February 28, 2009

Two weeks ago David met with his Hopkins/GBMC oncology surgeon to determine that the squalmous cell cancer had returned in a small, non-invasive patch on his gum. It has been almost exactly six years since the end of radiation for the first mouth cancer. Although the dreaded second surgery is scheduled for this Monday, March 2, 2009 at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Towson, we are hoping for the best outcomes, again. This time the remaining weakened jawbone will need to be replaced by a bone graft from David's fibula so post-op recovery will be longer. We hope to be back home by March 9 or 10th. We anticipate that Easter will be time for David to walk normally and eat more solid foods again.

During these past six years our married children have presented four grandchildren for us to return to and love. Also during this past decade in Bangladesh, the ICDDR,B has thrived and pioneered in important public health discoveries, interventions, and exemplary international scientist's accomplishments (new laboratory tests for infectious diseases, training hundreds of public health students from around the world, publishing important Lancet series and winning newborn health articles, Bangladeshi scientists winning international awards, maintaining funders' confidence, and saving thousands of lives from diarrheal diseases). We have traveled to see dear friends in many countries and do feel that we have lived to the fullest.

We believe that David's work here on earth is not finished by this latest appearance of cancer. We appreciate our friends' and families' prayers from around the world. At our Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren, David was especially blessed by a simple annointing service, joined by deacons, friends, and both children (Rebecca & Paul Mosley were skyped in Burundi).
We have updated wills, finished many projects, asked colleagues to tend to David's Hopkins' projects, and are probably ready for next week's hospital stay at GBMC.