Dear Kim,

You couldn't have voiced my family's concern, or my own any better.

My husband worked his way up in thirty years from carpenter-wanna-be to General Superintendent for a large commercial builder.

Only to find himself with two wonderful boys, and this disease at age 48.

I don't mean to generalize, but it seems this type of man grows up tough, parties hard, settles down and then succeeds. Just when they've reached their goal does the past come back to haunt.

I may be totally off the mark in your case, and if I've inferred anything negative, I apologize.

Dennis was always the guy who made it good. Showed everybody he could make it....only to be struck down with this cancer.

He is still depressed, losing weight and his treatment was over a year and a half ago.....still drinks like it will save him somehow.

My only advice, if this seems to be your case at all, is to continue to love him and tell him everyday what a pioneer he is.

Without these guys, the rest of the world couldn't build a friggin' working bathroom.

Love,
Mandi