October 26, 2007

A Note from Dr. Cook

I came into the hospital two weeks ago today, and it has certainly been a spiritual journey these last 14 days. Your prayers, love, and concern for me have touched me to the core of my being.

I have felt pretty miserable for the last three or four days. I knew there would be ups and downs and twists and turns, and many other individuals have suffered much more than this. However, I would sincerely appreciate your prayers for me for my nausea and for the fever they are trying to get down.

The Baylor medical doctors, nurses, and staff are excellent. How fortunate for Dallas to have this world-class medical institution led by their great executive leader, Joel Allison.

I also wanted to share with you one story. I am so proud of Dr. David Hasan, one of our DBU graduates. He came to DBU in 1991, and he was a Muslim and came to know the Lord while he was here at DBU. He is one of the finest people I know. His parents love him very much, but of course they did not want him to become a Christian.

After he became a Christian, he would have had to have gone back home, but we went ahead and gave him a full scholarship for four years. He also had campus jobs in order to make extra money. Then, he went to Texas Tech Medical School, and it was my privilege to go out to his medical school graduation and to be there with him at commencement.

David is like a part of our Cook family. He spent many Thanksgivings and Christmases with us during his undergraduate years at DBU and his medical school years.

He then went on to study for seven years to become a neurosurgeon, and now he is a professor of neurosurgery at the University of Missouri in Columbia. David flew down one day this week just to spend the day with me and to encourage me. I am so proud of him and so glad he came to DBU and received a Christian education and came to know the Lord.

I have been so privileged to have had the opportunity to serve as president of Dallas Baptist University for the last 19 and a half years. Students like Dr. David Hasan have made serving here such a blessing. I just thought you might like to hear the story of Dr. Hasan and know that there are many others whom I tried to help in the past who are now coming forward to help me during my difficult days.

Someone will post more information next Monday or Tuesday, but I just wanted to give you an update on my health. Thank you so much for your prayers.

I have in my room on the wall a beautiful banner, and I read it all the time. It is called “Footprints.” I am sure that you may have read this before, but I wanted to share it with you because it has meant so much to me.

One night a man had a dream. In his dream, he was walking along the beach with the Lord. As they walked, scenes from the man’s life flashed across the sky. When he looked down, he saw two sets of footprints etched in the sand; one set belonged to him, the other to the Lord.

As they continued to walk, he noticed that at the saddest and most trying times in his life, there was only one set of footprints in the sand. He asked the Lord, “When I needed you the most, why did you leave me?”

“My son, my precious child,” replied the Lord, “I would never leave you. During those times of trial and suffering when you saw one set of footprints…THAT was when I carried you.”

Sincerely,

Gary Cook