The Best of Bad News

Isn't it funny how sometimes even bad news can seem totally
wonderful? I was the blessed recipient of such news yesterday
- my daddy's cancer is back, but it's the same cancer it always
has been. Now, that sounds like awful news, but we were
expecting SO much worse. This truly is such a blessing and I
want to send my thanks and love out to all of you who were
pulling for him and my family all over the world, whether in
India, Chile, the East Coast, or right here in Utah. There is
power in prayer. This truly is miraculous news. I am so happy,
so grateful, so relieved, and very hopeful. My mother wrote a
great letter to many of our close friends and family that I'd like
to share.

Dear Friends and Family,

We have been so blessed by your love and prayers. We have felt 
your loving arms around us in spirit and in person and we so 
appreciate it.

We saw Ken's doctor today for the final results on the tumor biopsy. 
Ken and I were very nervous as it has been a busy and stressful 
couple of weeks. We received the "BEST OF THE BAD NEWS" to 
quote Dr. Kushner. (Ahem - no, that was me that said that.) The 
lymphoma has NOT changed into an aggressive type (as was 
anticipated) and Ken will be treated with the same type of chemo 
as he had 3 years ago. This treatment is much more tolerable 
and makes his own immune system fight off the cancer. Ken will 
receive 4 treatments, 1 each week the next four weeks with the 
first starting tomorrow morning. It is a 6 to 8 hour infusion starting 
at 7:30am. This news from Dr. Kushner today was quite different 
from what he told us 2 long weeks ago. He initially felt very 
strongly that the lymphoma had changed and had laid out a whole 
different plan for Ken which included going through bone marrow 
transplant. So today’s news was, we feel another miracle in our 
lives (I hope we haven't used up our allotment). We still have 
challenges ahead with the treatment that Ken will receive but we 
feel greatly relieved not to be facing the BIG stuff.

So with this news we send our heartfelt gratitude to each of you 
for your prayers, love and concern. We also recognize the blessings 
of the Lord's hand in each step that we have been through now 
and through the years. We are truly blessed and have learned to 
greet each day with thankful hearts.

With so much love and thanks,
Corrie & Ken

There is always a silver lining. Daddy will be done with chemo
before Christmas. I think that, and still having him here with me
after all these years, is the greatest gift I could have this year.