Hi everyone,
Deb's CT scan results were good. No new cancer and the cancer present on her liver hasn't changed.
We view this as good news and a blessing.
Other than that, there isn't much to report. We continue to enjoy our small group and the emotional support of friends and family. Deb will have another CT scan in six months, I assume.
Thanks for keeping up with us.
God Bless all of you.
Dan
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas 2012
Here is our Christmas thoughts for all of you,
December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas to all, and our wish for a Happy New Year.
This Year has been a special one for us, with all the surprises we could want and God’s blessings through all of the year. We didn’t send a letter last year because when I put one together, it seemed much too sad, and in reality, 2010 had some bright spots too, brought into focus by looking backwards over time.
We celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary in 2010 and decided to go back to Montreal and see if anything had changed. Our trip had all the mystery of France, with a convenient North America location, coupled with a side trip to Quebec City, for the crowning Francophile experience. We stayed at the Queen Elizabeth, as before, and got caught up in the Montreal, Philadelphia hockey play off game excitement. Chicago won the Stanley Cup, the first since 1961, and I was very proud to be able to watch the games and root for the Blackhawks.
A year ago Deb was diagnosed with right side breast cancer, confirmed by a biopsy, a shock really, especially since all the exams had been normal. Chemo started in early December and a mastectomy followed in May. The good news is that Deb is doing well and getting her strength back, slow but sure and still working full time. The breast cancer had attached to her liver but is thought to be stable. She will have another CT scan Monday to see how things look.
I had my right hip replaced in May, so for almost a month we convalesced together, enjoying our time together at home. Deb returned to work and eventually so did I, for a week, and then retired on August first. Not only do I really like being home, Strider is thrilled to have me here so she can nap on the love seat next to me.
I was in Michigan in August to visit Kathi, Erin and Kris. Kris and Bud live in the Grand Rapids area so I spent some time with them and the grandkids, Mitchell and Madelynn. Then I went to the Pontiac area to visit with Kathi and Jim and to attend a Pontiac Central High School band reunion. I think my friend Peggy and I were the oldest ones there. I’m glad I wasn’t asked to play anything.
Erin and Quinn were visiting in the area so we all congregated at Kathi’s and later had dinner at the Clarkston Union restaurant. Erin’s husband Rob, a career USAF member, returned from his yearlong duty in Korea, and they have now moved to his next duty station near Pensacola Florida. Erin hopes to be there long enough for Quinn to complete high school. Quinn is sixteen.
Sadly, we put Gabby, our cat, down in June. She was sixteen years old and had come to have just too many health challenges to go on without being miserable. Our vet and her team sent a nice sympathy card and Gabby’s paw prints to help us remember her. It is so difficult to lose a loved pet, after so many years. It’s hard to believe Strider is nine years old now.
We are part of a great small group through church that has helped us keep our balance through all the ups and downs. There have been times and days in the past year that we were scared, overjoyed, angry, in denial and riding the roller coaster of emotions as our situation evolved, but through it all we were comforted by great friends, family and most of all our Lord, who marked a path for us through this year and gave us the strength to survive.
Someone wrote that the secret of happiness is to walk slowly through life, savoring the exercise, and to make no left turns while driving. Three right turns make a left turn, as you all know. And statistics show most senior driver’s accidents come during left turns. I want to be around to continue my driving Deb up the wall.
We have enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving and look forward to Christmas and New Year. We hope and pray for healing for Mary as she battles leukemia, Jack as he treats for skin cancer and keeps an eye on his lymphoma, currently in remission. We mourn the passing of our friends Jill and Herman from cancer, and the health problems that seem to visit everyone we know.
This year we have tried to look at our life and feel the contentment that comes from knowing that God has given us so many blessings, and that He has only asked us to be good stewards of those blessings and to share them with others. We are certainly blessed by your prayers and petitions to our Lord asking for healing for us and we’ve seen the results of those prayers in the recent positive medical exams.
God Bless each of you in 2012
Dan, Deb and Strider, the wonder dog
December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas to all, and our wish for a Happy New Year.
This Year has been a special one for us, with all the surprises we could want and God’s blessings through all of the year. We didn’t send a letter last year because when I put one together, it seemed much too sad, and in reality, 2010 had some bright spots too, brought into focus by looking backwards over time.
We celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary in 2010 and decided to go back to Montreal and see if anything had changed. Our trip had all the mystery of France, with a convenient North America location, coupled with a side trip to Quebec City, for the crowning Francophile experience. We stayed at the Queen Elizabeth, as before, and got caught up in the Montreal, Philadelphia hockey play off game excitement. Chicago won the Stanley Cup, the first since 1961, and I was very proud to be able to watch the games and root for the Blackhawks.
A year ago Deb was diagnosed with right side breast cancer, confirmed by a biopsy, a shock really, especially since all the exams had been normal. Chemo started in early December and a mastectomy followed in May. The good news is that Deb is doing well and getting her strength back, slow but sure and still working full time. The breast cancer had attached to her liver but is thought to be stable. She will have another CT scan Monday to see how things look.
I had my right hip replaced in May, so for almost a month we convalesced together, enjoying our time together at home. Deb returned to work and eventually so did I, for a week, and then retired on August first. Not only do I really like being home, Strider is thrilled to have me here so she can nap on the love seat next to me.
I was in Michigan in August to visit Kathi, Erin and Kris. Kris and Bud live in the Grand Rapids area so I spent some time with them and the grandkids, Mitchell and Madelynn. Then I went to the Pontiac area to visit with Kathi and Jim and to attend a Pontiac Central High School band reunion. I think my friend Peggy and I were the oldest ones there. I’m glad I wasn’t asked to play anything.
Erin and Quinn were visiting in the area so we all congregated at Kathi’s and later had dinner at the Clarkston Union restaurant. Erin’s husband Rob, a career USAF member, returned from his yearlong duty in Korea, and they have now moved to his next duty station near Pensacola Florida. Erin hopes to be there long enough for Quinn to complete high school. Quinn is sixteen.
Sadly, we put Gabby, our cat, down in June. She was sixteen years old and had come to have just too many health challenges to go on without being miserable. Our vet and her team sent a nice sympathy card and Gabby’s paw prints to help us remember her. It is so difficult to lose a loved pet, after so many years. It’s hard to believe Strider is nine years old now.
We are part of a great small group through church that has helped us keep our balance through all the ups and downs. There have been times and days in the past year that we were scared, overjoyed, angry, in denial and riding the roller coaster of emotions as our situation evolved, but through it all we were comforted by great friends, family and most of all our Lord, who marked a path for us through this year and gave us the strength to survive.
Someone wrote that the secret of happiness is to walk slowly through life, savoring the exercise, and to make no left turns while driving. Three right turns make a left turn, as you all know. And statistics show most senior driver’s accidents come during left turns. I want to be around to continue my driving Deb up the wall.
We have enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving and look forward to Christmas and New Year. We hope and pray for healing for Mary as she battles leukemia, Jack as he treats for skin cancer and keeps an eye on his lymphoma, currently in remission. We mourn the passing of our friends Jill and Herman from cancer, and the health problems that seem to visit everyone we know.
This year we have tried to look at our life and feel the contentment that comes from knowing that God has given us so many blessings, and that He has only asked us to be good stewards of those blessings and to share them with others. We are certainly blessed by your prayers and petitions to our Lord asking for healing for us and we’ve seen the results of those prayers in the recent positive medical exams.
God Bless each of you in 2012
Dan, Deb and Strider, the wonder dog
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Another Christmas Reflection
Happy Thursday everyone,
I sit here today looking at Christmas present and back at Christmas past, reflecting on all that has gone on since we started this epic battle with cancer.
I read through some of the past posts and I enjoyed reliving the emotions I felt at various times, certainly a roller coaster, but tempered by the lens of time.
I guess I look at the last five years as a test in some ways. We've tried to meet head on the challenges of cancer and then it's return, and I honestly can not imagine someone with a better attitude and more grace than Deb has shown throughout all of this. Where others may have given in or given up, she has been the epitome of courage and focus. I'm so proud.
The fight has taken it's toll. She is spooked by the cancer that remains in her liver and will always believe that her future is compromised by the probability of further cancer. And that's not to say anything about all the side effects that she has endured and remain.
Her hair has come back beautifully, and everyone marvels at her appearance and energy.
We believe that God has brought us through this season for a purpose. He has blessed us with so many gifts and we must remember to thank Him in everything and be content, because he is our Lord and Savior and will guide us with His word.
