WOW - thank you all so much, I'm packing all those thoughts in my bag to take to the hospital with me. Its been a really rough week to be honest, tempered only by Matthews birth, which allowed me to put my own issues aside for a few days (except when we had to tell Juli on Friday). Anyway, I'll just give you a brief synopsis of the situation, the fact that you are all so supportive and don't even know why is incredible and amazing.

A week ago Monday, I was diagnosed with a mass on my right kidney - most likely, according to the CT scan, malignant. Next Tuesday, I will have the kidney, and all surrounding "stuff" removed. So far there is no indication of any spread into the lymph nodes,or surrounding areas, and my urologist says he's fairly certain that this is the most common type, slow growing, self contained and if they get everything out, then it should be over. There really isn't any follow up treatment, other than yearly bone and CT scans for 5 years. Obviously none of that is 100% until they get to it, but I've talked to my own physician, the urologist, a neighbor who is a Doctor, and even the Radiologist, and they've basically all said the same thing, so that gives me a lot of hope. I've also in the last week heard from several friends who know people who've had the same thing and are walking around healthy with one kidney.

I will have Frank keep Kathy updated, she is on the email list, since I don't think the hospital has internet haha, and hopefully I will be home by the weekend.

I cannot thank you all enough for your thoughts and good wishes, it means a lot to go into this knowing that people I've never even met are out there cheering me on. Hopefully I will have a chance to meet some of you on MUSH next year and be able to personally thank you.