Thanks for your support

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

Thank you for sharing the events of this past weekend with your family as

prepared to leave. I struggle with my own emotions as I read your email

thinking about Austin, as well. You are such a fortunate family to have each

other, and what is the nicest blessing is that I think you each realize and

know that. Many other families do also, but they do not seem to understand the

power of that love. You do, and are so willing to share those heartfelt

moments in your posts.

Please know that you are deeply appreciated and loved.

Karyn E. , RN

Executive Director, PAI

Indianapolis, Indiana

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I just wanted to thank all of you who have been so kind to send your

best wishes and show your concern for my son, , and me, as he

prepares for his tour in Iraq. He won't actually start on the 25 hour

flight that takes him overseas until the 14th, but the farewells we

made at the Savannah airport today were the last time we see him until

he returns next year. Austin, Bob and I held our composure pretty

well today, but that last phone call on the 14th will probably be a

tearful one.

We had a great family weekend, doing nothing particularly special

except enjoying our time together. All the males went water skiing

and knee boarding while my daughter and I watched from the dock on

Sunday afternoon, and then we went inside and feasted on my Mexican

chicken casserole. The dinner was hugely popular...there weren't even

any leftovers to stash away, and my SIL asked me to give my

recipes for everything I served, so that made all efforts well worth

it. The chicken casserole was low-fat, but had so many yummy things in

it, sour cream, cream cheese, mexican cheese, chilis, spices,

tortillas, etc., that one couldn't tell it was low fat at all, and no

one woke up in the middle of the night with swollen bellies!

My panc. held up pretty well except for the disturbances earlier from

eating shaghetti and lasagne. Talk about swollen bellies!!! Even 97%

lean, well drained hamburger is still a challenge for me, and not one

that I can repeat often.

I mentioned your well wishes to , and after four years with the

PAI, he knows that my friends here are my " other " family, so he asked

me to say " thank you " , from him. Your well wishes or prayers are most

appreciated.

I just wanted to thank you again for caring.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

Bluffton, SC

SC State & SE Regional Representative

Pancreatitis Association, International

Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and should

not be substituted for professional medical consultation.