Radiation and the Hope Lodge

Dr. Davis told my wife and I that I was to start 6 weeks of radiation in Sept. 03.

We met Martha Giardina on that day ans she suggested that we stay at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge during radiation.

I was to go 5 days a week. She explained how draining and physcially exhausing radiation is. We decided to sign up. She worked it all out and she has since become a very dear friend to both Sharon and me.

When we first walked into the Lodge we were walking around while Jude,a very kind and wonderful lady, the director, got everything ready.

A tall, dignified man asked my wife, "Young lady, would you like a cup of coffee?"

That was our introduction to Pastor Jerry Young and his beautiful wife JoAnn. He was there for radiation therapy. We wandered when we met him if he was the director.

Jerry and JoAnn pastor the Rivermont Baptist church in Front Royal, VA.

We love them and their congregation. They were definately sent to us by God! They were suppossed to leave the lodge the day before but there car messed up so we got to meet with them.

My wife sang "Through it all " for them and for others there and has since sang at their church on the night I gave my testimony.

His flock is and extrordinary group of people. We love them dearly!

We met Nancy and Bill. She is the one who encouraged me to find Robert Barron. She was adament that he could fix me up. Sharon found him at www.prosthesis.com and wrote to him. There was rejoicing at the lodge on the day Mr. Barron wrote back. Bill introduced me to spider solitare and I was instanly hooked! We love Nancy and Bill and have stayed in touch with each other.

We met so many that have changed our lives!
Jeremys brother, Josh was undergoing treatment. They and their mom are good friends.

We met Hank and Pat, Tom and Joyce, Doyle, Harold and Kay, Randy and Connie who are so dear to us, Tom and Candy, Trent and Clara, John and Sus, Ken and Sue whom we love and correspond with, Lucion, and SO many others that we just love dearly

If we left out any names we will add them as we remember them.

They all became like family to us.

We were all from very different backgrounds.From all over the US and beyond.
It was a nice place to stay. We were there from Monday evening till Friday morning then we'd go home.
Radiation proved to be more exhausting than I imagined.
On November 18th I went in for my last treatment. It was hard to say goodbye to every one but we were glad to be going home. My wife celebrated her birthday on the day before my last treatment. She claims that her gift was getting to go home.
We will always fondly remember our stay at the Hope Lodge! Donnie