July 6, 2005

Update # 42

Good Afternoon,

We hope summer is going well for all of you.  The temperature has brought us some cool days and also some hot days.  We need rain but were fortunate enough to receive some the 4th of July.  So our Hillsboro fireworks be will this Friday the 8th.

We spent some vacation days with Jeff in Florida the beginning of June.  We drove down while he flew and we met at Walt Disney World.  When Jeff flew home, we continued on to St. Augustine and Savannah for a few more days.

Jeff drove to Hillsboro June 29th.  Shortly after he arrived, we headed to StL for The Muny's production of "Beauty and the Beast".  We stayed in a motel that night to be ready for his Cardinal Glennon appointment at 1:00 on June 30th.  When we finished his appointment, we stayed in StL for a Cardinal game that night.  After the Cards lost that evening, we drove back to Hillsboro.  Jeff relaxed on Friday and returned to Waterloo on Saturday morning.

Jeff's appointment with Dr. Chu at Costas went very well.  He only had to have a chest x-ray.  Dr. Chu was pleased with the initial viewing of the x-ray.  Since we have not heard from Costas, we assume the detailed later viewing showed no change.  We had all figured that to be the case.  Dr. Chu is always thrilled to see how well Jeff is doing.  Jeff will see Dr. Chu again in December for his next six-month check up.  Dr. Chu told us that he will be retiring June 2006.

I told you in the last update that one thyroid test was high and that Dr. Chu wanted Jeff to find an endocrinologist in Waterloo.  Jeff found Dr. Chitra Reddy and met with her for the first time on April 1st.  She discussed with Jeff the thyroid results for his years since radiation.  She said that probably within the next year he would begin medication.  Jeff had his second appointment with Dr. Reddy yesterday.  The thyroid count was even higher in these last 3 months so she started him on medication yesterday.  It should take a few weeks for it to take effect.

The beginning of May, Jeff got a roommate to help with expenses in the apartment.  This guy also works at the tv station.  Jeff continues to love his job at KWWL.  He says the excitement of live newscasts can't be beat.

We continue to thank you all for your prayers for Jeff.  He really is doing quite well and we know God listened to each of you.  We keep you in our prayers also.  I would think the next update will be January since we don't know when in December Jeff can come down.  Enjoy the rest of 2005.  God bless!!!

Love,

Marcia