To all of our family and friends, it is my heartfelt desire that we keep you posted with updates on Bev’s condition as we embark upon the challenge of our life. The outpouring of love and concern we have received from literally hundreds of phone calls, texts and emails has made it clearly evident that responding to individuals one at a time is impossible. Our three girls have therefore offered to keep this daily journal so that I may focus on the one thing that truly matters. I encourage you to send prayers, positive thoughts and encouragement along the way. It’s bound to be a heck of a ride.
Two weeks ago we were in Florida tooling around in one of our Vettes having the time of our lives. We visited my brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Gloria, in the Sebastian area, and old college friends Joe and Linda Knetsch in Tallahassee. We even managed to rendezvous for brunch with my other brother, David, and his spouse Judy in Daytona. Life was absolutely wonderful. All of that came to a screeching halt this past Wednesday, April 11th, when Bev began to exhibit signs of confusion and difficulty putting words together to formulate a sentence.
I took Bev to Fannin Regional Hospital in Blue Ridge, GA, where a quick CT scan revealed a mass on her brain. They immediately transferred her to Erlanger Trauma Center in Chattanooga, TN. Another CT scan, followed by an MRI and biopsy revealed that Bev has an inoperable malignant brain tumor in the left frontal lobe of her brain. Of all days, we received that news on Friday the 13th. After a quick recovery from the biopsy, Bev was released yesterday and is now home. In addition to myself, here with us are Bev’s mom Donna, our daughters Amy, Christy and Melissa, their spouses, and grand-daughter Taylor. Three other grandchildren will be joining us in a few days. Although very tired from the ordeal, Bev is pain free and in great spirits. She is determined to beat this demon back. As of today we are awaiting the full pathology report so that we may determine the path ahead.
As we go through the months ahead there will no doubt be ups and downs. We will encounter some downright rocky roads, slippery slopes and potholes. We are no strangers to off-roading, so we will take those obstacles as challenges to be overcome. Please join us on this ride, and cheer us on all the way to the finish line!
With God by our side, guiding the skilled hands of surgeons and the brains of great scientists and doctors, we will meet all challenges head on with faith and grace.
