[Oe List ...] Fred's health note

[Nancy Lanphear]

  Dear Friends,

Our lives continue to be full of adventure and and wonderful  
relationships.  We want to share a new part of our Journey together  
which began when Fred received a medical diagnosis  about a month ago  
for the symptoms he was experiencing, one we had never imagined.

After seeming to "grow old" too soon and too quickly, Fred has been  
medically diagnosed with ALS or "Lou Gehrig's" disease.  Since being  
given this "new assignment", he is deciding what he wants to do in  
the next months or years that he is still functional.  We do not know  
just how this condition will play out but we do have lots of support  
from family and community.  The best of all worlds, he will be able  
to be at home with lots of medical and "machine" support.  We will  
still be traveling; Mexico this coming Wednesday through 2/26,  
Cincinnati and New Mexico in May/June, and RI soon after that.  We  
would also like to be present at Fred's 55th high school reunion but  
we will take life as it comes.  His breathing capabilities may be a  
determining factor.

Bruce came out for a week 1/24-1/31 to spend time with us and the  
rest of the family.  He and Nancy are quite sure they will be moving  
to Vancouver, B.C. Canada sometime this coming summer.  It couldn't   
be a better time for them to be close.  Our family had good  
conversations with many tears and lots of laughter as we try to take  
in what this will mean for us.  Although there are a few research  
studies being done, this condition is very "mysterious" with no clear  
picture of its cause and no treatment except one drug, its effect is  
still limited. The book and video, "Tuesdays with Morrie" is an  
excellent story of a man with ALS.  After watching it the other  
night, we felt it could even be shown to children 9+.

I am ready to take on the role of primary caretaker and realize that  
it will be a huge undertaking.  The emotional and physical energy  
required is enormous.  Fred has been my life's partner for 50 years  
and the thought of not having him with me is scary, this disease as  
well.  However, he is seeing the rest of his life as very much a part  
of his spiritual path and we will travel it with respect and  
acceptance.  We hope to be able to celebrate our 50th "jubilee"  
anniversary together, but are planning to begin that celebration  
now.  It has been an unbelievably wonderful life we have had together  
and with our children.   Our lives are very good just as they are -  
we are loved and blessed.

You are all loved,

Nancy and Fred