He will be with you also, all the way, that faithful God. Every morning when you awaken to the old and tolerable pain, at every mile of the hot uphill dusty road of tiring duty, on to the judgment seat, the same Christ there as ever, still loving you, still God.
"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it." - Helen Keller
It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble, how hopeless the outlook, how muddled the tangle, how great the mistake. A sufficient realization of love will dissolve it all.
Author:
Emmet Fox American Unity Minister, Metaphysician
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. [John 13:35]
We mourn the loss of Herman and Jill to cancer recently, and dear friends Mary, Jack and Logan who are fighting cancer. It seems this fight will never end.
Thank you for your prayers. Having cancer is sometimes lonely, sad too, not knowing the final outcome. But knowing someone with cancer gives each one of us the opportunity to make a difference. So call and be available, give love and hugs as they are the best medicine.
God Bless,
Dan
I sit here today looking at Christmas present and back at Christmas past, reflecting on all that has gone on since we started this epic battle with cancer.
I read through some of the past posts and I enjoyed reliving the emotions I felt at various times, certainly a roller coaster, but tempered by the lens of time.
I guess I look at the last five years as a test in some ways. We've tried to meet head on the challenges of cancer and then it's return, and I honestly can not imagine someone with a better attitude and more grace than Deb has shown throughout all of this. Where others may have given in or given up, she has been the epitome of courage and focus. I'm so proud.
The fight has taken it's toll. She is spooked by the cancer that remains in her liver and will always believe that her future is compromised by the probability of further cancer. And that's not to say anything about all the side effects that she has endured and remain.
Her hair has come back beautifully, and everyone marvels at her appearance and energy.
We believe that God has brought us through this season for a purpose. He has blessed us with so many gifts and we must remember to thank Him in everything and be content, because he is our Lord and Savior and will guide us with His word.
He will be with you also, all the way, that faithful God. Every morning when you awaken to the old and tolerable pain, at every mile of the hot uphill dusty road of tiring duty, on to the judgment seat, the same Christ there as ever, still loving you, still God.
"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it." - Helen Keller
It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble, how hopeless the outlook, how muddled the tangle, how great the mistake. A sufficient realization of love will dissolve it all.
Author:
Emmet Fox American Unity Minister, Metaphysician
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. [John 13:35]
We mourn the loss of Herman and Jill to cancer recently, and dear friends Mary, Jack and Logan who are fighting cancer. It seems this fight will never end.
Thank you for your prayers. Having cancer is sometimes lonely, sad too, not knowing the final outcome. But knowing someone with cancer gives each one of us the opportunity to make a difference. So call and be available, give love and hugs as they are the best medicine.
God Bless,
Dan
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Reflections
October 26th and while the grass is still green, the leaves are either in color or on the ground.
Isn't it something that time seems to go so fast except between November and March?
Strider is curled up beside me, while Val cleans our home. Deb is working and, John is here to do some electrical work for me. The sun is bright and a gental breeze blows.
Deb is getting her strength back and continues to amaze me with her positive attitude and reliance on good doctors and our Lord to see her through this cancer thing.
She goes to the various doctors who then examine her and give her a clean bill of health.
My retirement is still a novelty to me, but I'm liking it more all the time.
Please pray for healing for Jill Bryan, Mary Krummery, Mary Keller and Tom Brown. So many people with medical issues.
Thank you for keeping up with us. Without all of you, we wouldn't stand a chance to continue our feeling that this too shall pass.
God Bless all of you,
Dan
Thursday, September 22, 2011
A little of this, and a lot of that
Hello everyone,
This is a quiet Thursday evening with Strider snuggled up beside me and a warm laptop computer keeping me, well, warm.
Deb is out to dinner with dinner group two and so here I sit felling very content and peaceful.
Deb had a CT scan a week or so ago and the results were good. She was told that her lung nodules improved, but she doesn't remember ever hearing anything about her lungs before, so that's a puzzle she will have to solve when she visits the doctor. The cancer med she takes each day is starting to bring about side effects including irritability. She continues to work, God bless her.
Treatment continues for lymphedema in her left arm, and there has been progress. There will be a transition to something she will wear daily and something different for night time. This will replace the therapy she gets at Centegra three times a week.
Nothing else much going on with us. I'm enjoying retirement. Lots of little projects and I've taken Strider to the park so she can explore being a dog.
