Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated.
You may have noticed I have not been around much at all. I have been dealing with a physical challenge that has consumed all of my time, emotional and physical resources.
I have been diagnosed with stage 4 jaw cancer. It is ugly and incredibly painful. Since the end of Jan, there have been one or two tests daily. I have gone in circles several times from agreeing to surgery to palliative care to suicide and back again. I finally decided on the surgery which will be Friday, Feb 28 at United Hospital in St. Paul, MN.
The surgery is a long one – 8 hours. There are many risks because of my COPD and other conditions. They will be removing the right side of my jaw from the front teeth back and then rebuilding the jaw from a bone and skin from my calf. Surgery will be followed six weeks later by a month of daily radiation. It looks like a two to three months before I will be home again.
I need all the prayers, good thoughts and healing you can send. My family is being very supportive. Christine has been by my side for most of this and John is flying in on Wednesday and will be here a few days.
If you know someone who should know about this, please pass the word.
