October 1, 2020

  My dearest loved ones,

    I wish I had a funny tale to relate this month, but nothing of that nature seemed to occur this time. One odd thing though was that within the space of just two hours at night in bed, myself and everything around me was sopping wet with sweat, when I wasn't evn warm. How did that happen? "Quien sabe"

    Anyway, our month started out with several wildfires burning in our little valley, some within 30 miles of Grants Pass, which made us anxious and wondering if we should prepare for evacuation. And the smoke from these various fires made the air so heavy and dark that we didn't dare go outside. But, thankfully, by the end of the month they were well contained and things were pretty much back to normal again.

    I know it was only recently that I shared with you anything at all about my leg, but now it has come to the point where all of you should know what is happening there. The melanoma has been in my lower right leg for a couple of years now, and has been so far treated so that it remained solely in that area, has started to expand and become more aggressive. The ulcerated sore, that is flourishing so well on top of the area and continuing to eat away at the surrounding tissue, is now spreading to the bone which is very dangerous. So, it has been decided that now is the time that we must amputate the lower leg altogether.

    Since bad tissue exists all the way to the knee, the surgical procedure would would have to be done above the kneecap, meaning that I will not be able to use a prosthesis, but will be confined to a wheelchair from now on. I know that my Heavenly Father and Jesus are well aware of my situation and will give me the courage to withstand such an operation, and the ability to cope with my new lifestyle with cheerfulness and good spirits.

    One good thing that came out of all of this is that my son Dan and his new wife Cathy had already made arrangements to visit the first week in October (6 to 13), plus my sister Carol and my other daughter True are coming then too, which will be great. True is even making plans to live permanently with me, bless her angel heart. So, the surgeon agreed to wait until after my family leave to do the amputation. Then I will spend maybe a month or so in a rehabilitation facility. So, unfortunately, there probably won't be a letter from me next month. But I hope to make up for it the next month.

    After I hurt my hand it was very difficult for me to write so many individual letters to you, so I turned to the typewriter (keyboard) to write just one for all, which I hope you understand. This has worked out much better for me, and I hope for you too, with just a little bit of individual stuff at the very end, to let you know how much I love you personally, and to include a wish that each one of you might love me enough to send me a little note of encouragement during my time of trial. 

    So, with that I will close for this month, with love, and a hope to hear from each of you soon.

Marie

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