I am still at the MD Anderson hospital recovering from surgery to remove my latest sarcoma metastasized lesion. The surgery outcome is the best we could have hoped for. The margins are clear of sarcoma cells and I didn't lose any major blood vessels or nerves. I won't be as good as new but good enough. The tumor was embedded in my gluteus Maximus so a good surgery outcome was critical to my mobility. pdate class members about my current health status.  I did go to MDACC in June and the sarcoma tumor in my right lung is now big enough to be seen by the surgeon.  It is 1 cm.  So I go back to Houston on July 26 for a pre op to make sure I am healthy enough for surgery, and then the surgery to remove the tumor will happen several weeks after that.  This surgery is not as complicated as three years ago because the tumor can be easily removed without taking much of my lung along with it -- as opposed to 3 years ago when I lost almost an entire left lobe because blood vessels were involved.  So this time everything should be routine, and I will be healthy and feeling good by August.  

Ruth Ann Morrison
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June 4, 2013

A recent email exchange between Jim Bennett and Ruth Ann (Clark) Morrison

Mon, 6 May 2013

Hi Ruth Ann, I found myself thinking of you this morning as I was walking the dog.
I wonder how you're doing these days, especially health wise.

Jim

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May 9
Dear Jim,

What a wonderful surprise to find your message in my inbox.  We are fine here.  We just got back from a drive over to Raleigh, North Carolina, and back.  We had never been to the Piedmont or Smoky Mountains so it was a nice drive.  The heavy rains that seem to be nationwide this spring followed us along the way but there were beautiful days as well.  We were visiting friends and relatives.

With regard to my health, I do have a small lesion in my right lung now but it is very small.  As of December it was only 8mm which is too small for a surgeon to see.  I go back to MDACC in June to find out if I need lung surgery this summer or if I can wait 4 more months.  This lesion is in an easy to remove place so I won't be losing much of my right lung. The waiting makes planning difficult, but we are flexible so the disruption is minimal.

I hope you and Judith are doing well.  Hi to all.  Thanks for keeping in touch.  Please give your dog a couple of extra pats from me.
Peace and love from Ruth Ann (AKA 'Thanny)

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May 10
Ruth Ann,
Thanks for the terrific email message.  It's remarkable you remembered anything about my dog.  He is grateful for the extra attention you sent his way.

With regard to that lesion, I am always amazed at your courage and balanced demeanor in the face of health problems.  You are an inspiration.

peace
jb.

P.S.  Do I have your permission to forward your message to Rose so that she might post it on the class web site?

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May 14
Dear Jim,

It would be okay if you want to send my e-mail on to Rose.  You may want to edit it before you do which would be okay also.

Thanks for the compliment but, actually, I don't feel much like an inspiration.   I've been very fortunate in that I have had times of remission in which I could resume being "normal" -- whatever that might be.  Sometimes I would make dying plans, but then I wouldn't die -- so after awhile that effort seemed sort of unproductive.  So many folks don't have that luxury.  I've been blessed with lots of friends which makes living interesting and worthwhile.  Plus I seem to have a theology that works well for me although I haven't been seriously tested yet. I'll keep you posted.

Your dog has a special place in my heart because you said you were thinking of me while you were walking your dog.  My son Allen has a big dog Sally (White Pyrenees and German Shepherd).  I would bring her home in a minute.  Perhaps because she is an older dog now, and we walk at the same pace.  Hi to Judi and everyone.

Peace and love from 'Thanny


February 5, 2013

Hello Rose,  sorry so late in cybering you,  the antique business has been really busy the last 2 months,  December was good but January was great.  We really had some cold freezing weather here for a week,  heavy frost, lost a lot of plants.  My sister, Rebecca arrived from Bloomington after Christmas on the 27th and spent a week.  My nieces were with their school from Bloomington  for the Fiesta activities,  they were in the parade and state band competition. Their school took 9th place,  not too bad.  The girls left here (not traveling with their mother, but the school) and flew to Washington DC for another band competition there.  We leave for Santa Barbara on Thursday on business & to help out a friend who is have some major surgery. Hope to be back in a couple of weeks.  I received Zona's e-mail on Judy. A great loss,  I felt it deeply. We started out in kindergarden together, and lived across the park from each other at one time.
Hope you're keeping warm back there. We were at 75 yesterday.  
Morey

February 4, 2013

We've lost another of our classmates, Judy Bohrer Norton, on January 30, 2013. The writeup in the Pantagraph this morning.


January 2, 2013

I was saddened to read in this morning's Pantagraph that our classmate Bill Hertter had passed away yesterday, Jan. 1st. There is a very nice writeup in the paper this morning.