First of all I do hope everyone here is having a whole lot of fun crafting 
with their needles and threads ... seems the only needles I am seeing 
these days are being embedded into my skin or viens ....
 I have received a number of messages from my crafting friends here with 
concerns about my health... and as of yesterday and today I have finally some 
answers I can share with you.  Most important is that things sound much worse 
than they really are... so please keep this in mind... 
  First of all I have experienced "another" spontaneous fracture in my lower 
spine.  The good news is it will heal itself and I have to do nothing in turn 
for this injury... just bear with it until it heals itself...
  Sandy Colby went with me to the doctor yesterday when I had a consult with 
a room full of doctors and medical students... . 
 The consensus at the end of the consult is that I most likely have a 
pancreatic tumor... the good news  is that this tumor is most likely 
beign! The symptoms that I am currently experiencing I may have the rest of 
my life with the occassional concern that I could slip into a coma or 
something like that ... but I can keep a close control on the symptoms and 
prevent this from happening.  There is a "possibility" that surgery will be 
necessary to remove the tumor but that is down the line and if that does have 
to happen then I will deal with that at that time. Things look much better 
today than they did yesteday when Sandy and I left the doctor's office... 
Jerry and I spent about half and hour with the doctor for the Mayo Clinic 
this morning discussing all the "what ifs???" We came away feeling much more 
reassured and knowing that for all intense purposes this is "not" life 
threatening for me. I am currently on a 72 hour fast so that my blood can be 
tested as necessary for different components.  Right now I am into this fast 
20+ hours and doing ok so far!  However I can assure you that I will soon be 
going back to bed to rest again... 
  The other good news is that I continue to drop the weight... I am now down 
56 pounds since last August!!!!! . I am at the 
lowest weight I have been now for over 8 years!!!! And I am thrilled to 
death... ... The doctor has a picture of me when I first started seeing 
him... When we were looking at it compared to what I look like now the 
difference is amazing!!!!  Though I am not thrilled with being sick to lose 
the weight I am not complaining... I even put on a dress this morning for my 
trip out to the doctor and looked "sexy"... now that was a first in years!!!!
  Well after I get a bit of rest I am going to "try" to do some stitching on 
my quilt that I am working on here... 
  I know I have been terrible about keeping up with every one but the energy 
levels come and go right now and so right now I am taking advantage of the up 
time ... 
  Have  no fear everyone, you all are stuck with me for a very long time...
happy crafting!!!!
Julia
--- He Lives! 
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