We continue to get great support from our small group and others from church. Friends old and new pray for us and we feel the warmth of love and good wishes. God has blessed us with abundance and we are grateful.
It seems to me that giving thanks is more than a seasonal thing. I'm convinced that I should start each day with my personal thanks for a great mate, my family and my health. And for the friends that have suffered through this last few years of Deb's trials with understanding and patience, we couldn't ask for more.
Our friend Jack is still treating for skin cancer, but his lymphoma is dormant, while Jill Bryan suffers through chemotherapy and the side effects that brings. Please pray for them as they battle the uncertainty of health and healing.
God Bless you all,
Dan
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Earthquakes and Rain
Dear Friends,
This afternoon finds me watching the earthquake coverage for the east coast and being thankful that we are not involved. What fear something like this must generate in people who remember the recent Japan quake.
Fear is something that we know first hand, and fight all the time. Fear of suffering, death, losing loved ones and being out of control. We all realize that we should calm ourselves and have faith, but when the bottom is dropping from the market and homes are selling for 60 percent of the asking price just two years ago, it creates plain old fear.
So I can understand how Deb would feel about the liver scan scheduled for September ninth. There is already cancer present, we know, and the last scan was several months ago, so a bit of fear or concern would be expected. We will know more after the scan.
We see some good results in the lymphedema therapy, with a steady decrease in the retained fluid. That has Deb feeling better.
With September 11th coming soon, it's not too early to remember those who died in that terrible tragedy.
Being content is the hardest thing to do, but if you can pull it off, you will find much more satisfaction in life.
God Bless,
Dan
This afternoon finds me watching the earthquake coverage for the east coast and being thankful that we are not involved. What fear something like this must generate in people who remember the recent Japan quake.
Fear is something that we know first hand, and fight all the time. Fear of suffering, death, losing loved ones and being out of control. We all realize that we should calm ourselves and have faith, but when the bottom is dropping from the market and homes are selling for 60 percent of the asking price just two years ago, it creates plain old fear.
So I can understand how Deb would feel about the liver scan scheduled for September ninth. There is already cancer present, we know, and the last scan was several months ago, so a bit of fear or concern would be expected. We will know more after the scan.
We see some good results in the lymphedema therapy, with a steady decrease in the retained fluid. That has Deb feeling better.
With September 11th coming soon, it's not too early to remember those who died in that terrible tragedy.
Being content is the hardest thing to do, but if you can pull it off, you will find much more satisfaction in life.
God Bless,
Dan
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
The routine continues
Good Morning!
It's a bright and sunny day here in the Chicago area, with Arizona type temperatures and Florida humidity. As I sit next to a snoozing Strider and sip coffee, I'm counting down the days to my retirement on July 31st. I'll be at work next week and then gone forever.
Most of you may remember I had a short retirement in 2000 at the end of my career at Kemper. But now, at 66, I imagine my employment days are over.
I continue to recover from my hip replacement. I feel good except for a lack of stamina. I'm at my best pushing a cart around a store, something that frightens Deb a bit.
I have three more therapy sessions this week. I've discarded all walking aids.
Deb is going to therapy three times a week to reduce the swelling in her left arm. She also is taking some occupational therapy to help with range of motion in her right arm.
We feel as if we've received a special blessing from God. Our health continues to improve and we hope for further good results. We have been doubly blessed by your prayers.
Our friend Jack is having tests again for his non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Please remember him in your prayers.
God Bless each of you, and bring you health and grace.
Dan
It's a bright and sunny day here in the Chicago area, with Arizona type temperatures and Florida humidity. As I sit next to a snoozing Strider and sip coffee, I'm counting down the days to my retirement on July 31st. I'll be at work next week and then gone forever.
Most of you may remember I had a short retirement in 2000 at the end of my career at Kemper. But now, at 66, I imagine my employment days are over.
I continue to recover from my hip replacement. I feel good except for a lack of stamina. I'm at my best pushing a cart around a store, something that frightens Deb a bit.
I have three more therapy sessions this week. I've discarded all walking aids.
Deb is going to therapy three times a week to reduce the swelling in her left arm. She also is taking some occupational therapy to help with range of motion in her right arm.
We feel as if we've received a special blessing from God. Our health continues to improve and we hope for further good results. We have been doubly blessed by your prayers.
Our friend Jack is having tests again for his non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Please remember him in your prayers.
God Bless each of you, and bring you health and grace.
Dan
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