Some history

Dale had a long day today. He had a few visitors today, but not too many, thank you so much for stopping by and bringing some food and the bed pillow. We all appreciate your love and generosity.

Just some history:

I know that most of you were already aware that Dale had prostrate cancer, diagnosed a little over a year ago. It was such a shock to us all back then. He had to cancel a trip he was looking forward to at the time, to go on a mission trip to help some of the folks in New Orleans. Instead he was rushed into a lot of different clinics for tests and they found the cancer was very aggressive and was in 14 different parts of his body, organs and bones. Dale saw a few different doctors and considered a few different treatments with them. By the time he received the referral to the Mayo Clinic and came under their care, his diagnosis was Stage 4 metastasized cancer. He took an IV treatment for bone strengthener which really knocked his energy out at first. When he moved to the Mayo, they changed the way he was receiving it and his energy began to come back. He also was taking pills and then Millie and he decided to change to a very healthy diet consisting almost exclusively of live vegetables and fruits. "Anything that doesn't have a face" he would often explain.

Dale and Millie both began to feel the benefits of the healthy diet. They both got a lot more energy and even lost a couple of pounds. Dale had a great year left as he was preparing for this cancer to come back even then. He made a great many visits in this past year and attended family reunions and traveled a little bit to see friends and has been very grateful for this past year. He has been telling us that this past year has been a great gift.

His doctors have been very open with him about his cancer and how it works and he has known for some time that some day this will come back and it will be aggressive and non-responsive to treatments.

He continued working at First Baptist Church, Sun City until he went to the ER on June 8th.

He, as always, has a garden and we are bringing in fresh fruits and vegetables from it. Dale's gardens are another story for another time. He has a green thumb and has been growing life out of the desert ground for many years.

Dale's health is changing at a rapid pace but he continues to encourage us, show us his love and is living each day "one day at a time".


PSALM 31:24 -
"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD."