Hi Melody,
On Saturday morning Bruce said he wanted to send you an email. It is now 10 p.m. Sunday night and Bruce has not been able to make it to the computer to send his email. His mind was clear today but the body weak.
Bruce and I became so emotional when we received the generous check from CareToLive. We were overwhelmed and I think still in shock. Not only in the mail was the CTL letter but six other letters and generous gifts from "new friends" who read your posting on the IV message board.
Bruce and I still cry when we think about and read these letters over and over. How total strangers step up and make you feel you can still believe in the goodness of others.
Tomorrow I will contact the chairman of the cemetery committee and let him know that I will be sending a check for the burial plot and opening of the grave site. These are up front cash items. I will allow time for the out of town checks to clear as the bank places a hold on them. We never thought we would ever be in this position. But an illness can destroy a lifetime of savings.
Bruce told me he wanted me to take care of his funeral arrangements and knowing how painful it would be for me he did not want our son and daughter to do it. We come from New England (Massachusetts) and he wants a birch coffin, he wants the American flag to drape the coffin and our portrait from our thirtieth wedding at the head of the coffin with 38 long stem yellow roses. The number of years we have been married. He is a brave man and he never treated his cancer as an illness but as an inconvenience. I know there are others out there just like him. Brave men and Proud men. We pray each day that Provenge will become available to those men in hopes of saving their lives. I am angry that FDA has not approved this drug. The only side affect Bruce had during the trial was flu like symptoms. Bruce feels it may be too late for him but not for other men who will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. We pray for them.
An Unknown Author Wrote: One of the most dreaded sentences a person might hear is "You have CANCER" These words force a drill through the heart! Although great progress has been made in treating cancer, recovery can be long and painful, and some people do not survive. Yet cancer is so limited......It cannot cripple love, It cannot shatter hope, It cannot corrode faith, It cannot eat away peace, It cannot destroy confidence, It cannot destroy friendship, It cannot shut out memories, It cannot invade the soul, It cannot reduce eternal life, It cannot quench the spirit, It cannot quench the power of the Resurrection! If an incurable disease has invaded your life, refuse to let it touch your spirit. Your body can be severely afflicted, and you may have a great struggle, but, if you keep trusting God's love; your spirit will remain strong. Why must I bear this pain? I cannot tell. I only know my Lord does all things well. And so trust in God, My All in All, For He will bring me through, what 'er befall. Our greatest enemy is not disease but despair.
Bruce wants to write a personal note to each individual but I'm afraid if I wait for him to do this they may never receive his thanks. I will see if he feels up to it and then I will sit and write a note of thanks to everyone.
We appreciate and thank CareToLive and the generous and kind words sent by members of DNDN IV. We are forever grateful. Melody and Scott we are so blessed that you came into our lives. Your work and unselfish giving of yourselves to fight for these cancer patients is so wonderful. You will remain forever in our hearts.
Bruce's doctor should be back from vacation on Monday and I will try and see if he will help me find out the "double blind" information on Bruce. I feel Bruce must have received Provenge in the clinical trial (2005) but it would be nice to know for sure. I have another name of a gentleman at Dendreon and I will place a call to him also.
If you can post this for me I would appreciate it. I am so glad you and Scott were able to visit and meet our family. We are forever friends..........Bruce and Carol Tower
