Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to DECEMBER . Hope you have an awesome and grateful month!

Saturday, February 11, 2023




Dear Blog Friends, Many many PRAYERS needed.   See this cute little blue-eyed boy ?????   His name is BERT (although he goes by Tre  these days) and he is my oldest (of 3) sons... He is only 59 years old,  and was diagnosed recently with a very RARE and DEADLY Stage IV Thyroid Cancer with NO CURE..   


This cancer is one of the worst cancers since it grows very fast and then spreads all over one’s body.  Usually Thyroid Cancer is the ‘simple’ cancer which can be treated and cured.   Not this one.   This cancer is named ANAPLASTIC THYROID CANCER.


Here’s a website if you want to read about it...

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23539-anaplastic-thyroid-cancer-atc



As you can imagine,  this is devastating news to me and to our family.   It came up suddenly since we have only been dealing with this since Jan. 24.  I spent two days crying my heart out --and finally,  with lots of love from my husband,  have been able to turn it  over to God.   I have told several friends --but just haven’t been able to tell this  publicly until now... (Makes it real).


Bert has a large mass/tumor on his thyroid and surrounding glands.  He also has spots on his lung.  They can’t surgically remove that tumor since it is wrapped  around other  surrounding glands;  and removing it may do even more damage.   Right now the doctors’ primary interest is to give him radiation to try to shrink that tumor.


We are not sure how long we will have this precious boy (man) on this earth with us  since that cancer grows and spreads so quickly--but George and I and the family will love and keep him as happy as possible for these next months/years.    The picture above was taken this past year while Bert and Mark were at a University of Tennessee football game.


I will say that my other two sons (Mark and Jeff) have been fantastic through this past month (taking Bert to doctor’s appointments,  keeping  him in their homes,  etc.).  I don’t know what I’d do without Mark and Jeff and their beautiful  supportive wives (Robin and Dawn).   Thanks for your prayers and thoughts.  If you have questions --message me  or text me at 931-200-5933.   Today,  tell your loved ones how much you love them, since none of us know how long we will be on this earth.   God’s Blessings to all of you.



Much Love,


BETSY and GEORGE