Dear brothers & sisters,

Thank you so much for all your prayers, support, loving care, time, driving, food, cards, e-mails, & visits. They are so warm and encouraging. We really appreciate them.

Tony will be starting his chemotherapy at 3:00 p.m. today, instead of 7:00 p.m. There will be six cycles in nine weeks. The first cycle will be given on 10/12, 10/19, 10/26. 2nd round will be on 11/9, 11/16, 11/23. The biopsy on the lump below his neck turned out to be positive. That means the cancer cells already have spread to some lymph nodes, but thanks to the Lord, not other organs. The chemotherapeutic option hopefully will help to palliate his symptoms. We turned down the clinical research option because it doesn't sound that effective and promising, and our doctor doesn't seem to be in favor of this option either.

Thank God for providing us so many connections that Tony could be admitted to the hospital in such a short time and he can start the treatment today, that he is in the hands of a good physician team, that he can purchase any medications without any long wait, and he can even change his chemo schedule to a more preferable time.

Please continue to pray for miracle to heal him, that the chemo will be effective enough to shrink the tumors, and side effects will be eliminated to a minimum. Side effects include diarrhea, nausea, mouth sores, infections, and hearing loss, which may be permanent. Also please pray for Jonathan and my health especially when Tony's immune system will be weakened due to the chemo treatments.

Admittedly, the Lord doesn't always solve our problems instantaneously, and He sometimes permits us to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. But we are certain he is there with us even in the darkest hours, and we can never escape His
encompassing love.

Please forward this to your fellowship so that everyone can pray for us.

Thanks again.

In Christ,

Rossana