I reported in my last update that eight days after major surgery to remove a large tumor from my jaw and throat we traveled to northern Indiana and attended two rallies with friends. After the rallies we went back to Louisville and I consulted with my doctors for the next steps in my cancer treatment. This was my third cancer and I had radiation therapy in 2002 (30 daily treatments) and the rule is an area can only be radiated one time. But the radiation oncologist said I was in good health and the former radiated area looked good. Being a three time cancer survivor and being the last time I can have radiation the doctor wanted to hit me with the most aggressive radiation possible. He told me there was a 20% chance I would have major problems like the loss of function to facial muscles, deafness in my left ear, lose the ability to swallow and there was even the possibility of death from a ruptured carotid artery.

So there I sat in the examining chair with a decision to make. Radiation could cause major problem that would disable me for life or even kill me. But if I did not receive radiation the odds of a tumor growing again was extremely high. I have always been positive and it only took a few seconds to mutter my decision - "Let's go for it." Linda was there and has always been with me for support.

After a CT scan, some tests and preps, I began 46 radiation therapy treatments. The effects of radiation were not immediate - they accumulate over time and I did not feel any effects until after the 8th zap. And I had 38 more to go. I will not go into boring details except to say one week after radiation therapy ended my jaw and neck looked like someone who had burned up in a fire and the inside of my mouth and my throat were like raw hamburger. Man, those 46 zaps of radiation sure hit me hard and it took two months to recover.

The good news is I have no side effects and I actually look normal again. (Nothing can improve my looks, but I can live with that.) The great news is I did not die. I will have checkups every two months until summer and then I will go on a three month checkup routine.

I want to thank everyone for your prayers, your thoughts, your emails and phone calls. I am truly blessed to have so many friends and your prayers pulled me through. I apologize for not answering emails and I hope you understand.

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Just as I was getting back on my feet Linda's mother had heart surgery. I wasn't much help, but Linda spent a lot of time helping her mother and father. It is good they live in Louisville where I had my surgery and radiation. But we were not through with problems. Linda fell and she didn't remember if she passed out and fell or fell and knocked herself out. She had gone to the campground office to get a cup of coffee and a neighbor ran to our motorhome to tell me Linda had fallen. Another neighbor called 911 and the EMS arrived in about five minutes. Two EMS techs determined Linda was not seriously injured and she chose to not be transported to an emergency room. Linda did scrape her knee badly, cracked a rib and bruised a shoulder. She was most upset that she tore her favorite pair of blue jeans.

I am now back to normal, Linda is back to normal and Linda's mother is back to normal - so life is good. I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support.