FRIENDS AND PRAYERS

ANN, DONNA, ANNA,

MARGE, SUE & ANNIE

F R I E N D S

WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT THEM???

Same pic but with Ms. CHARLOTTE in front

Marge had to take the pic

Today is a dark dreary day

outside but as I think of

the great times with my

friends, my heart

warms.

I am one of seven ladies in a group that we call the "Garden Club". Not too much gardening going on right now (and I don't know that but ONLY one or two really gardens ) but you can feel the sunshine and the love when we are together that can produce a lot of beautiful seeds. We are like the different flowers, all with different personalities that makes a beautiful bouquet

when we are together.

They have enriched my life in so many ways thru the years, been there for me all thru my days of chemo, encouraged me with cards, food, phone calls and little acts of kindness that only another silly gal could do. Everyone needs a Garden Club of Friends...........!

And now my heart aches for one of our group--DONNA -- (she is our Rose) as she experiences a major set back in her life. She was diagnosed over a year ago and had the painful surgery for TN (trigeminal neuralgia). It is a neuopathic disorder of the trigeminal nerve that causes episodes of intense pain in the eyes, lips, nose, scalp, forehead, and jaw. Surgery, as I understand it, means going thru the back of skull and clipping a nerve.

It is estimated that 1 in 15,000 people suffer from trigeminal neuralgia, although those numbers may be significantly higher due to frequent misdiagnosis. TN usually develops after the age of 50, more commonly in females, although there have been cases with patients being as young as three years of age . My friend is a female and over 50...(oh, she may not like me telling that!)

The condition can bring about stabbing, mind-numbing, electric shock-like pain from just a finger's glance of the cheek. After her surgery in Sept. 2007, the Drs told her the surgery should last/or could last up to 5 years. Within 3 months, she was back in pain. All it takes is brushing

her teeth, a slight brush of her face while putting on makeup, or even eating...and the pain explodes. Pain medication does not always do the job.

Please pray for our friend--DONNA-- a very fine Christian wife, mother of 2 grown girls, grandmother to 4 young men and a very jovial person whose family is her center. She is so giving, thoughtful and wonderful to be around and we are so sorry that Drs. have not been able to help her. More testing to follow...will keep you posted on results of a follow up Dr. appt this next week.

Please remember our Donna.

Have a great weekend my friends and always GIVE OF YOURSELF!!

~~~ANNIE~~~