So many of my friends from all over the world have been praying for my dad and supporting me.  It seems easiest to just post an update here and let everyone read it when they can.

Daddy (Doug Paramore) had his appointment with the bone cancer specialist in Birmingham today.  Here is what we know so far: the malignant tumor has returned in his arm and is larger than the last one; the tumor has gone into some of the surrounding tissue; he does NOT have to have his arm amputated as we feared. 

The surgeon is going to perform the same procedure as last time, except that he will have to remove a larger portion of bone and the surrounding tissue, and the bone graft will be done with cadaver bone.  The surgery will be performed at UAB Hospital on August 7th.  Daddy will spend a couple of nights in the hospital and then come home.

This news is actually pretty good for us.  We knew the cancer was back; our fear was that he was going to lose his arm.  It is a relief to know that Daddy will be able to return to fishing, playing the fiddle, and all the other things he was afraid he wouldn't do again with only one arm. 

Surgery for my father is always scary and risky, though.  He has a history of significant heart disease and an internal defibrilator.  The defibrilator has to be turned off for the surgery, and anesthesia is a delicate procedure for someone with his difficulties.  UAB is one of the best in the world, though, and Daddy has better odds undergoing surgery there than anywhere else.

Incidentally, school starts back for my son on August 7th, so I am going miss his first two days of 6th grade.  I am making arrangements for him to stay with someone while I am gone to Birmingham because my husband will be working so much.  I'm hoping I can find out who his teacher is and talk to her by phone before the first day of school.  Sometimes there is just not enough of one person to go around, but I have to be there with my parents.  If anyone has a laptop you wouldn't mind "renting out" for a few days, I'm in the market.  :)  At least I could still work a little.  

Thank you to everyone for your support so far, and please continue to keep him, and us, in your prayers for the next stage of getting through the surgery.  I have people from Australia to the USA and all points in between who are sending out good thoughts and prayers.  It'll be kinda cool to have a Guardian Angel from Oz along for the ride (you know who you are!).

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