Apparently, we don’t have enough going on this summer, so we have to end it with a new adventure.  :-)

I had an annoying mole removed from my ankle (my primary doctor initially thought it was a bug bite or age spot and didn’t think insurance would pay for the removal).  The biopsy came back as a very early stage melanoma.  So, I will be having an outpatient surgery on August 11 to have more of the area removed along with 1-3 lymph nodes (which they will also biopsy) from the area where the melanoma could potentially have traveled. The doctor at Huntsman said this treatment plan is typical for a case like this and it would be very unlikely for the melanoma to have traveled beyond the area.  The treatment is precautionary.  Unfortunately, since there is little skin on my ankle, I will have to return on August 18 for another outpatient surgery to relocate some of my skin to the area where he’ll remove more of a margin.  Sounds like that will be the more annoying recovery with a few weeks in a boot to keep me from stretching the skin as it heals.  

Prayer requests as you think of us: I’m thankful for the timing being before all our busy school activities begin and after our annual camping trip, so you can praise God with me. We’re all doing well, despite our past experiences with the nasty “C” word. Obviously, the enemy would love to steal our peace, joy and hope, so you can pray against that.  Pray for my doctors to have steady hands and wise judgement.  Pray for quick healing, no further evidence of the cancer and that I’ll be able to sit back and rest when needed during recovery.  I have no doubt my wonderful family will see to that.  Finally, and most importantly pray for God to open our eyes to opportunities He may have for C. R. & I to share Jesus with people we meet during this experience.  I am sure there are many people at the Huntsman Cancer Institute on a much more difficult path than mine, and some of them don't have the hope we have.