Mark Shepherd

Mark has had a few recent weeks of fatigue and not being able to do all of his normal activities.    Mark went to Hoxworth Blood Center on June 29 to give blood and was told he couldn't do so because his iron level was too low.   The tech asked him if he were anemic, and of course he said he wasn't, but as she started rattling off symptoms, he thought maybe it did make sense.    When things started declining energy-wise, he decided to see the family physician.   He was diagnosed officially with anemia in early August.    The GP sent Mark for a colonoscopy to see if we could track down what was causing the anemia.   When that day came, the gastrointerologist asked why he was there, and when Mark said it was because of anemia, he strongly suggested doing an upper GI test as well as a colonoscopy, so we did.    It was in that upper GI that he found a spot that he really thought was cancerous, but the tests came back benign.   His words were, "Quite frankly, I don't believe these test results, and I want you to have another test run.   After additional testing (a CT scan - this time at the University of Cincinnati) it was determined that he has a growth on his pancreas. We are beginning this page to communicate his journey of healing.  Check as often as you wish and leave Mark a message. We appreciate your prayers and thoughts. "We don't know what the future holds but we know who holds the future."  We trust that God will keep us in the palm of his hand and will walk each step with us.  Mark, Sande, Zech, Susanna and Garrett.