My guest today is Robin Luftig. Her story is one that we hope we never have to face–but her story also reveals the importance of spending our time loving one another. Because don’t know what the future holds.

Life After the Eleventh Day is a call to enjoy today while we trust God for our tomorrow.

Life After the Eleventh Day

Life sometimes gets in the way of our plans—especially during the holidays. [Click to Tweet] 

I’ve learned to put plans to the side and appreciate what is most important. This lesson was thrust on my in the spring of 2011.

“I’m sorry; Mrs. Luftig,” the doctor said, “but you have a tumor on your brain about the size of my fist. Do you want a priest, or could I call the hospital chaplain for you?”

Just hours earlier, my husband and I had planned our weekend activities without a care. Now Lew stood helplessly beside me as I lay in my Emergency Room bed listening as a doctor continued. “You have a tumor—a meningioma—nestled under the right frontal area of your skull and need surgery right away to remove it before there’s irreversible damage.”

Surgery for My Brain Tumor was Scheduled

I had days—ten days—to prepare myself for this surgery. I only had a little more than a week to do all I hoped to do, experience anything I still wanted to experience and say whatever I still needed to say to those who needed to hear from me, because I had no guarantee I would survive the surgery. And if I did, no one could promise what type of life I would be able to lead. I only knew for sure that I needed to condense the rest of my life into a mere ten days. I prepared the best I could—I pulled close to God.

On the eleventh day—ten days after I was told I had a brain tumor—a team of neurosurgeons spent five hours removing the tumor. When I woke in recovery, excruciating pain throbbed through my skull. My arms were black and blue from various IVs. More importantly, I had so many unknowns. Would I be able to talk? Would I have control over voluntary muscles? Could I put thoughts together coherently?

Facing the Unknown after Brain Tumor Surgery

Slowly my strength did begin to return. My first excursion was to church. Last one in and first one out, but I made it. Then I attempted maneuvering through a grocery store with Lew. But even relying on the grocery cart for support, I only had enough energy to walk a few paces.

As time passed my walking ability began to improve, as did my dexterity, stamina and memory. And I have spent the past five years getting stronger.

Finding What’s Important

As I look back to my surgery and period of recovery, I realized a gift more precious than I ever imagined: a glimpse to my own mortality. [Click to Tweet]

I also learned to recognize true the importance of friends, family and a loving Savior.

Planning for the holidays is important. Decorate the way you want. Prepare the foods that your family expects. Buy the presents you choose to give. But don’t let the planning take on more importance than the opportunity to celebrate with those you love.

Robin

In 2009, Robin founded Renew Ministries, sharing with spiritually- and emotionally-broken men and women, that God’s plan for their lives includes healing. She has also worked with twelve-step groups and understands the guidance in trusting a higher power. She has participated and led Divorce Care support groups and has written and published From Pain to Peace: A Journey of Forgiveness After Divorce in hopes of sharing what she has learned—both good and bad—in life surrounding divorce.

Her latest book, Ten Days to Live: How God Used a Brain Tumor to Heal a Heart is represented by The Seymour Agency and awaiting publication. Robin attends Lighthouse Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, serves on its Steering Committee (governance board), and teaches/leads Sunday morning and home group discussions as her schedule allows.

You can contact Robin through her blog, Twitter or Facebook accounts.