back home, back to the hospital, etc. Over the course of the year, his journey found him very, very ill and unable to breathe on his own. He was on oxygen 24 hours a day at one point and unable to walk to his mailbox as he wanted so desperately to do. On some occasions, Rev. Fuzz was able to attend events that were in his honor and other community events that were to help others. Rev. Fuzz has had lows that were very low and highs that gave the impression he was well. He has seen bad days and better days.
While Rev. Fuzz has endured a lot, he is still here to endure—even through the coronavirus pandemic. It is now a year later, and his journey continues. Recently, Fuzz was in the hospital with pneumonia. But he is now back home, recovering. However, he has swelling in his arm, hands and ankles. Yet he continues to receive the care making it another hill on the ‘rail’ of this roller coaster.
While this journey is like that of a roller coaster, it is certainly not a choice. The two pictures showing Rev. Fuzz a year ago and then now, a year later, do not reveal the extent of Fuzz’s journey still riding the rails of his roller coaster. He remains in good character. He laughs and cries and sings, doing all he can. This part of his journey, his roller coaster ride, allows him to stay at home and care for himself. Others continue to give him the utmost of care with visits, phone calls and check-ins.
This roller coaster creates silent squeals and screams for the desire to “be myself again”—the words that are often uttered by Fuzz.
Through it all, he has remained dedicated to the belief of the awesome power of prayer. The ups, downs, curves, steep grades, the drops and the straight rails of a roller coaster are like that of life. You may get off the ride staggering from delirium, but just keep praying. There’s another ride just ahead on another roller coaster of a different configuration.
Rev. Fuzz will continue to pray for the “whole wide world” as he is known to say and asks that you continue to pray for him. Also, visit his Facebook site where you will find him sharing his praise in pictures, testimony and song. As we continue to follow God’s guide, be sure to keep following his weekly journey in ‘Cancer: My Journey in Time.’
