VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE UPDATE....
FR. TONY UPDATE...
LETTING GO...

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE UPDATE:

If you're a volunteer, or wanna be volunteer, please review the updated calendar and information. CLICK HERE. We can't sufficiently express our gratitude enough, to those of you who have offered your time to help us out. As I keep saying, we hope we'll know more this week about whether Fr. Tony will be admitted to the hospital for this procedure, which means the volunteer list will need not be implemented.

FR. TONY UPDATE:

Tony continues to do very well, aside from the constant itching and neuropathy in his feet. He's getting about just fine. His appetite is excellent. He looks fit as a fiddle!

Today is the Caretaker's Class. Tomorrow we meet with our Dr. Craig, and Thursday Tony will be given his chemo cocktail. Will keep you all posted on how things go, day by day.

LETTING GO:

Have you ever been in a position where you feel quite out of control of anything in your life? I'm sure we all experience this unsettling feeling, from time to time. Well, with Cancer in your life, one loses control of all that's normally quite familiar and in order. I'm sure this must be nothing short of hellish for someone whose obsessively in control of their life. For a family dealing with cancer, it's like your world has been turned upside down. How anyone without family, friends and a support network muddles through it all, is beyond me!

It will be almost a year since our Tony was diagnosed with Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia. A year ago we were in a general state of "what's wrong with Tony", seeking medical advice on what doctor's "assumed" was ailing him: arthritis, age, neurological problems, spinal issues, or who knew. He was being injected with cortisone in his knee regularly, since one doctor decided his problem was arthritis. He'd been given epidurals, since another doctor couldn't figure out what the problem was, and decided to simply treat the symptoms. All the while we were constantly wondering why Tony had become less and less mobile, more and more fatigued, and feeling rotten the bulk of the time. Our major concern was how to keep Tony fit and able fulfill his calling as a priest.... the most important part of his life.

Thank God our G.P., Dr. Rasmussen, noticed protein in a urine test and recommended Tony be seen by a Nephrologist in the WVU network. She was the first doctor to ask the well educated question, WHY is there protein in the urine and WHERE is it coming from. Within weeks of her asking the right question, we found ourselves in a whole new world..... ONCOLOGY. Finally, answers were coming, and though they were not the most pleasant answers one would hope to deal with, there was comfort in knowing we would finally get to the bottom of what was ailing our Tony.

At this point we have no clue what lies ahead except for a complicated and frightening procedure, but we have complete peace of mind knowing we have Dr. Craig holding our hands and guiding us along as we "walk through the valley of the shadow of death". We get great comfort from all of you who are with us in body, mind or through your prayers. There's not been a point in any of this where we felt uncared for. Tony and I have felt nothing short of truly blessed through this entire ordeal. Odd as this may seem, in light of what our Tony and I are facing, it's true. Were it not for your loving emails, calls, letters of support, and the constant thought of so many individuals caring so deeply, this entire experience would be more then any two people could possibly manage. Thanks to you, I'm more able to battle my lack of control and work toward LETTING GO.

It's time to get lunch and head off to the Caretaker's class, so I shall bid you all a good afternoon, and ask that you keep Tony and I fervently in your thoughts and prayers.

With much love and immense gratitude, PitterPat