Hi Liz, and all supporters, survivors and carers how can I begin to thank you all.

I can hardly see my screen as I read your messages of support my eyes well up with gratitude for the prayers of so many of our Lord's Church commending my wife to his infinite love and grace.

Maggie has taken the news remarkably well, but appreciates the next few weeks and months of treatment will take their toll. We await a full surgical biopsy on the base of tongue tumour, as Maggie's Chest consultant has to give the ENT Surgeon the all clear - even for this minor procedure as it will notwithstanding the duration involve a full general anaesthetic and her lungs are very bad.

All of you togetherwith my friends from a UK supporters site, and not least Liz have all been so rich and generous in your love and compassion for a fellow human being, afflicted with much health troubles and she is not old, Maggie will be sixty in January and the family were together yesterday to show their support (and conspiring to make it the very best birthday of her life).

We also celebrate our 35th Wedding Aniversary on Sunday 4th November and have been together for 38 years, not always a bed of roses by any stretch of the imagination but we have forgiven each other as our Lord instructs and have relied heavily on his Grace to support us through our problems. He has never let me down and never will, and when the time comes we shall not fear our mortality for death is not the end but another and better beginning, God does not prevent our suffering, but knows what we face Christ suffered first for us, but will never allow us to bear our hardships alone to which you all are living testament.

Your prayers are returned in love and may God continue to pour his Blessings upon you all and all whom you love, yours in Christ, Alan.