Circular letter 1 (januari 2002)

Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2002 12:24:53 +0100 To:  From: dulfer@xs4all.nl Subject: circular letter to friends abroad Bcc: Julia_Chere@excite.com, ma.van_der_heijden@nul.ls, mathot@lesoff.co.za, tp.raseeke@nul.ls Dear friends, Greetings from Amersfoort. Many of you may have been wondering why Gerard and I have been so slow in responding to our emails and letters. I wish to give you some explanation. The New Year started less happy than Gerard and I had anticipated. We both had been feeling not very well over recent months. Early January, all of a sudden our health declined seriously. I (Lucie) started suffering from problems with my colon again. This time much more serious than before. After struggling for some days at home, on Tuesday 8 I was taken to the surgical emergency unit of the hospital with a very serious inflammation of the colon as a result of an earlier perforation.  On the same day, in the same hospital, at the advice of our doctor (general practitioner) Gerard had his blood checked and X-rays taken of his chest. Two days later he was called back by the hospital for immediate, additional checks. Following the medical examination he was admitted to the same hospital immediately. It turned out that he suffers from multiple myeloma (Kahler's disease), a sort of cancer of the bone marrow.  I was lucky that in the end no operation was necessary. Recently I returned home for further recovery. I have to admit that I am still quite weak, but gradually improving.  Gerard will have to undergo a heavy program of chemotherapy (including stem cell transplantation), which will probably take about 6 months. We hope that the treatment will result in a delay of the process and give us some more time together.  As you will understand, physically and emotionally we were very much burdened and could not find the energy to keep our communication going properly. This may continue to be the case in the coming months, especially for Gerard. We ask for your consideration. In the coming months, I will try to send you a newsletter about Gerard's condition from time to time. It may be difficult to send you personal mails, but I will try to do my best taking into account my own condition. We highly appreciate your friendship. Your sympathy and prayers will support us on the uncertain, difficult road to the future. Warm greetings and love, Lucie  --------------------------------------------------- Lucie M. Dulfer-Luijendijk Sint Andriesstraat 18 3811 HT Amersfoort The Netherlands  Tel. + 31 33 479 99 50 E-mail: lucie.dulfer@xs4all.nl