July 24, 2008

Hi Everyone,
It's Carla writing this one. Den has been busy the last few days with his class reunion that's coming up this weekend (40 years since his days in the seminary!) so I thought I'd fill you in on the latest -- not that there is too much to tell. His radiation treatments each morning are going well. He sees his doctor there once each week and the treatments are given by the technicians. Each week they make any necessary adjustments to the six or seven sites on his head that are radiated. The goal is to hit the tumor from all angles. Yesterday he did have a headache in the afternoon, but that could have been from playing golf with Dan Riordan and Mike Mauthe! If the headache was a result of the radiation disturbing the tumor, that's considered normal and expected and Tylenol seems to take care of it.
His chemotherapy has posed no side effects at all, so that's good. Really, if it wasn't for the routine MRI in early June, we'd be living this summer in a state of ignorant bliss because Denny is still symptom free. I still believe that in itself has to be a huge plus. It's been an emotional summer but I can't imagine what might have happened if this hadn't been found when it was.
On behalf of the kids and myself, thank you for all of the wonderful notes, letters, and cards you've sent to Den. Every day there's something in the mail that provides a trip down memory lane for both of us and we are touched by the messages of hope and prayer. We are so fortunate to have our families--immediate, extended, Xavier, church, neighborhood, as well as some very special friends --to be with us through all of this. We love you!!

Keep praying,
Carla