[Post from Paul] Important! Please Read. LOOK!!!

Dear, dear, loved ones, friends, well-wishers and colleagues,

I’m going to start things off with some really good, really happy news which is that Pam and I are going to have a super-duper, kick ass, romantic Valentine’s Weekend at the Saybrook Point Inn & Spa in Old Saybrook Connecticut.  We check in tomorrow night and we’ll stay through Sunday.  Pam and I have both been noticing that she’s been stronger, both physically and emotionally, these past few days than at anytime since surgery so it’s a perfect time to get away.

Now, for the other news:  We’ve known for months that February 14 was going to be more than Valentine’s Day (even more than Saints Cyrus and Methodius Day 😉 ) for us because Dr. Johnson had scheduled us long ago.  We knew that 2013 was going to be a ‘special’ Valentine’s Day because we knew that today was the day he’d meet with us to give his recommendations for Pam’s care.

Dr. Johnson reviewed with us the MRI that Pam had taken on January 31st and told us that he was convinced that it indicated that a new tumor is growing near the same place where he operated last July.  He said that, in his opinion, the tumor was growing rapidly and was probably even bigger now than it was at the end of January.

“Fortunately,” he told us, “Pam is in a very good position now.  She’s strong and healthy and upbeat and is in good condition for more surgery.”

More surgery???????

That’s what the man said.

Dr. Johnson said he would be cutting into the same place where he operated in July.  He said that, as it was last time, the tumor was in a spot on the brain that isn’t responsible for any of her sensory, motor or cognitive functions.  He said that she would likely get through the surgery well, as she had in July, and he was confident of a successful outcome.

“Does it have to be done now?” Pam asked.

“It’s not an emergency,” he explained, “It doesn’t have to be done today — but it should be done soon.”

“You mean, within a few months?”

“No.  Not months.  It would be a bad idea to wait a month.  Probably the end of next week or the week after that.  You’ll be in the hospital for about three days.”

“Do I have a choice?”

“You’re the patient,” he said, “you always have a choice — but I’m very confident that my recommendation is the right one.”

I asked Dr. Johnson and his assistants to leave us alone in the examination room for a few minutes so we could compose ourselves before leaving.

“I’m not afraid for myself,” Pam told me, “Not a bit.  I just hate to put Liqa and you through more pain….”

I want you all to know that it’s not just on Valentine’s Day.  My wife is all heart, all compassion, three hundred and sixty five days a year.

There were more tears when we told Angelique; but, as you’d expect, Liqa readily agreed to rework her schedule so that she’d be on hand for her mother every minute she was needed.

Do any of you have a better Valentine’s Day love story than that?

God is good!

Paul