Rod Pfeifer
Humbled by Prayers
Rod Pfeifer is a man in control. The police chief of Dover since 1995, he has to keep his mind sharp while remaining calm under duress. In July 2008, he experienced news that temporarily shook his orderly world: He
had Stage 4 Squamous cell skin cancer.
Upon hearing this news, he relinquished some of his control and relied on his faith and the faith of those around him to beat this disease.
Pfeifer had a daily appointment at Saint Mary’s Regional Cancer Center for 38 days straight to receive radiation
treatments and chemotherapy. He became familiar with the staff, especially Drs. Speed and Sneed. In addition to their compassionate care, Pfiefer was impressed by the faith they lived out when treating patients.
“Both of these men—I tell you what—I can’t say enough good about them. Those two doctors made sure I was taken care of. I got pneumonia and had to stay at Saint Mary’s for a week and a half, and both doctors came to see me. And the nurses! Let me tell you, in my opinion, every nurse they have in the Cancer Center is a guardian angel by the way they take care of their patients.
“Those docs are Christian men, and that gave my soul such peace. Of course, my church and my wife Suzie
brought me a lot of comfort and kept me in their prayers, but it meant so much to be in the hands of those doctors,” he said.
Some people might not believe me, but you can feel prayer. Trust me. That’s why I tell people, if for any reason, the Lord puts it on your mind to pray for someone, stop everything and pray. Something extra bad is going on in that person’s life, and they need you,” Rod added. “It’s humbling to hear people say they’re praying for you. Some of them I didn’t even know. I don’t know how people can go through this without the Lord. I never would have made it without Him, my church, my wife and the wonderful staff at Saint Mary’s.”