1st Communication

July 30th, 2007:

Hello folk – this is a group letter from Shelley and Diane that contains some hard news about Shelley’s health. Some six weeks ago she began to have some tummy trouble. About a month ago she saw a doctor and the hope was that it was some form of indigestion. There were dates set for an ultrasound and a barium swallow. Because the symptoms increased we decided to go forward with an ultra sound at a private clinic and that took place on Tuesday 23. That night we heard that there was indication of something on the pancreas and possibly something on the ovaries. On Wednesday, Shelley had a CT scan and it verified that there is indeed something in both places – likely a primary cancer in the pancreas and in an ovary with also something showing in the liver.

The next step is for us to meet with a medical team and we are hoping to talk with our GP about that on Monday. They will decide whether or not it is operable, if she needs a biopsy or chemo or what. We are now in the hands of the medical profession. We also believe strongly that we are being held by something bigger than us that is surrounding us and that we will be provided the strength and courage we will need. Your support, prayers, thoughts will be crucial to us.

We are holding onto each other and we are taking every hour one at a time.

We have put together a contact list and we will use it to communicate with folk so that (a) we do not have to repeat the story over and over (b) to give us some distance from our emotions (c) so that you, our friends and family, can know how we are doing.

Presently, Shelley is on a very limited diet which seems to help with her level of stomach distress. Thank you for giving us space over next few days while we absorb our new reality.

Shelley and Diane.