[Oe List ...] Family News

[RICHARD HOWIE]

Dear Beret and Ron.
Our candle is lit for both of you as you meet all the challenges and  
gifts one day at a time.
A favorite quote of mine comes from our 5th City Pre-School ritual:
	This is the day we have.
	We can LIVE IT NOW or throw it away!
Love, God's Grace & Peace,
  Ellen
On Aug 27, 2008, at 11:38 PM, Beret Griffith wrote:

> Dear friends and colleagues,
>
> About a month ago Ron was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, Stage IV.
> In early July he developed itching all over his body, which we were
> tracking as an allergy because of a recent fairly serious allergic
> reaction to something undetermined. He was treated for an allergy for
> about three weeks. One night he was talking with our daughter-in-law
> nurse and she asked if he'd had his liver enzymes checked. He hadn't
> and went in the next day for a blood test which indicated his liver
> was way out of whack. About that time he also became a bit jaundiced.
> We were at the cabin when the doctor called about the liver test
> results and he said to get to an emergency room as soon as possible.
> We went a Mayo affiliated hospital in Eau Claire, Wisconsin where he
> had a CT scan. A tumor was discovered. He had a further test in Eau
> Claire and a cancerous lymph node beneath the liver was also  
> discovered.
>
> We headed back to Northfield and to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
> After some excitement at the possibility of aggressive chemotherapy
> and then surgery, a laparoscopy indicated the cancer has spread
> fairly extensively. He is now getting chemotherapy and goes once a
> week for three weeks with a week off, for two cycles. At the end of
> October he will have a CT scan to determine how the chemo is working.
> He has had two chemo treatments with no side effects. They give him
> steroids before chemo so he actually has quite a bit of energy.
> Weight loss and summer tan make for a healthy look.
>
> We've been in the midst of several family celebrations and take time
> from the medical universe to head for our cabin in Wisconsin. The
> medical crew at Mayo is outstanding, multi-cultural, skilled, filled
> with wisdom and humor and we are grateful to be an hour from
> excellent medical treatment.
>
> This is a sea change in our lives. We are taking it all in, living in
> the present and appreciating the support of our  family, friends, and
> the Northfield community.
>
> We each have our current favorite quotes. Ron's is from Sandy Schuman
> a long time IAF colleague:
> Meaning is all we want.
> Choices are all we make.
> Relationships are all we have.
>
> Beret's is from our very own David Dunn:
> Life is indescribably full,
> Unfalteringly real,
> and unfailingly good.
>
> With gratitude,
> Beret and Ron Griffith
>
>
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