Quick update.  LaDonna started radiation therapy yesterday.  There was quite a bit of preparation to get to that point and frankly it was a little traumatic for LaDonna for a variety of reasons.  As usual, she rallied quickly and kept moving forward.  They only got half of the intended therapy done yesterday so we now will be doing radiation every day through next Wednesday.  We have all our fingers and toes crossed that the radiation will give some pain relief in her back, hips and neck/shoulders.  She complains very little, especially publicly, but it has been a lot to handle and getting worse over time.  Her recent MRI showed a tear in a tendon near her IT band on her right leg that is likely exercise related. It will take 8-12 weeks to heal and is just one more thing.  Speaking of one more thing, she is also having surgery next Thursday on her right hand.  That has nothing to do with cancer as it is long-standing arthritis, and that area is bone on bone and because it is her dominant hand it causes a lot of pain.  We are buoyed by the fact that her oncologist feels this is a good time to do the surgery because her disease is well controlled but a little nervous because she just come off her two weeks off chemo and can't have it during radiation and will be off during her surgery so she will be missing her chemo for five to six weeks.  However, the radiation is treatment, and she is still on her hormone medication which is delivered by injection once a month (no fun). So, for example, yesterday she started radiation which caused her fairly intense pain in the area treated which apparently can happen and she had her injections.  It's an 18-gauge needle about four inches long and the medication comes cold, and the nurses say it is as thick as Caro syrup.  Frankly, it breaks my heart to watch her endure it all, but I am also fiercely proud of her given how she handles it.   I read a quote from Dight D. Eisenhower the other day: "Man should do what he can and endure what he must."  LaDonna is a living example of that but there is a price she is paying.  So, this turned out to be not so quick but there was actually a lot to tell, and we know everyone is constantly supporting us but let's all put our foot on the gas a little more for the next ten days because although she would never say it or show it.... she needs it!  Thank you all so much...talk to you on the other side of all this!