GOOD NEWS

Today Karen had lab work and met with her chemotherapy doctor. The CA125 blood test was performed. CA125 is a protein produced typically in ovarian cancer patients. I won't get into the details (I can refer anyone interested in more information about this test). Prior to surgery, Karen's CA125 was 82 - normal is 0-30. Today it was at 6. Yes, SIX!!! This is a positive sign that the beast is being fought and losing.

Of course, there has to be the usual sobering news to counterbalance this. Karen was told ovarian cancer has a high recurrence rate - 60% within the first two years after chemotherapy. We are aware of this, but we also know Karen is younger than most OC patients and in a much better state of health. She was also told if it doesn't recur within five years, most likely it will not recur at all.

Statistics are always out there and all of us know how misleading they can be. However, God is not subject to our human games of chance. He isn't subject to odds and probabilities. Events in my life prove this every day. It comes down to this: each day is a gift from God. Life and death are in His hands, no matter how much control we think we may have. Karen will kill the beast (our affectionate nickname for cancer) because all of you are praying, not because of the odds. I wish I could express the depth of our gratitude to you. Words don't cut it.

We did write a newsletter we may or may not get out...06 and 07 haven't been great years in our lives and it's hard to write one of those letters in years like these. We will take this chance to say Merry Christmas. We're spending it here, simply, happily, wanting only one gift: HEALING.