from 1998
              PERSONAL NOTE:
                         I AM DUE FOR NECK AND THROAT SURGERY ON OCT. 22, 1998  IN PITTSBURGH I SHOULD BE  IN THE  HOSPITAL 7 DAYS. AS   SOON AS I CAN SET UP AND TYPE I'II TRY TO GIVE AN UPDATE.   THANK ALL WHO HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT MY
                        ILLNESS.  CAROLYN SHOULD BE WITH ME THE FIRST FEW DAYS.

10-26-98  I'M BACK, UNDER GOOD DOPE WITH 31 STEEL CLAMPS IN MY THROAT BUT WITH NO "TRAC". THE
SURGERY WENT VERY WELL AND DIDN'T EVEN TAKE AS LONG AS THEY THOUGHT.  MUST TAKE MED EVER 4
HOURS AND CAN'T SLEEP AT NIGHT BUT FEEL VERY LUCKY.  THE MANY PRAYS OUT THEIR AND THE HANDS ON
HEALING OF ROBERT PEYTON MUST HAVE DONE IT.
AT THE VERY END OF MY PAGE ARE A FEW PIC'S OF THE SURGERY THEY ARE VERY BLOODY AND SHOULD NOT
BE LOOKED AT WITH A WEAK HEART.

11-04-98
Thanks for all the mail reference my "ca" surgery. I went back to PA. 11-3 to have my 30+ staples  removed and get test results. Lets
just say the staples can out just fine. As for biopsy some of the lymph  nodes had "ca" with some of them leaking cells out. (problemly
not a good sign). I don't know if it was the  11 hour trip to PA or something else, but it was (or is since it's 0415) a painful night.
tomorrow will be better. Will start radiation in a few weeks as soon as I heal more. Well I just wanted to let a few of you
know my status and thanks for caring. jw

11-13-98
THANKS FOR ALL THE CARDS AND E-MAIL.  SLEEPING BETTER AT NIGHT ONLY UP TO TAKE PAIN MEDS. 2-3 TIMES PER NIGHT
AND THEN BACK TO SLEEP.  WENT TO CA- MD IN BECKLEY TODAY TO SCH. RADIATION TO START ON NOV. 30 FOR ABOUT 35
TREATMENTS.   NO  KEMO.!!!  HE STATES  90% SUCCESS RATE.   GOING TO TRY TO HUNT FIRST 2 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING
WEEK.  STILL TRYING TO GET OFF CODEINE AND ONLY TAKING ABOUT 1/2 THE TIME,  SUB. NONASPRIN WHEN I CAN.

12-7-98
complete 3 radation treament today, hope i do better that the 1st 2 which made my face, neck, tongue swell.  i dont' think the md
beleived me about this.  My tongue is still numb on right and the tip feels like it's burnt, i hope this goes away soon.  my stomach gets
upset with food, which i hope i can change, but with loosing my taste buds soon food may not matter much anyway.   by the way were
open, Carol can myke sure your orders get out, we need the business, we made $3.00 today before expences.  still have my demo amb.
van for sale down to $39, 000.00  new truck but is a 1996 model, please help if you can.

12-15-98
8 radiation treatments down and 27 to go.  I got my 2 month sore throat on sat. which makes eating anything hard to do.   Was told
today I have been losing to much weight, just hard to eat.  Friday I go back to Pittsburgh to see the surgery M.D.  Thanks to all who
sent cards and e-mail.  Hope you all have many merry  holidays ahead.

2/21/99
FINISHED MY TREATMENTS ON 2/9 BUT STILL HAVE SOME SIDE EFFECTS OF MOUTH SORES, LAGGE TONGUE, NO MOUTH MOISTURE
AND NO TASTE BUDS.  STILL ON SOUPS AND HAVE LOST 60 LBS SINCE NOV.  BUT GOING TO BET BETTER SOON.  TRYING TO DO A
LITTLE BUSINESS MY SAVING ARE ABOUT GOING AND HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY INSURANCE CO. THEY ARE TRYING TO CANCEL
AND NOT PAY FOR ANY OF MY "CA" WHICH WILL BE ABOUT $40K!!!  SO NEED ANY MEDS SUPPLIES OF EQUIPMENT I AM OPEN FOR
BUSINESS.  STILL HAVE A DEMO AMB. WITH 5500 MILES  FOR $39,000.  THANKS FOR CHECKING ON ME.  JW

8-30-1999  doing well lost 85# so far.  neck swells at night which makes my tongue swell which rubs my teeth and makes my tongue sore.  most food and pop burn my mouth.  my neck is stiff and burns on the right side.  I can only riase my right arm (hand) as high as the top of my head.  I have a dry mouth so all foods must be real moist.  these are my problems, which are small to me and I am above ground.  hope to get better.  they say if the CA don't come back by winter I have a 70% chance of not get it again and if I go till next winter I have a 97% chance of it not coming back!!!!!  thanks for checking on me.  jw

OCT. 1999 215 LBS.  50 YEARS OLD