March 9, 1993
Dear Friends and Family,
Things are just great in “snowy Fairfield”, but I know that Spring is coming and my flowers are starting to peek through! I can hardly wait and I know that John’s mom, Jackie, sure wants some warmer weather. It is certainly lots colder here than in Naples, Florida where she has been living for the past 17 plus years.
She is the new addition to our home and a very welcome addition. Johnnie went down the first of February and “kidnapped” Jackie (put her on a plane), packed her home, loaded it into a truck and drove up just in front of the first snow storm. Jackie has been a real “Trooper” through this cold move North and through the news that she has lung cancer.
She was diagnosed in November and she started her treatments to fight this battle all alone in Florida. She went through two rounds of chemotherapy, only to find out that it hadn’t done the trick. Next, she needed to try radiation treatments which might assist her breathing by shrinking the tumor so her left lung would re-inflate.
And that is where we are right now… finishing the five weeks of radiation and then waiting to see if it will work. The side effects are all present… she is bald, tired, weak, no appetite, pain, muscle aches, etc. But she is still able to laugh at my jokes and enjoy being with all of us.
We listen to funny songs and talk as we drive downtown every day for the treatments. The weather is cooperating and God continues to watch over us each day as we drive.
Her visitors are coming and more are welcome. Our home can accommodate many and Michelle and J.P. love their new bunk beds with the full-size bed on the bottom… took out sleeping for three and replaced it with space for six… good math!! Keep the cards and letters coming… she is so thrilled at mail call when the cards outnumber the bills!
(No health insurance has turned out to be the true tragedy in the whole story… very sad, but we are learning a lot.)
Please forgive our lack of correspondences; we will try to get better and we would love to hear from you all… please write or call!
May God bless you and yours; God continues to watch over us and keeps us strong. We are blessed more than you can imagine and very thankful. Take care.