Intercot Friends -

I am writing to all of you in need of prayer. In early October I returned from the most amazing trip to WDW. It was truly a trip that can only be described as having God's hands all over it. Unfortunately, what we returned to was life changing.

Before I had left for the trip, I had gone in to the doctor with some complaints of "flu-like" symptoms that were not going away. Test after test led to yet other tests. Finally, right before leaving, I had one more test called an E.R.C.P. I told my doctor not to contact me while I was on my trip and set up an appointment with him for right after I returned.

My wife and I went to the doctor upon our return to be told that I had pancreatic cancer and had 6 - 12 months to live. We were in shock and I immediately had to lay down to keep from passing out. We asked what options we had, but my doctor told me that I should go home and "enjoy the time you have left with your family".

Well, I did not take this so well and I was not going to take this as the final word. We went to an oncologist who shed a little light on our situation telling us that he wanted to run more blood tests and also have me do another test called an OctreoScan. At the same time, we researched for pancreatic cancer specialists and found one at UC Davis. We made an appointment to see him for once we got the results of the OctreoScan.

Good news!! It was found that I have a much more rare of pancreatic cancer that only about 5% of people with pancreatic cancer get - a neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer. This form is still serious, but yet treatable through a radical surgery where the head of my pancreas, my gall bladder, about 1/4 of my stomach, my duodeum, lymphnodes around my pancreas and a few other parts will all be taken out and then my entire digestive tract will be reconstructed. It is an 8-hour procedure and it scares the living hee-bee-geebies out of me. However, with my faith in God, I know that I will get through it.

To learn more of this or to send some words of encouragement, you can check out my home page that is listed on my profile.

I appreciate your support & prayers!!

God Bless!