Greetings friends.
It has been very quiet here and I am breaking radio silence to ask your prayers / good wishes / positive vibes for Madame Padre.
Longtime readers will know that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last May and underwent chemotherapy through the fall and early winter. She had some good months but sad to say her cancer has returned in an aggressive way. Those of you who follow me on Twitter (@madpadre1) will already know some of this. The cancer blocked her stomach, causing much damage to her bowel. Suffice it to say that Kay has undergone two major surgeries in the last week, and has been in hospital for the last fourteen days. It will be a while before she is strong enough to undergo chemotherapy. Fortunately, Madame’s spirit and kooky sense of humour remain undaunted, as you can see below, when she declared herself ready for tango lessons.
I am finding it hard to concentrate on much else, and have just bade farewell to Madame’s US family, who descended on the house this week and were absolutely marvellous, treating me to American Thanksgiving dinner. Today they headed back south to Dixie, leaving me with a massive smoked turkey. Y’all come by for some.
So my girl is in for a hard fight, but we are ready. The colours are unfurled, the battle line is braced with bayonets fixed and drums beating, and we are asking and giving no quarter. The foe is fell and fierce, but his hard blows and malice will be returned in kind. Hearts shall burn bright and not falter, ere the darkness fall.
If you would be so kind as to leave a message of encouragement, I will read it to her during my next visits. Even the words, prayers and good wishes of strangers encourage her greatly, and she knows I have a great cloud of wargaming witnesses out there.
Blessings to your loved ones. Be good to them.
MP
Sad news to be sure and my best wishes go to you both for the battles ahead. As the First Sword of Bravos tells us, when Death comes for us, look him in the eye and say "Not Yet!"
ReplyDeleteRoss
Our prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteEven though we've never met, our thoughts are with both of you. I am touched by your fight and your courage. Please know that you are not alone.
ReplyDeleteI shall fire many volleys of prayer in support of your fight. May the Lord be with you as you both go forward!
ReplyDeletePadre and Madame,
ReplyDeleteI've been following this story on Facebook. Beth and I are keeping you in our prayers and thoughts, never fear. I'll be praying for you both on Sunday in the liturgy as well. John and Beth
My thoughts are both of you at this time. Fight on to victory!
ReplyDeleteMy very dear friends as I consider you my friends although we haven't met (yet!). It's difficult to express one's feelings when not writing in our native language. Just to say that I was very distressed when I read the news this morning, but I know that you will put a good fight. The Spanish ace Garcia Morato used to cry "Suerte, Vista y al Toro" when engaging in a dogfight (reading something like "watch for the enemy, luck and to the bull") and I hope this warcry inspires you.
ReplyDeleteAnd make sure that after the fight you come to my country to enjoy the healing power of the paella, the sangria and the sun of Spain. My wife and my daughter prayers are with you. Love from the Vera family
All the best wishes to your wife! To paraphrase a song: Praise the Lord and Pass the Medication!
ReplyDeleteI had a word with Oden and there are no tables free in Valhalla for the foreseeable future and that settles it. All will be well and you two will be doing the tango in Stockholm next summer. Looking forward to seeing you.
ReplyDeleteAll my best wishes from Sweden.
Our very best wishes to both of you during this trying time. As in all of life, measure this challenge hour by hour, day by day and take strength in the knowledge that you are in our thoughts and hearts. Curt & Sarah
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts and best wishes are with you both. Your love and support will help defeat this evil.
ReplyDeleteAll the best to both of you, stay strong and keep up the good fight.
ReplyDeleteAll the best to both of you, stay strong and keep up the good fight.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts are with you both, best wishes from us all here. Good luck with the Tango too.
ReplyDeleteI'll be praying for both of you down in Texas. Plant your colors, and yield no ground to the foe!
ReplyDeleteMy prayers are with you both during this most difficult of times. Beating off this foul and hideous thing will be like mastering the Tango, one step at a time, but with love and patience it can be achieved.
ReplyDeleteMad Padre and Madame, wishing you both the strength to fight this thing. Madame, the physical and mental strength to recover and win the coming battle. And for you Padre, the mental strength which you need to stay positive and strong for your wife. Together you can win through.
ReplyDeleteChris
Wishing you all the best, and so very glad to see that humour and love overcomes. I am not a religious man, so I won't promise to keep you in my prayers, but you are in my thoughts and may you have many bright spots on the road.
ReplyDeleteYour love and strength is an example to us all....honored to know you.
ReplyDelete“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10
I am a cancer survivor. I believe in the strength of heart,will and spirit. never lay down your arms and never surrender. In the words of Dylan Thomas "Do not go gentle into that good night" . I took so much strength from that poem... May your will, good fortune and whatever god you believe in be with you in the months to come.
ReplyDeleteMad Padre and Madame P, look forward to seeing you smashing the dance floor with your tango.
ReplyDeleteAll the best. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you both - thinking of you from the other side of the Atlantic.
ReplyDeleteEdward
My thoughts are with you both. Best wishes xx
ReplyDeleteMy prayers are with you both
ReplyDeleteWith love...
ReplyDeletefrom Toowoomba in Australia
Wishing you both all the best from across the pond. Good humour will get you through. Give the enemy hell.
ReplyDeleteA strong brave Lady, from the Deep South of Australia (Tasmania) our thoughts and prayers are with you both! Hang in there, from a land down under.
