Phil McLarty Shares Testimony of His Cancer Journey
Editor’s note…this is an account of God’s healing of Phil McLarty. Many know Phil. He grew up here and has served as a Methodist and Presbyterian minister. He gave this testimony at Garrett Memorial Baptist Church. In running this, we’re not trying to send you to a particular church, we just think there’s a lot of interest in Phil’s recovery…
Gratitude
Let me begin by saying thanks to Brother Clif and Brother Chris for inviting me to share my
testimony with you this evening. In case you haven’t heard, I was diagnosed with Pancreatic
cancer in December, 2023. I appreciate the opportunity to share my story with you.
I also want to say thanks to all of you who’ve been praying for us. Trust me, your prayers have
been heard, and I am eternally grateful. I’ve felt the peace and power of God’s presence like
never before. It’s one thing to pray for others, it was a whole new experience for me to be on
the receiving end. Never doubt the positive effect of intercessory prayer.
Before I tell you my story, there is an individual I want to recognize in a special way, and that’s
my wife, Kathy. She’s my rock. She’s stood by me every step of the way. What I experienced, we
experienced together. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be here today.
My Story
My story is remarkable, but not unique. In a nutshell, I was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer in
December last year and now, some ten months later, the cancer is in remission. Praise the Lord!
How extensive was the cancer initially? The CT scan showed a sizable tumor in the pancreas,
and it was growing. In addition to the tumor, I was given a blood test to indicate the extent of
cancer in my system. It goes by the name, “CA-19-9.” The result comes out as a number.
Anything less than 38 means you’re relatively free of cancer. Anything more, you have a
problem. When I was first diagnosed, my CA19-9 registered 1994.7. That’s off the chart!
Given the prognosis, we reached out to UT Southwestern Cancer Center in Dallas. We met with
an oncologist, Dr. Al Mutar, who recommended chemotherapy, and I reluctantly agreed. If it
had been up to me, I would have turned to Hospice and let the cancer run its course. So many
others have died of pancreatic and other forms of cancer. Why should I be any different? That’s
when Kathy stepped in. “This is not just about you,” she said. “You’ve got to think about me and
your boys and their families. A lot of people are counting on you to get well, and you need to do
your part.” As I said, if it hadn’t been for her, I wouldn’t be here today.
So, I agreed to undergo chemotherapy and, to save us the long drive back and forth to Dallas,
Dr. Al Mutar suggested we find an oncologist in Texarkana to oversee the infusions. Instead of
driving 200 miles every other week, we would only have to drive 30. What a gift that was!
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We reached out to Dr. Patel, an oncologist at the Collom and Carney Clinic, and, after studying
my test results and giving me a quick examination, he gave his prognosis in a single word:
“Poor.” I had little chance of survival.
I received eight infusions over sixteen weeks. After the last infusion, we went back to UTSW for
a CT scan and another blood test. We were hoping to find that the chemo had caused the
tumor to shrink. Turns out, it didn’t shrink, it disappeared! It was gone! The CA19-9 count was
down to 32.9. Dr Al Mutar looked at the pathology report and said, with a tear in his eye, “It’s
miraculous!” The surgeon, Dr. Polanco, said, “Mr. McLarty, when I first met you in December, I
didn’t think I would ever see you again, yet here you are standing tall, healthy and strong.” It
truly was miraculous!
As a precaution, the radiologist, Dr. Aguilera, ordered five radiation treatments to eradicate the
area where the tumor had been. This was to kill any microscopic cells that might regenerate
and lead to a recurrence. Six weeks after the last radiation treatment, I underwent surgery. A
month later Dr. Al Mutar ordered four more rounds of chemotherapy – yet another preemptive
measure to further ward off chances of recurrence. Now that that’s over, I’ll be monitored
routinely for the next five years.
That’s my story. As a say, it’s remarkable, but not unique. Others have experienced healing
miracles. If you or someone you love is currently battling cancer or some other life-threatening
illness, pray that they will experience a miracle, as well. It’s possible. Don’t lose hope. Miracles
still happen.
What is a miracle, anyway? The Oxford Dictionary says, (A miracle is …) “A surprising and
welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws …”
That speaks to me. When we heard that the tumor was gone, we were blown away. It was
more than we could have ever expected. All we could do was be grateful.
Well, I can tell you, I’m grateful beyond words. I’d like to shout it from the rooftops. What holds
me back are two things: I’ve known a lot of people who’ve died of cancer or some other
terminal illness, regardless of how many prayer warriors were on their side.
I’m also reluctant for another reason: “Why me?” Like Paul, I’m “the chief of sinners.” I’m no
better or more deserving than anyone else. There’s no rhyme or reason to it.
This leads to the matter of faith. The definition ends, (A miracle is …) “A surprising and welcome
event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws… and is therefore considered to be the
work of a divine agency.”
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Just who is this “divine agency?” “Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of
heaven and earth.” Miracles are the gifts of God. I’m content to believe God heard our prayers,
your prayers, and the prayers of others scattered far and wide, and, for whatever reason, God
intervened, and the cancer was gone. It’s not for us to understand the mind of God.
As William Cowper writes,
“God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform,
he plants his footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm;
Deep in unfathomable mines of never-failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs and works his sovereign will.”
What I’ve come to realize is that there is a far greater miracle than a healing miracle, and that is
the miracle of resurrection. Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins and was raised from the
dead to give us the promise of eternal life – and not only us, but all who put their faith in him.
While the miracle I experienced restored my health, it does not make me immune from death.
One of these days I will die just like everyone else. The difference is this: Knowing the promise
of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, I’m free to live each day safe and secure in the peace
of God’s presence, confident that God watches over me, and his Spirit directs my path, and so I
say, “Lead on, O King Eternal.”
In closing, I’d like to offer this verse of a hymn by John W. Peterson:
My father is omnipotent, and that you can’t deny,
A God of might and miracles ‘tis written in the sky.
It took miracle to put the stars in place,
It took a miracle to hang the world in space,
But when he saved my soul, cleansed and made me whole,
It took of miracle of love and grace.