******DUTCHER FAMILY BLOG******

Hello folks. Those of you who have been waiting since last weekend for me to update the blog will have to forgive me. I've been feeling so good this past week it's made it hard for me to sit down and write. So here is the latest.
We were approved for the embulism which will hopefully destroy the tumor on my liver and the procedure will be performed next Tuesday, June 10 at Baptist Hospital. I will be checked into the hospital and kept at least overnight Tuesday night and possibly longer if the recovery warrants a longer stay. They tell me to expect some pain and nausea from the procedure but that's what they told me about chemotherapy and thank God I have escaped the nausea all together so far, so we're hoping for the best. This procedure should all but eliminate the 4.5cm tumor on the liver that is not reacting as well to my current chemo regimen as the others. The doctors can't explain the tumors growth, but it is not unusual for them to react differently to medications, so we'll just have to deal with this one a little differently. My surgeon, Dr. Stokes, has done this procedure many, many times and claims an impressive success rate. There is a possibility of him having to "hit" the tumor twice to achieve maximum results and if that happens then I'll be in the hospital longer than the 2-3 days we're hoping for right now. We humbly ask your prayers for him (Dr. Stokes) and those who will assist him. God has graciously heard our prayers so far and we don't expect Him to fail us now. After the embulism, we will resume the once a week chemo treatments on Friday afternoons and continue to hammer away at the tumor on the pancreas.
Concerning the Western Rite altar, Nila has neglected to tell you how much love and labor she has put into it. All of the gold filigree and trim work you see on the upper retable was done by her loving hands. She has been my "partner in crime" all along but she really came through with the detail work. I am not good at small, tedious work, so I thank God for her and her work. She really made the retable shine. What better way for a married couple to be remembered than for their labor of love to bear our Lord's Body every time a Liturgy is celebrated!
I'd like to thank Ellis Hanna for the time he spent helping with the altar. All of the small square trim on the side frames of the altar was done by him. We enjoyed our time working together on a couple of Saturday mornings and I look forward to future projects with him. I'd also like to thank my brother Mark who worked tirelessly helping me get the frames designed and mounted on the altar front. We had no idea when we started the project how we would mount the Last Supper relief into the front frame, and I couldn't have done it without him.
Lastly, I thank God for the miraculous good health I have had and continue to have. I know without a doubt He is answering prayers from you. Words cannot express our gratitude and love for all of you who hold us up to Him with your love and prayers. May He bless you all as he has blessed us. Subdeacon John