ReplyDeleteMy heart is with you both in those difficult times! I wish you all the best and it's not the time yet for a final tango dance Mdme.
ReplyDeletePraying you both find much strength and comfort in the difficult days ahead.
ReplyDeleteMy best wishes and prayers are with you both... from the not-so-sunny north of Spain, get well soon Kay!
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts are with you both.
ReplyDeleteKevin
God bless you both.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for your difficult times. My thoughts are with you and your wife. Be gentle with yourself and be sure to take care of yourself.
ReplyDeletePrayers and thoughts from all here at The Duchy of Tradgardland.
ReplyDeleteAlan
Prayers and thoughts from all here at The Duchy of Tradgardland.
ReplyDeleteAlan
Best wishes and thoughts are with you and Kay. Take care.
ReplyDeletePeter
Our thoughts are very much with you both - stay strong and remember you are not alone. With very best wishes indeed, Richard aka Monty Lardo
ReplyDeleteYou are both in our thoughts. Be strong and may your faith comfort you.
ReplyDeleteMy mother-in-law who was diagnosed w ovarian stage 4 cancer, who was given only a 50% chance of surviving the surgery and then only two years more to live if she did, beat the odds and went on to live for a further ten years. So tell your wife to not give up as while there's life there's hope for her. Treatments improve almost daily, and she's gotten through the surgery, so all will be well.
ReplyDeleteInspirational!
Delete"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never... Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to both of you.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteHaving journeyed this path, the situation may seem daunting. Never give up and always take comfort in each other. You and your Madame are in our thoughts.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, my friend.
My thoughts and best wishes are with you. Take care, and give the opponent a hell in this fight.
ReplyDeleteEchoing all the above.... best wishes , thoughts and prayers to you both from the south west of England.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the Tango lessons, I don't do prayers I'm afraid but your both in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
My thoughts are with both of you, but to Madame in particular I say, you didn't start this fight, but you can finish it, so gather your strength and let loose the drugs of war!
ReplyDeleteHang in there Mrs Padre. You're all in our thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteMrs Padre has so much to live for. You, Sir, foremost.
ReplyDeleteWith my deepest respect.
Dear Mike and Kay, My very best wishes and prayers for you both, sent from this little Cotswold town in England. I can also assure you that your tango dancing even now is far better than mine will ever be! Get well soon Kay.
ReplyDeleteWith my very best wishes,
Jason
All the best from West Yorkshire, my thoughts are with you both.
ReplyDeletePositive thoughts and best wishes for you both.
ReplyDeleteLove from nz !
ReplyDeleteDamn Padre, I am so sorry to hear this. My SBNR but heartfelt prayers and positive vibes are with you both. The good news is she must be strong she has put up with a wargamer all these years. One thing remember, she needs you, take care of yourself too. Keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteFatman
PS That picture is a classic, you are a lucky man.
All the best to you both. Thoughts are with you.
ReplyDeleteGood luck and God bless. As someone married to a tanguera, I predict many good times ahead of you. R
ReplyDeleteBest wishes; thinking of you both.
ReplyDeleteWe have never meet, but I feel I do know your husband through his writings. He is a good man and has mobilized the troops and I am one of them, who will be praying for you each night at our services. Love to both of you and do not give up.
ReplyDeleteJonathan
So many have already writing such good words but my best wishes, thoughts and prayers go out to you both.
ReplyDeleteAke Ake Kia Kaha to you both mate.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a touching picture. The love you have for each other is palpable. Love will be your strength. And boy it certainly seems you have plenty of it in your arsenal.
ReplyDeleteHere's looking forward to your posting of a picture of you both tangoing across the dance floor.
Thoughts are with you both, here's to the future and may it involve a lot of close together quicksteps.
ReplyDeleteHi Kay and Michael, our very best wishes, strength and prayers to you both at this time. Just keep looking to the future, and thinking of what wonderful times you're both going to have once you are in good health again. Our house is your house also - and we look forward to welcoming both of you whenever you're next in town. Best, Adam
ReplyDeleteThomas N said "All will be well and you two will be doing the tango in Stockholm next summer."
ReplyDeleteYep! My wife will go dancing with Mrs Padre and Thomas and I will take you to the club for a game or three.
I'm not much for prayers but I hope with all my heart that you will both come out of this in good shape. Take care you two.
Michael - my hopes and affectionate best wishes go with you both - together you have great strength - if there is comfort, this must be the heart of it.
ReplyDeleteWell confounded piles of manure. This wasn't what I had hoped to be reading here at all. Nope not at all. I had hoped that the last cancerous adventure had been Madame Padre's last. Not meant to be though.
ReplyDeleteAs has been said far more eloquently than my fumbling verbiage by better commentors than I, warmest of well-wishes to the good lady. Love and love to you both once again through this troublesome experience - overcome it and thrive, please.
I have a friend who survived male breast cancer and he described fighting every day.
ReplyDeleteHe went to his mail box every day, looked at the sun and expressed his willingness to fight like the former tanker he is. You've both been around the military so you can guess the language used.
I wish you both the best.
So sorry to hear of this Michael, my thoughts are with you and the Madame, and I hope faith and the good work of the doctors and nurses see you both through this.
ReplyDeleteChris (of the Scarborough 6mm group)