Johns report is in..........

Dear Family and Friends,
Once again we have the high honor of welcoming the weekend and God's Sabbath, a rest from the race we call life.
When I returned this evening from a property in Patterson I found the following email from Karen re: John's Bladder Cancer

Well, the wait is over!! After waiting a month for surgery – then waiting since Tuesday to hear the pathology report on John’s bladder cancer, his doctor called late this afternoon to say he had the report in his hand and after reading it was both relieved and disappointed.

Bladder cancer comes in one form but is presented on a scale from low invasiveness to high invasiveness. Because John is so “unique” he didn’t do the “normal” of landing on either end of the spectrum! Instead, he is what the doctor calls “superficially invasive” carcinoma. According to the “Final Diagnosis” in the Pathology Report (for you medical types):

“Papillary urothelial carcinoma, predominantly low-grade with focal areas of high-grade with probable invasion of lamina propria, muscular invasion not demonstrated.”

So what does this mean for our future? That John will be going through a variety of treatments over the next year or more with continual prayer that the threat of more cancer returning never happens! The recommended treatment has a “success” rate of about 85% - so we’re thankful that medicine has continued to stretch, test, evaluate and improve!! I’m sure there will be some lesson for life in all this – but that will have to wait while we work our way through the next year or more.

Our dear friend and former president, Jim Brauer, reminded us a short time ago of Isaiah 41:10,

“Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

God has us covered and we are SO thrilled that this disease did not go deeper – that medicine is advancing daily toward new and great discoveries and treatments! Is it as good as we’d hoped? No – but it is treatable and we’re good with that! So, as Sabbath begins, our hearts are relieved to at least know what we’re up against, and that the worst case scenario did not play out! Now that’s reason to praise God!! J

Karen Cress (and John)

So the news is mixed but could be worse like Karen says. John will need our prayerful support as days turn into months. He will face tests, treatments and a renewed sense of the fragility of life. This is a precious person who Jesus loves and who loves people with all his heart. Once again a good one is struck in a totally unfair manner and we have to accept and cope with it.

My day went well. I rose early to write a driveby in Brentwood, emailed it out and then drove to Brentwood to pick up the check. Then I drove directly to Modesto to perform yet another driveby of a nice little house in a quiet neighborhood. As I was heading home Lois called to let me know that an email had come in with an order. She stuck with it until she was able to reply and accept the order. When I came home I called, got an appointment and then after writing another appraisal this afternoon drove to Patterson and conducted another appraisal. The house was perfect and selling for just $145,000. This is mind boggling since 2 years ago it was over $400,000. This is a 1800 sf house with granite kitchen, perfect carpet and paint, nice floor plan and a corner lot. When will this declining value plague cease? At least I was able to notice in the appraisals I wrote today that nearly 100% of the sales I dealt with sold for prices well above the list prices, that is the first indication of a rising market, that and the end of the REOs will mean things are really turning around.

I was able to deposit $1,000 this afternoon which came in yesterday and today. No money has come in the mail for days so I expect some soon. I certainly hope so.

Now it is time to let the stress and strain of living in 2009 rest for a few hours. In the morning I have the privilege of taking Keanna to Sabbath School and since Sylvia is in town and will probably be helping with Sabbath School it will be a real win win.

I spoke at length this evening with my brother Jerry and his update on Suzie was heart breaking. Through an unbelievable set of events with a very uncaring oncologist and a state run health system Suzie has resigned herself to letting nature take its course. Since having Chemo was considered elective for Suzie per the doctor they ask her to put up a large amount of money before chemo could be given. Since she has no money that option basically negated her getting chemo at all. Mind you this is not some mean insurance company, no this is the state run system which she is relegated to. All care was to be directed from a physician located 150 miles from her and she had to make repeated trips there. She was told he would give her so many pain pills for the month, if she took them too fast then that was her tough luck. All of this non care was just too much so this afternoon Hospice was invited in. The lady who visited made a wonderful impression and set everyone at ease. Suzie is comfortable with her decision and feels she will get the support she needs. With Hospice involved she will get the pain control she needs, any transport to the hospital or medical care will be arranged through them, she will have support from both counseling and medical arms of Hospice.

I have decided that I will make a trip up to see her soon. I admire her courage in all of this and want to show my support to her journey. Her mother and sisters are lending incredible support and comfort and she is in the right place for this time in her life.

Here is hoping that your weekend, together time brings you great joy and peace.

love to all

Tim