James Wayne Fuller

Wayne Fuller's story:  click on "More about this Site"

Welcome to our CaringBridge website for Wayne Fuller.




We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support, prayers, and words of hope and encouragement. At the bottom of the home page you can leave well wishes for Wayne and Frances. Thank you for visiting.

In late October Wayne and Frances decided that he should see their
general practitioner about some pain he was experiencing in his abdomen.
 The pain was not severe but just kept coming back, mainly after
eating. The doctor sent them for some tests, including a blood test and
told them to come back in a week. During this second visit, he told them
that Wayne had pancreatitis, probably caused by a gall stone, and he
sent them straight to the hospital.

Frances says: Step by step we
learned that the gall stone was not the culprit, that there was a tumor
on the pancreas, and that cancer was suspected. During that week the
pancreatic enzymes fell while the cancer markers kept going up. We were
referred then to our gastroenterologist who did further tests and
referred us to an oncologist and a program related to research that may
accept us in a clinical trials group.

For some time we have felt
stuck. An oncologist was not immediately available. An attempt to get a
pathological report failed, because of the fibrous nature of the tumor.
We are told that this is common in pancreatic tumors, but the report is
absolutely necessary for any treatment program. 

Meanwhile, our
family has rallied around, 18-strong at our two dining tables on
Thanksgiving Day. Our church has relieved us of responsibilities and
supported us with hugs and prayers.  And Wayne is surely the calmest man
on the planet, witnessing in some way to his faith with everybody who
shows up and praying for the rest of us. He also continues to do most of
his daily chores. Yesterday he blew and burned leaves for hours,
causing me to express surprise that the medical profession thinks he is
sick. When I told the doctor about this today, he said, "He is winning
the mental battle."

Our daughter Jan has established this site
especially so that we can make information available to our many friends
across the country and around the world by writing it only once. This
will save me a great deal of time and energy without ignoring your
concern. 

I hope you understand that any donation made to this
site is for the continuing existence and administration of Caring
Bridge. All we want from our friends is your friendship and prayers.