9/26/05 Mark goes into Surgery tonight USA time...It is morning 9/27 in Bangkok and evening in Austin Texas. This is for a biopsy of the kidney because a suspicious spot seen on CT scan. As soon as I hear the results, I will post them. Mark was down a bit because of this. Friends, relatives, strangers have been blitzing him with letters of encouragement and enclosing five, ten, or twenty dollars or a few euros to help with his latest expenses and keep him opening mail when he won't e-mail. He says his treatment is a full time job with overtime and he can't fit that e-mailing in...and he does not feel up to doing it. He keeps all his letters and cards and has his favorites that he reads over and over like one from Tom Zimmerman, a therapist colleague of mine. Mark told me that Tom said: "My hand is on your back, buddy" and some other things that lifted his spirits and gave him hope. He has other favorites...some posted on his refrigerator like one from a student of his sister Stephanie...and probably one you sent. It does not have to be a purchased card...just draw him a picture or write a note. It does not have to be money. It could be koolaide or a small package of taco seasoning. Postage is 80 cents if you don't exceed the letter weight. E-mail me for the address if you want to send him a postcard from somewhere in the world or a note of encouragement. Hugs to you all. Miss betty the mom

Stephanie's Update- It's now 9pm Japan time on the 27th, 7 pm Bangkok time. I just got off the phone with Mark - he goes in for the biopsy in about 12 hours. He was upbeat on the phone, but he also said he worries about the pain it will involve; Mark tolerates pain fairly well, but he said the eye procedure was excruciating and he knows what to expect from this biopsy, so he's thinking about that.

Markie's always been a slow waker- he just doesn't get up and out of bed in a happy mood - it takes him a while. Tonight was no different - he grumbled and growled and said he couldn't hear the phone. But it only took a few minutes and he was talking away about how the weather is, what friends had called recently, new neighbors he had met upstairs, 400 years' of war between Burma and Thailand, etc. Mark had been on my mind heavily for days and so I told him I had been thinking of him and he seemed happy to hear that. He also told me to be sure to say hi to Jessica. the student who wrote the poem that is on his fridge. Mark's really happy to know Mom's coming for a visit soon - he was obviously happy at the thought of going to the beach (2 hours from Bangkok) and soaking up some sun and solitude.