In this section of the web site, we shared information that we had on Lynette's medical condition and other developments relative to her activities and treatment. 

December 15th, 2004: 

Lynette tests positive for breast cancer cells at the Orthodox Diagnostic Clinic in Tirana, Albania.  She is advised by her physician, Dr. Charles Linderman, to leave Albania immediately to begin medical treatment in the United States.

December 30th, 2004:

Lynette arrives at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota to begin a battery of tests to ascertain the type and severity of her breast cancer.

January 5th , 2005:

Lynette undergoes surgery to remove the tumor and some lymph nodes.  The surgery goes smoothly and the removed tissue is sent to the laboratory for further analysis.

January 7th , 2005:

Lynette returns from the hospital to her parents house in Plainview, Minnesota and is resting comfortably.  There will be another series of tests this upcoming week.

January 10th , 2005:

Doctors take tissue samples from Lynette's spine and liver.  While the liver was negative, the bone biopsy from the spine was positive for cancer.

January 14th , 2005:

Lynette returns to the hospital because of an infection in the area where doctors had previously operated.

January 18th , 2005:

Lynette is discharged from the hospital.  She is scheduled to meet the oncologist on Friday, January 22nd.

January 25th , 2005:

From the meeting with the oncologist, a course of treatment was decided upon.  Because of the type and position of the cancer in her spine, it was decided that chemotherapy would not be an effective treatment and would cause significant negative side effects.   Lynette will undergo daily radiation therapy for the next two weeks.  These treatments last for about five minutes each and there are no serious side effects.  The objective of these treatments is to stop the growth of the cancer in her spine and hopefully, to shrink it.

The doctors will wait for three months after these treatments and then do a complete CAT scan to see if there has been any additional spreading of the cancer.  They are also perscribing hormones to stop the production of estrogen in her system, as they think the distribution of estrogen is what was spreading the cancer.

February 21th , 2005:  

After struggling for several weeks with an infection on her operation site, Lynette is feeling much stronger.  Also, the fatigue that she has experienced as a result of her radiation has lessened.  For now, she is feeling well enough that Nathan has sheduled a trip to Albania for one week.  He will arrive an March 1, and all of us here in Albania will rejoice in seeing him again.   

March 2nd to March 10th , 2005:

Nathan visited Albania during this week.  He never stopped working, visting, and pastoring to the people who depend on him and Lynette here in Albania.  From the Archbishop Anastasios, to the other Orthodox missionaries he leads, to all the Albanians he works with and supports; Nathan tirelessly spent time with everybody.  All of us here in Albania that were touched by his visit are grateful for our precious time with him.

March 12th , 2005:

Lynette is attending a cancer seminar in Colorado.  The purpose of the seminar is to allow people who are suffering from cancer to come together and exchange information/experiences, learn the latest developments in cancer treatment, and support each other.  We pray that this is a fruitful experience for Lynette as she explores other avenues of treatment beyond standard medicine.

Lord, hear our prayers.