*Liz's second email sent January 30, 2007.

Hi All,
Just wanted to give my weekly health update. First let me say thank you to all of you. I have been so amazed at the support I have already received. You are all so wonderful and I am extremely grateful to have you in my life.

Today I had the port or internal catheder put in my upper right chest. It will make getting the chemo into me much less painful. I was scheduled for surgery at 10:30 this morning and actually got into surgery about 12:30, which is about an hour less waiting time than last week so that was good. I had great company, and I got 4 of the cookies that were baked for me. Clint apparently decided he needed the first few dozen! The surgery went fine. It took about 1 1/2 hours, a little longer than expected. I was sedated and given just local anesthesia. They had a hard time finding a good place to put the port because the lymph nodes in my neck are so swollen they make things pretty tight in there! But, after a quick stay in recovery, I am home and on some pain killers. My shoulder hurts for some reason and the place they operated is pretty uncomfortable, but I get to live so I am happy. All in all, pretty uneventful. Clint had learned how to start an IV for his Navy stuff some time back and was trying to get the nurse to let him do the IV. So happy to have him home! I was boiling in the OR and had a mask on and they couldn't understand me when I was telling them I was too hot. Finally I got a little irritated and nurse Denise figured out what I was saying. I guess that is about it. Next week I will have the bone marrow biopsy on Monday, which I hear is quite painful so I am asking for lots of drugs. My brother Rob comes in on Wednesday, so that will help.

Clint leaves this Wednesday for Washington state to do his demobilization crap. He should be home Friday night. Mom leaves Saturday morning. I can not believe she has been here 3 weeks already. My days are blurring! This Wednesday marks 4 weeks since the lump was discovered. What a crazy time! Sometimes I wish I could remember more of it, other times I am so glad that it is all a haze!

I will keep you all posted. As always, pass this to anyone I have not included. Take care ll, and know how grateful I am for your support.

*this was Liz's first email to friends and family regarding her illness - sent January 18, 2007.

Hi Everyone,
I know this may be a crazy way to communicate right now, but I am feeling overwhelmed with information and the communication of that info! I went to the oncologist today adn had a big meeting. I really loved the doc, he seemed so knowledgeable and very capable. He showed me the CT's that were taken yesterday and it was amazing. My lymph nodes from neck to abdomen were very enlarged. They were growing around my arteries and obviously restricting blood flow. The cancer has not gone down further than my abdomen, which seems to be a good sign. He is fairly confident that it is Hodgkins Lymphoma, but we won't know for sure until after the next biopsy, which will be done on Monday, January 22, by Dr. Johnson. The following Monday we are hoping to get a bone marrow biopsy, also at the hospital here in Cody. That Friday we are HOPING (pending insurance approval) to have a PET scan to see how active the growths are. That will be done in Billings. I meet with Dr. Anderson again on the 12th to set up a treatment schedule. He thinks it will be about 4 months of chemo, one 1x every 2 weeks, so 8 treatments. Then take 3-4 weeks off and begin radiation. That will be 5 days/week for 6-8 weeks.

Okay, so you have what I have. Not that I don't want to talk to you all, but this seems easier. I love you all, thanks for your support, and feel free to pass this to anyone that should be in the loop.