Brian,

No words can express the sorrow that I feel knowing that you have lost 2 friends this week. If all you did for us was to provide this website, that alone would be enough. Your words ring with frustration, anger and disappointment and I share these feeelings with you knowing so well how much you do.

Each day as I check my mail at work and at home and checks arrive, I feel good knowing that the support I am seeing from friends, relatives, colleagus and OCF members, can possibly help to lessen the financial burden that you have so selflessly undertaken.

Interestingly, just before signing on the board, I was working on some remarks that I have been asked to make during the openning ceremonies of the walk. We must be on the same wavelength as this is the last paragraph of what I plan to say:

"My message to you, especially the dental and hygiene students, is that Early Detection can save lives and you are the ones that can help to attain this goal. By doing thorough oral cancer screenings for your patients now and when you are in practice, the death rate from oral cancer can be reduced. But, this alone, is not enough. Through the OCF, I have met too many people whose dentists and hygienists did not find their cancer in its


Jerry

Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.

"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"