DOING BATTLE ON MULTIPLE FRONTS

Recovery from the recent surgery is going well, although the five laparoscopy scars are still prominent. Radiation treatments are underway most weekdays. CAT Scans and EKGs and a host of other tests are behind us, the spinal MRI has been done and we will meet with the Orthopedic surgeon tomorrow to see what repair may be possible on Betty's back injury, and we go to Portland tomorrow for a full-body PET Scan (from halo to both soles)to check all her bones for other possible sites where the cancer may be trying to seed a new start. Her recent shoulder injury from straight-arming a wall at tip-toe speed is also healing gradually; she is not even wearing the arm sling all the time now.

Having to sit still and not be active is causing some general weakness and instability in her legs and to her balance so she has been trying to get up and move about more frequently. There is still considerable pain, especially upon lying flat on her back, but just getting up and down from a chair is seeming to be a bit easier over the past few days.

Your precious calls, cards, letters, and thoughtfulness are a special balm for which there is no substitute. They make each day pass more easily, each a salve as it were administered with your love and tender words. Messages have come from folk locally and from all over the USA. We actually look forward to the mail each day for a change.

Once we get past the present situation of seeing a doctor, doing labs, submitting to tests and scans and other diagnostic procedures every day, we will try to restore some normalcy to our usual routine and pick up with some activities that we have not been able to give full attention. (Don't give up, Senior Saints!!)

Please accept our thanks and know we are grateful for the meals and remembrances we have received, the visits to dust and help, and to provide other timely services, and advice or guidance especially concerning transition to her new computer. (The latter particularly will reduce a mountain of daily frustration of coping with the relic she was trying to coax along. Well done, kids.)

As always we want to testify that God, Our Father, is the source of our confidence and our healing and it is to Him that we give our first thanks and devotion. Please continue to direct your prayers in Betty's behalf to our Loving God of Mercies and Infinite Compassion. We already are seeing answers to your petitions.


PS on 9-7-11 Through some extra x-rays Wednesday, we learned that some of Betty's back pain is due to a broken or cracked lower rib near her spine. Nothing can be done but to wait for natural healing which takes a couple of months or more.