Dear All,

One of our members--Marieka--has her surgery tomorrow for a widely-spread ameloblastoma on her maxilla, her palate, and in her sinus cavity. She has written to the forum several times, but I am beginning a new thread, so that I can keep you posted on her progress until she can write again for herself.

Please keep her in your prayers tomorrow, from morning to afternoon. I imagine that it will be a long surgery.

Thanks, friends. I have not met Marieka, but I feel that I know here, like I feel so close to the rest of you. I know that we all wish that we could keep anyone else from suffering from this terrible disease, but we can't. All we can do for those who already have it is to pray and to support them with our caring.

For those who don't yet have OC, we CAN do something: We can be sure that they know all about this disease, about how to prevent it and how to check for it, how to recognize it when it shows its ugly face, and what to do then. Maybe we CAN keep some others from suffering from these difficult surgeries and treatments.

I'll write an update on Marieka when her family contacts me.

XOXO--Colleen