Today was a difficult day.

We met with Lynn’s oncologist this afternoon. There we got the official word that the chemo hasn’t worked, and they’ve run out of any meaningful tools to fight the cancer further. It has, as you imagine, spread extensively through her liver, and the prospects are, quite simply, not favorable. We all understand–and accept–that it just isn’t going to go our way this time.

As such, we are beginning home hospice care tomorrow. We will set up a hospital bed in our living room and begin to have regular visits by a home hospice nurse. The objective in this case is to provide Lynn some level of comfort as this chapter in our lives comes to a close.

At this point, it is difficult to provide any time frames. I am guessing we will understand more once we get the visit from the hospice nurse tomorrow. In looking at the information they provided us, though, and in talking today to both the hospice nurse and Lynn’s oncology nurse, it looks (by way of Lynn’s current symptoms) that we’re solidly in the 1-2 weeks column.

Based on that, I am going to go ahead and suspend the visitation calendar concept. Instead, I will simply post on this web site days where Lynn is able to accept visitors. If we’ve already agreed to a day and time next week, please feel free to still stop by. Right now, however, I am reserving the bulk of next week for Lynn’s brothers and sisters who are coming in from out of town to see her.

Also, I want to make certain that Zach and Sydney get to spend plenty of time with their mom. That means on days when she CAN accept visitors, I would like to limit the times to 9 am to 3 pm. I am going to pretty much reserve the evenings for family time.

I know this is hard news to read. Know, though, that we’re okay…hanging in there. We’ve shed plenty of tears, yes. But mostly, we’re celebrating.

I will share with you now what I’ve shared so many times over the past days and weeks… The True Family–we’re not humanists. We believe that–regardless of what a particular individual might call it–it’s Paradise on the other side. And we believe we’ll see our beloved wife and mom again someday. We only cry now because we’ll miss her…for now.

Yet, when all is said and done, my beautiful wife’s beautiful and amazing life is one to be celebrated. Time and time again I get testimonials from people about how Lynn’s courage and example have transformed their lives. That their lives are better for having known her. Dozens of ’em! Hundreds! How many people who live on this earth twice as long can claim that?

I’ve always said that my wife exists on another plane. And I don’t mean that as in insult! I’ve also thought (and said) that she’s an angel trapped in human form. Though I weep, I know–REALLY KNOW–that nothing as beautiful as her can remain tethered to this mortal coil for too long. It is, plain and simple, not the way of things.

I know that she is needed elsewhere, to bestow her blessings and peace on someone else who needs her more than we do. And so, for me, all I can do is stand here in awe of her and feel like the luckiest guy in the world that I got to spend 19 wonderful years with her. And that I get to live on with her in the form of the two beautiful children that we made and raised together.

And, of course, I believe that she will continue to be here, as our very own guardian angel, looking over us as we continue to live on in this world.

So…cry if you need. It’s okay. We’re doing it, too. But please…PLEASE! Don’t despair. I ask you now to join my family and me in celebration. For soon my Lynn will hurt no more, and her work here will be done. Soon she’ll be with God in Paradise. And this old world? It will be be much better for her having been here.

All our love,
Bill, Lynn, Sydney, and Zachary

NOTE TO ALL TRUE LIFERS — I owe all of you an apology for my long and unexplained absence. That is, however, for another day. Please read the following letter I sent out to about a bijillion people earlier today. I promise that my posting will resume now…and new and improved, I hope.

Take care… B

—-

Dear Family & Friends,

I apologize for using the mass medium of e-mail to communicate with all of you. Several folks have inquired about Lynn’s condition and the condition of the family overall, and this seems like the best tool to let everyone know what’s going on with us.

For those of you who haven’t heard, Lynn’s cancer returned again last November. The bad news (first) is that it returned with a vengeance. It is very aggressive this time, and has had her more or less down since the latter part of December. She has experienced a lot of pain and discomfort from the cancer in and around her liver, particularly as a result of her live becoming enlarged as well as the constant gathering of fluid in her abdomen and pleura. She also gets tired very easily. When she’s not qi gonging, she’s probably napping.

Her doctors have been able to start her (and, more importantly) keep her on a new type of chemotherapy over the past month-and-a-half. This has, if anything, stabilized her condition some and provided her some relief.

On the side of being realistic, however, they also know that this chemo isn’t a cure. Their goal now is to buy as much time as possible without making that time a living hell for Lynn, that is, balancing quantity with quality. Their take is, as you can imagine, that we are pretty far down the continuum. Her doctors know that they are running out of tools in their tool chest.

But enough of that…for the good news!

The good news is that—have you met my wife?!?

