about 18 years ago my Grandmother won a serious battle against Cancer, at heavy cost. They performed what is called a 'Whipple' to remove most of her intestines that were attached to a cancerous tumor, that would have gone unknown for a great while if not for one of her goats kicking her right where the tumor was. The cost of having those Intestines and Organs removed was making her diabetic, and making it near impossible to digest most foods, much less process them.

Even though the Cancer was gone, the results of the Surgery meant that they expected her to have 3-5 years, seeing as she was already in her 60's. She's 82 now, and I just received a call from my Dad that they're rerouting Thanksgiving to New Mexico because My Grandmother's Blood Sugar level just took a sudden dive, and they aren't certain if or when she'll come out of it. I was looking forward to seeing her this Christmas, and I'm now afraid she wont be there for it.

So, prayers for her, and prayers for the family. I know that she's survived now well over a decade beyond 'her time', but I at least want to see her one last time. And She's also the only thing that my aunts and my Mom have in common, once she's gone, I don't see much chance that my extended family ties will last much longer.