October 2010
The following is our Christmas letter for 2010. God has blessed us in so many ways. Right now in Macomb a beautiful snowfall has made for a winter wonderland and a white Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Season’s Greetings, Happy New Year!
The year 2010 was another eventful year for the Taylors. As you would expect, there was both good and bad news but that is the nature of life.
Diane’s parents are doing well. Harry (89) is in a nursing home with vascular dementia and Anna (87 on Christmas Day) is in the next building that is an assisted living facility. Brother Paul and his wife Marsha do a wonderful job of helping them.
The Stevensons continue to reside in Corpus Christi, TX. Luke (6) loves being in Kindergarten and James is a very talkative 2 year-old. John continues to work as a construction foreman. In addition to being a mom, Jen manages an apartment complex. We had a fun visit with them in February in Fort Myers Beach, FL, and another one in Macomb in October. We wish they lived closer, but we see them as often as possible. There is much excitement in our family as baby number 3 is due May 31, 2011.
Gordon and Lisa reside in Chicago where he is the Associate Director of Sales at the Hyatt Regency. Lisa recently took a position as the National Director of Marketing and Public Relations for BBJ Linen which has 24 U.S. offices. In September, they vacationed in London, Paris, and Zurich where they had a fabulous time.
Ryan is entering his sixth year as an associate at the Tressler LLP law firm in the Sears/Willis Tower. Ryan and Gordon attend as many Chicago-area supporting events as their busy schedules permit. It is comforting having our sons and Lisa close enough that we can see them on a fairly regular basis.
Reluctantly, the biggest event this year goes to Gordy. In February he complained of a sore throat and earache and in early March was diagnosed with base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma. The treatment of this type of cancer involved 35 radiation sessions and 5 chemotherapy infusions over 7 weeks beginning April 22nd and ending June 10th. Simply stated, the diagnosis is devastating, the treatment is awful, and recovery is slow. However, the prognosis is excellent as Gordy’s recent PET scan results indicate that he is clear of cancer for now. This has been an experience none of us will ever forget. Our “c” journey can be followed on http://www.gordytaylor2010.blogspot.com
Our roles as patient and caregiver have brought us even closer together after 42 years of marriage. It has been quite an adventure. Diane always wanted to be in the medical profession, and “Dr. Diane” got her chance administering meds and taking care of Gord. Diane finally felt comfortable leaving “the patient” and attended her nephew Derek’s wedding in July, spent four days in Chicago with one of her Macomb friends, visited the Stevensons in August, and traveled to New York City in October with longtime friends from our days on Glenoak Drive.
Please accept our sincere and heartfelt thanks for your cards, letters, emails, phone calls, visits, meals, driving, flowers, conversations, and last but certainly not the least, prayers. They comforted us, gave us hope, and helped to get us through this ordeal. People have been very generous in sharing their good will with the Taylors, and this has been sustaining and nurturing. We want to reach out this joyous holiday season to those who have lifted us up with their kindnesses with a huge thank you! We are humbled and blessed. This has been a special year. Best wishes for a joyous and healthy 2011.
