My dear friend,

Brr! There's a nip in the air and it's beginning to feel quite like the Christmas time of year! And, don't you love it when the Christmas cards start to roll in? Every day the local Christian radio station is beaming carols while I am doing radiation treatment and so wonderful songs wrap around my inner meditating on Psalm 34. I am hoping you will have a lovely warm Christmas as you celebrate the coming of Jesus.

The first stage of this cancer journey is turning into a marathon. I feel as though I'm nearing the end of a long, long race, but I know that without your prayers and God's help, I will fall before the finish line. Thank you for cheering me on in various ways...The tumor is shrinking! I appreciate you more than I can express. I know you've been passing me bottles of water along the way and swabbing my face as I go by... thanks a million!
 

This week Dr Henderson, the radiation oncologist, told me that she wants to give me the maximum number of radiation treatments possible. We'd thought that the chemotherapy might end on Friday of this week, because radiation was going to end after twenty five treatments on Tuesday next week. Now, both will continue until Friday 21st. My weary right forearm is beginning to flag now. Please pray that the burn from the radiation will not grow severe enough to halt the treatment. I am growing more and more tired, and yesterday I developed a chest infection. This is not unusual for me at this time of year, but as you know, while I'm undergoing this mix of treatment, the infection could be more serious. Please pray with me that the antibiotics I am taking will deal with the chest infection and that I will arrive safely at the finish line of this marathon on the afternoon of Friday 21st December.

I'll be having a very quiet Christmas this year. Some dear friends have offered to join Val and me for Christmas dinner and they are going to bring the food! What love! Please would you pray that this short pit stop from 21st December until 7th January will be long enough for my body to regain strength and fitness ready for the next race, which begins in the New Year. On 3rd January I will have a detailed MRI scan in Fort Worth, then on the 7th January I go back to see Dr Richie Gillespie, the surgeon. The next phase of the journey will be decided that day.  If the tumor has shrunk sufficiently the surgeon will remove it; if not she will have to amputate my arm. Then, I know I will have to have more chemotherapy after that operation.

Brian will be coming out to join Val on December 30th and will be here during the time I'm having surgery. Brian's being here until mid February will be a huge help to both of us.

So, God is good. He never fails and I am proving that. May he lighten your load and enable you to experience Him in your struggles as well as your joys!

Lots of love and huge thanks,

June