#Dentist said ‘’You need a root canal. Take these antibiotics.’’ 2 days later my jaw’s all swollen & I can barely open my mouth

[msfcatlover]

Guess who has a ✨jaw infection✨

[wkren]

When Life Gives You Lemons …

When life gives you lemons… You know how that old, proverbial phrase ends. 

Make Lemonade!   I’ve heard those words of encouragement and positivity, most of my adult life.  Never really thought much about the lemons and life thing.  And then, life handed me a lemon in the form of lung and bone cancer. 

So, like those proverbial words of wisdom, I squeezed the Stage Four,  2 - 5 years prognosis and made a “glass of lemonade.”  For the last few months, I have continued on with a determination that I would beat the odds, fight the fight, and be a positive influence for all to see.  Apparently, I must have left that glass of lemonade on a window sill  Our hot days of August, leading into September, with the sun beating down on my drink, did something.  It wasn’t long, and the lemonade was musty and yucky.  

Here’s what happened.

Yesterday, (you can read about it in my previous blog entry) I went to my dentist for a routine cleaning.  I’d been feeling pretty good, both physically and mentally.  Blessed and happy, in fact! This cancer was not getting me down. I was plowing ahead, positive thinking and all.  Optimistic as ever!  

I was in the chair 5 minutes when Dr. Fogerty announced, 

“You have a small abscess on a tooth.  I need to take a couple of x-rays.”  

Uh-oh.  This is not what I want to hear.  I’ve been down this road a few times. It usually leads to an expensive root canal.  

A few minutes later and I was right.  I left the dentist with clean teeth and a referral to a Dr. Steve J. Vlahakis, DDS.  He practices Endodontics in Plymouth. My lemonade had turned sour!

Twenty-four hours later, after my early phone call to Dr. Steve’s receptionist, pleading that I really needed an appointment - explaining that I would be in chemo soon and any future visits to the dentist would be difficult.  

God must have heard my prayers.  A very kind and understanding lady booked me for 3:30 p.m. - exactly 24 hours from my previous visit in Belleville.  And after one and a half hours (in another dental chair), I was the proud recipient of one a root canal, tooth number 21.   

Dr. Steve gave me a script for antibiotics, and soon, I was on my way home with a crooked smile!  My nasty tasting lemonade had been tossed!  I had a cold, fresh glass of the citrus drink, and it was delicious.  

Tooth fixed.  

Pain was gone.  

I was back fighting the good fight and being a positive influence, for Jesus!

I need to back up a little.  Here is a picture of Dr. Steve Vlahakis.  He’s the guy standing next to yours truly - the fellow with the silly grin.  My lower lip and part of my jaw are numb, but I’ve got a huge smile inside!  And as for my NEW dentist, I hope I never see him again. But if I do - I know that he’s one of the best in the field of Endodontics!  If you ever need this type of service, Dr. Steve’s your man.

So when life hands you a lemon, you squeeze it into lemonade, 

And should the lemonade goes bad… Throw out the stuff!  Go to God in prayer and plead your case. Reach for a fresh glass.  I did.  Ask Him for additional strength to face that unexpected challenge and then plunge in with a holy boldness.  You see, with God … Anything is possible.

The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.  Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”  Mark 10:26-27 (NLT)