Excepts from an email written April 28th

Excepts from an email. Saturday April 28th: You are one of the few that we have told about what is going on. We know that you are a true friend. We know you are pulling for us. At this time, we are not big on letting a lot of people know what is going on. We are trying to just function in our everyday lives as much as we can, with normalcy. (is that even a word?) We don't want Cadets to know what is going on until after finals are over. We don't want the Coast Guard community to know until after we have sold our home. (We are selling our home to another Coastie.) And even then, at this time, we prefer folks hear the news directly from us - when possible. And I am also writing this to the group to update you about what is going on. This Thursday past (the 26th), we met again with the Gastroentronologist. (may be spelled wrong) He is the guy that had performed the Colonoscopy. He had ordered a CAT scan, Biopsy, and blood work. He was able to confirm that Dave does have Cancer. The tumor is all the way around a section of the Rectum. It is like a donut that as it grows, if left untreated, would limit passage of waste. We saw the photos. wow. technology is very cool. but there are some places you just don't need to see photos of. And the thing that came as a blow is that the Cat scan showed some spots on the liver. So, it has begun to do some spreading. We need a biopsy to confirm that the spots are cancer. Right now I am glad for the spots, even if they are not cancer, I feel it is getting Dave priorty with Dr's. He got us an appointment with a local Oncologist for Friday (the next day - the 27th). We came home, wracked with grief, sobbing, and feeling like throwing up. We held each other and did a lot of crying. (Liam was at DayCare) We called the priest. (he got pulled over while still on base trying to get here!)and we had our parents come.Our appointment on Friday was long. The Dr. spent close to an hour with us. It was like a "anatomy/cancer 101" class. He explained what a colon and rectum are. Drew things out. Told us what cancer is. Then he told us what is known about this case in particular. As well as what we still need to know and why we need to know it. He did not blow sunshine, or paint an ugly picture. We left feeling calm, relaxed, and ready for the next steps. Dave has Cat scans, Pet cat scans (for a guy with pet allergies, we have an animal sounding theme going here) as well as an MRI all scheduled for next week. On Friday we return to the Dr to find out what has been learned from these results. At that time, we hope to be able to convey to him that allthough his golf buddies may be Doctors, even good ones, we want the BEST ones we can get and we want to go there RIGHT AWAY.>We (Dave, Kerri, our parents) feel strongly that we need to get to a specialist hospital in either NY or Boston right away. getting these tests done, we can take to them armed with the information they need to make a quick and best decision. > We met with Dave's bosses. (Doc Gross and Cpt Hartnet.)What they said, and we totally believe them, whatever we need, they will make sure happens.>I mentioned that we don't have housing available on Staten Island until the end of July - they said, "we can change that." They have the power to get orders changed if we need to stay here too. So we are not in any sort of bind there! The Coast Guard takes care of thier own! >So, once we know what the treatment plan is and where the Dr's are, we will know more about what we need.>Today Fr. Tom came over. Kerri, her folks, Dave, his folks, and Liam all took part in a special prayer for the sick in which Dave was annointed with special oils. Asking God to be with us (as he always is) but that we might feel it and to also remind us that he is with us. Asking God to aid the healing. >Having Liam take part in this is complex. We have told him that when he gets sick he gets a stuffy nose, coughs and sneezes. We call that a "cold". Daddy is sick but it is not a cold. Daddy is a little tired and has to use the bathroom a lot! We have withheld the word Cancer at this time, ... he is only 3. He would say "my daddy has cancer" to a number of people we are not ready to tell yet. The packers will be here on Monday May 7th. The movers will be taking our stuff on May 9th. The closing is May 10th. After that, we are not sure where we will be. >We don't even know what to do ourselves, so we can't even know what to ask really.\ >In the future, that may change\ Right now... we need 2 things. >Prayers. and please schedule a colonoscopy for yourselves! >Everyone should have one, even if you are under 55!!!!!!!! no, seriously. The finger wave is not effective! Please do this. Please stay in touch. It is okay to call. Thanks,\); Thanks, Kerri .