Quote for the Day 12/13/2012

From recent David L. Miller family email exchanges:

Lois (reporting on a recent visit to her doctor, as a followup after having her irregular heart rhythm repaired):  He pronounced me Normal! Completely normal! So there (Lowell or any of you others who ever doubted my mental capacity): I am NORMAL!!

Bill (brother-in-law) : 

Dear Lois, 

"Normal" is a fairly elastic term used to characterize a very wide variety of people.  Glad to hear you made the cut.

Bill

P.S.  we would have loved you regardless.

Ronald:  That's a great line Bill!  --one that bears filing away in the creases of my memory.  I shared it with the office here and they were likewise appreciative.  :-)  LOL

Lois:  Thanks much Bill for your kind reply! I'm so relieved I made the cut and also greatly comforted that I would be loved even if I wouldn't have. Stop laughing Ron!

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The main subject of our emails was not nearly this amusing.  

Dad's colon cancer is not as nearly gone as we had hoped.  In fact, a tumor was discovered this week that was probably there when he had his first surgery in August, but it wasn't discovered at that time.  His doctor is suggesting oral chemo and daily targeted radiation for six weeks.  No decision has been made so far about what course of action to pursue.

As long as I can remember, our family has met periodically for Family Councils.  We didn't do this very often--maybe once or several times a year--whenever an important decision needed to be made.  Dad is calling a Family Council for this Sunday afternoon.  In the meantime, there's a flurry of discussion by email, and I'm sure, many prayers are ascending.  

Dad seemed to regain strength very well after his earlier surgery, and we didn't realize that an insidious problem remained.  At age 85, his mind is clear, although slowed a bit from its earlier agility, and he has a strong desire to offer what he can in service to others.   

All of us would appreciate your prayers as we try to sort through the options in a search for what would please the Lord.  We're committed to supporting Dad's decision, but he's asking for our input, so it won't do to simply check out of the decision-making process entirely. I don't fear interacting with any of my family on this matter, but, if the truth be told, we probably each have our own biases, and it's a challenge to navigate this unfamiliar territory without jostling each other along the way.  I'm very grateful, though, that none of us is alone to make these decisions.  

To see each other safely through to the end of life is both a family responsibility and blessing.  

*********************

One moment of levity occurred in the doctor's office when the doctor was talking about what to expect if  chemotherapy is pursued.  He assured Dad that he wouldn't lose his hair.  Then he glanced at Dad's very bald head and everyone smiled, realizing that this wasn't nearly as big a deal in this case as it is sometimes.