The important thing is that you are here and with us once more. We missed you and rejoice over your return.

Many years ago, the diagnosis of "cancer" of any kind was a guaranteed death sentence. Thankfully, we have come a long way since then. It sounds as if you are on the road to full recovery... or in the words used by medicos, "remission."

Congestive Heart Failure, by itself, is no longer usually a death sentence, though the two major (and unsuspected) heart attacks I suffered after that did little to increase my survival chances... yet I persevere. I firmly believe that there is a purpose in each of our lives and we are here until we have met or fulfilled that purpose. I don't know that I have even come close to finding my purpose yet, so I guess you folks are stuck with me for a while more. We'll see.

Could it be that my purpose is to set a bad example for others?

Patsy, endure the radiation treatments, swallow the bitter medicines and hold your head high. You are accomplishing things even your mother might not have survived. But, then, we knew you were a special lady all along.