Many of you are familiar with the tragedy that has befallen my wife Katie Point Smith and me. In July, we were blessed with the news that we were expecting our first child after many months of fertility treatments. Two months into the pregnancy, Katie was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer, extremely rare in someone who is only thirty-two years old. Though the average life expectancy after diagnosis is six months, her doctors anticipated that she would have much less time. She subsequently lost the baby at 15 weeks. After a courageous battle, Katie passed peacefully with the grace, dignity and strength she demonstrated throughout her life. She can now cherish motherhood with our baby and the Lord while waiting for me to come Home.
Every 15 minutes an American is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Being diagnosed is like getting a death sentence because there is no cure. It has a 99% one-year mortality rate and it is estimated that over 33,000 Americans will die from this 4th leading cause of cancer death in 2006. It is appalling that in 2005 the National Cancer Institute spent a mere $66 million dollars out of their $4.825 billion budget to research and fight this disease. The only way to provide a future for pancreatic cancer patients is through awareness and pressure for the NCI and government to focus more resources into research and treatments. If you do not feel comfortable contributing online, donations can be sent in memory of Katie to PanCAN,
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