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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'>Dear family and
friends,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'>This will be
redundant to some, and maybe some of it new to others. The delete button
is handy.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'>As some of you
know, at the end of August I had major surgery after being diagnosed with
breast cancer. I’m doing this update because of a number of people who contacted
me, indicating they had not known of this and wished for more
information. Unfortunately, lumpectomy was not an option, due to an MRI
having discovered 2 different types of cancer in the right breast, one quite
virulent. I found out that my left breast also had cells that were malformed.
So between the doctor, my family and me, the decision was to go for double
mastectomy. Despite the difficulties, doctor and family and I all agreed the
decision has been the best, in light of the aggressiveness of at least one of
the cancers and the high risk regarding the other breast. My daughters and
friends have had fun with listing the various reasons that flat-chested is
beneficial – can’t trip on your boobs or get them caught in your
belt the older you get, no more bras (which I hate anyway), no more being
flattened like pancakes in mammograms, etc. I’m sure others can add to this
list. There were considerations of games that could be played at a
special party, including how many words you can think of for “breasts.
The humor of it all was really beneficial in getting me through the first
stages of waiting for appts, tests, biopsies, and other dates, the surgery,
follow-ups with doctors, and other aftermath. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'>I’m doing
better each day, though still uncomfortable under the arms. That will
soon subside I’m told. Weird thing is always seeing my stomach! As
I recover, some days are difficult for me, but mostly I’m coming along
pretty well, especially after I got rid of the drains and we got the news that
I don’t have to have CHEMO!!! It helps to be reminded by friends
that it takes several months to fully recover, and my daughters who remind me
that I haven’t anything that can’t be fixed. This includes doing
some further work to deal with what is fondly called “dog ears”,
but I choose to call “elephant ears”, under my arms – a kind
of residue from the surgery. It also involves, as soon as is possible, re-doing
my left knee with a total replacement (due to a fall causing broken bone in the
right foot and torn ligament in the left knee), and something related to my
spine which has some anomaly (also from a fall). So who knows what these
next months will hold? Right now, I’m learning to deal with a different
body, a different way of walking (flitting is now out of the question),
different shoes (no more heel-less shoes , and my daughters and Justin are
adamant that I do not go downstairs anymore. Also, I’m learning to rest
and not worry about what isn’t done. I spend some time at the computer,
but try to keep the sitting time down, breaking with rests. I’m not
taking clients yet, and probably won’t for awhile. I still don’t
feel much like getting out a lot or sitting for long periods at baseball games
or concerts. That will come, in time. I do get out on occasion - Justin
takes me to a restaurant now and then and has packed picnic dinners to take to
the park on our warmer evenings.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'>Other info on the
family: Justin is near the end of raising 26 million (5 million away) for
a new health clinic that will serve the uninsured, minimally insured and
insured. This is the third one, thus far, that he has been responsible
for since joining Community Health Care. We like their medical services
so much that we have left Group Health and taken doctors at these clinics. It
is through these changes that both Justin and I have gotten new leases on our
health – Justin with the discovery of the reason for the pain he was
getting in his gut, and the discovery of my cancer. This particular
clinic will also house in-house training for doctors and nurse practitioners.
He is taking a sabbatical from his many years on the board of the Northwest
Sinfonietta, until we get past a few things in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'>Some of the other
things on the family have been sent out in pieces - Eileen and George are
moving to New York. Starting October 1, George begins his new job as the
Deputy Secretary for Mission and Evangelism for the United Methodist
Church’s General Board of Global Ministries. : <a
href="http://www.umcmission.org/Learn-About-Us/News-and-Stories/2012/August/Congregation-and-Community-Developer-Nominated-to-Lead--United-Methodist-Mission-and-Evangelism-Efforts"
target="_blank"
title="http://www.umcmission.org/Learn-About-Us/News-and-Stories/2012/August/Congregation-and-Community-Developer-Nominated-to-Lead--United-Methodist-Mission-and-Evangelism-Efforts">http://www.umcmission.org/Learn-About-Us/News-and-Stories/2012/August/Congregation-and-Community-Developer-Nominated-to-Lead--United-Methodist-Mission-and-Evangelism-Efforts</a>
. Eileen, who had been so worried about being a little fish in a big pond
regarding her work in the theatre and jazz, already has been given a role in a
musical in NYC. Their eldest, Kathryn, and her family will spend at least
2 years in Uganda, where Kathryn is responsible for a cadre of lawyers whose
concern is to enable widows and other women to receive their rights in a
country where they are often taken away when no man heads the household. Jennifer,
their youngest, continues to enjoy her first year as a local pastor.
Anita continues as principal of a grade school and Sam continues to teach in
the Highschool where he has spent most of his teaching years. Both of
their girls, Courtney and Emily, are in college – Courtney has another
semester (I believe) at the U of Wash and a part-time job at the reception desk
in a hotel. Emily will enter her 2<sup>nd</sup> year at Univ. of Portland. We
are most grateful to have them live only 4 blocks away. Gen is in her
third (I think) year as CEO of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and her
husband Mike is working on some special projects as a professional chef. So here
we are in a nutshell, still going strong. We’re very proud of our various
family members; and they have been real god-sends in ways we never had
expected! <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'>Again, I have
appreciated so much your kind good wishes, visits, calls and cards, etc. which
have been encouraging and uplifting, including those that allow me to keep my
humor intact.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'>With much
affection,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=6 face=BrushScrD><span style='font-size:22.0pt;
font-family:BrushScrD;font-weight:bold'>Del (and Justin, too)<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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