Sending Me Angels...

Alright, I know this video would never pass the "angel rule" in my house (one angel comes in, one goes out). Jud probably wouldn't let this one in the door! In truth, I prefer the Kathy Mattea version (not on You-Tube) but I do resonate to a "gravelly voice." I see it as an indicator of someone of has really "seen a lot of life." 

"Sending Me Angels" has special meaning for me. My dear friend, Donna and I, used it for one of our annual women's retreats in the Black Hills, which focussed on women's friendships. I found myself humming it last night. We have certainly been blessed with friendship during Jud's illness.

I need to get to the point. We received some bad news yesterday. Jud's cancer has spread to his liver. There are two very small spots, but pancreatic cancer cells are powerful and insidious and spread quickly. Surgery isn't an option. We were not expecting this news and were initially in shock. We had done a lot of reading and research about surgery but did not want to look at the idea of metastases.

We came back to Pam and Barry's and called family.  Jud wrote a Caring Bridge entry. Next we pulled out our computers and started reading about the next options for treatment. Ah, the modern age! 

We read for about four hours and then we had a good cry. We were not prepared for this. 

I woke up early this morning (actually eight o'clock Minneapolis time) and the sun is now rising.  This morning we will visit a medical oncologist at Stanford who specializes in chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. We are back to the task of looking at options. We plan to look at various research programs across the country but, again, we hope that Jud can get his actual treatment in Minneapolis. 

Jud's Caring Bridge is full of loving messages from people who were hoping with us. I took a peek and see that my mailbox is full. I had beautiful, caring thoughts waiting for me when I arrived here at my blog yesterday.

Indeed, He does keep "Sending Me Angels."
We will get through this.
We are surrounded.
We are being "held up" by the angels in our life. 

I thank each of you, from the depths of my heart, for being one of those "angels."