This message is in order for me to say goodbye.

As some of you know, I been battling stage IV cancer for over 5 years. Last year I came close to dying, but due to other complications caused by my cancer, not the cancer itself. The five year survival rate for my cancer is less than 10% but somehow I've made it to almost 6 years. I may get to six(September) but not much further.

To make a long story short, the metastisis is now in another major organ of mine. There are almost no treatment options left, and my doctors have advised my wife to start looking into hospice care. My docs didn't think I'd make it to 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 or 2007 but this time they appear to be right. I look to have anywhere from 2 to 6 more months left. I'm planning to enjoy them.

I've made arrangements for my wife and three children. They won't be rich, but will be able to live adequately after I'm gone. The news has been a big shock to them all. Maybe most of all to my oldest daughter

My wife and I have three living children, Jenni being the oldest. I'm not her biological father, Jenni was adopted at age 6 by my wife and I after first being our goddaughter. Jenni is a second cousin of my wife.

Jenni and I have always been close. She lost her mother when she was four, and her bio dad gave her up to me and my wife. Being given away by her father, Jenni became close to me. I'm very proud of my little girl, who is a junior in college now and studying to be a doctor.

Now that my cancer looks to be terminal, its been upsetting for Jenni. She lost her birth mom to cancer, now its my turn.

Some of the relationship Jenni and I have, I poured into my latest tale. The relationship Loc had with her adoptive Mom, some ways resembling mine with my daughter. I've used my life experiences in several of my stories.

My wife and Jenni know I write, and have read some of my stories. The absence of nookie in my last story can be traced back to them reaing the story. I may have been hit over the head with something if I'd done otherwise. LOL.

Steve Zink is working on one story for me at the moment. I may just tell him to publish it, warts and all. The story needs re-writes that I don't feel up to at present. I have one other story 90% finished. I may or may not finish it. I poured alot into my last story and it wasn't much appreciated. Not very many comments, and some who did comment took shots at the story without bothering to read what I wrote. I won't waste any more time. What time I have left is too precious.

Basically the bottom line is- Life and my family have been good to me. The same goes to some of the people at this forum or the TG fiction list. Steve Z, Shalimar and Hypatia come to mind but there are others and I say thank you and farewell.

Danielle