ANDY WILEMAN

September 24, 2009, our son-in-law, Andy Wileman was diagnosed with Clark level 4 melanoma. He had surgery to cut out the cancer in his right forearm and lymph nodes removed. Doctors declared him to be free from any active cancer and we rejoiced.

For the past year, Andy has been checked every 3 months, and continued to be free of active cancer. Until now. This past week, Andy had a PET scan done to confirm what the doctor suspected. The cancer has returned in his lymph nodes. The good news is, as far as they can tell, it has not spread to other areas of his body.

Andy needs your prayers! He will see a surgeon this week to remove all lymph nodes and then possibly consult further with doctors at MD Anderson for further treatment options. Andy is a policeman for city of Collinsville. He will have to take off work for the surgery and possible treatment, which will be a burden on them financially as well.

As a wife of a surviving cancer patient, I also want you to include our daughter Rebecca in your prayers. Many times, we focus on the person who is ill, and rightly so, but the caregivers need the prayer too! Rebecca is a communications officer for Owasso Police, which is stressful in itself. Now, she is dealing with a husband whose cancer has returned. This week, she developed singles as a result of all the stress. She told me, she thought she was handling it okay, but her body must not have been. *smile*.

Our grandchildren need your prayer as well. Andy may be their step-father, but they are very close to him. They feel the uncertainty that the word CANCER brings into their life and they know what it can do.

Gary and I know what the prayers of many did for us during his journey with cancer and we are so grateful to know you all will lift Andy, Rebecca and the kids up in your prayers as well. We thank you in advance!