"God Will Provide - but probably not this way!"

I have been asked by a couple of people to give an update on how I am doing. The amyloidosis was originally detected when I had complaints of (edema) swelling in my ankles and legs. I was gaining significant amounts of weight in my lower extremities. My doctors prescribed a diuretic to get rid of the excess fluid. Unfortunately, the medicine and the disease caused me to become dehydrated. I passed out in November and was hospitalized for a couple of days and given fluid (yes, that does sound contradictory for someone retaining fluid.) When my care was transferred to Moffitt, the doctors there took me off the diuretic, feeling it is more important to stay healthy for the bone marrow transplant. My legs swell and one of my nurses commented that I have “Popeye legs.” My hands also swell and I have had to stop wearing my wedding ring for fear that I will not be able to get it off.
While I still have fatigue associated with the disease, fatigue is much better than dehydration. (I take a lot of naps these days.) Other than the swelling and fatigue, I feel pretty good most days. Because I do feel pretty good, I often ask Patra, “Why are we doing this?”

“God will provide – but probably not this way!”

We are in the process of shutting down the business for several months while I have the bone marrow biopsy and recuperate. That is hard to do. It’s hard because I really love my job. I look forward to going to work. I enjoy the people I work with. (OK, in an effort to be totally honest, there may be a few people that I enjoy less than the others.) I love being a mediator and helping resolve disputes.

Plus, there is the additional fact that when the doors aren’t open, there is no income coming in.

I confess that occupies some of my thoughts.

But, WOW, did I get great news in an email today. A woman I have never met, who lives in Benin, in West Africa, emailed me today about an interesting business proposal. Apparently her late husband was very wealthy. She is not doing too well. (I’m not sure how she found out about me, but Emily did go on a mission trip to Benin in 2001 - maybe she met Emily and remembers her.)
In any event, she wants to send me US $7,500,00.00 (Seventy Thousand, Five Hundred, US Dollars.) - I know that doesn’t match but I’m impressed that with English not being her first language, she was able to compose the letter as well as she did. Also, either way, that is more money than I would have made in the next three months had I kept working.

So, it looks like my worries are over. WAIT A MINUTE. I just got another email. This time from someone in the United Kingdom – I’ve been selected again. So sad, she also lost her husband, a banker, in the Benin government – what a coincidence. WOW! $20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million US Dollars) This will be so easy, she gave me a code and I can get the money at “ANY ATM MACHINE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.”

I may never need to work again.

God will provide, but probably not this way!

Bob