Lynn inextinguishable hope and spirit remains alive and well. I learned a long time ago never to count her out, as she is the epitome of the saying “it ain’t over till it’s over.” And though we know the cards we’re holding aren’t the best hand, Lynn is still is determined to play it out.

So that’s what we’re going to do. We are presently exploring a couple of other options for wellness, and hopefully they will pan out. We’ll see. For now, we’re taking things day by day.

That said, things are generally okay at the True household. Obviously, it has been a very stressful past few months. Lynn, however, has managed to maintain a terrific and winning attitude, despite the obstacles put before her. The kids, Sydney and Zachary, continue to weather the storm with grace and class. They are really quite amazing, in fact. Though we know we’re in for an increasingly rougher ride, we’re all hanging in there. We’re living each day according to our family motto: “The Trues bend, but they don’t break.”

Throughout this journey, we’ve been tremendously blessed to have a wonderful community of friends and family around us. I hope all of you realize how much your support has sustained us, especially in the past year-and-a-half. I can honestly say that we wouldn’t have made it this far without you, and for that we are eternally grateful.

As a result of your efforts, miracles—the real life kind—have popped up everywhere. Lynn got to China in November of 2003. We had a terrific 2004, where Lynn enjoyed a great spell of good health and our family some of the best family time we’ve ever had. Our kids have been happy and healthy, and I was able to spend much of the summer in New York working on realizing my dream as the movie based on my screenplay, RUNAWAY, wrapped shooting in late September.

I mean…wow..! Sometimes, when I think about it too much, I get overwhelmed. Mostly, however, in these turbulent times, when I am tempted to feel like there’s little hope for our world, I simply remember the outpouring of love and support all of you have shown to our family, and I realize that love and care and compassion truly exist. And it is then in that realization that my faith in humanity is buoyed.

Anyway…enough of my maudlin prattle. Then again, you know me. I simply wanted to say thank you.

On top of that, several of you have been asking what they can do to help. For a change, I thought that I should get a little organized, myself, because it turns out right now there is quite a lot folks can do. Therefore, I thought that I would get my act together and get organized (for a change), and actually tell people what we need for a change, as opposed to leaving it all to guesswork.

So, here goes…

1.) TUESDAY NIGHT MEALS & “LYNNIE-SITTING” – In the spirit of “sure, Bill can heap that onto his plate, too!” I am taking a couple of classes at the University of MN. Before Lynn got sick again, we realized that I had a unique space of time—before the movie comes out and (hopefully) I become a busy screenwriting beaver—where I might get those last two pesky classes out of my way and—don’t faint!—get my bachelor’s degree.

My TUESDAY class runs from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and I need someone each of these nights to bring over a meal, take Zach to his basketball games (which run for about an hour), and generally sit with Lynn to make certain she’s okay.

I also have class on MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, and FRIDAY afternoons. I need to be gone for this class between 1:00 PM and 4:00-5:00 PM. During these times, I need someone to be here, make lunch for Lynn, and sit with her.

If you think that you might be able to help out with this a time or two, I will post a link to a calendar on Lynn’s CaringBridge website page. Take a look at the calendar. If you think you can help out on a particular day, send me an e-mail at wtrue@mn.rr.com). If you could, please put the words HELPING LYNN in the subject line, so I can keep these messages out of the ocean of other ones sloshing around in my inbox.

2.) LYNN’S SUPPLEMENTS – A lot of people have asked whether we could use some financial help. We’re generally doing okay. Until that “Standard Rich & Famous Contract” comes my way, though, we currently don’t have a lot of wiggle room each month.

On of the things that Lynn feels has helped here a lot is a set of supplements from a company called Mannatech. That’s the good news. The not-so-good news is that these supplements set us back over $400 each month.

Apparently, folks can go on the Mannatech website and donate funds toward a particular customer’s account. Lynn & I will be completing whatever set up we need to in order to make this available for anyone who wants to help out in this way. We will try to have a link to this page on Lynn’s CaringBridge website on or before Tuesday, the 15th.

If you are interested in doing this, but don’t see the link on Lynn’s CaringBridge website, send me an email at wtrue@mn.rr.com with the words SUPPLEMENTS FOR LYNN in the subject line. I will e-mail you back the link as soon as we get everything set up on the Mannatech website.

3.) MEALS – You betcha! Every day I don’t have to cook is a good day! Actually, those of you who know me know that I love to cook, but right now it get a little strenuous to do it every night AND attempt to get everything else done, too.

If you think you might like to drop a meal over sometime, feel free! I will note the nights we could use meals on the calendar on Lynn’s CaringBridge website. Simply send me an e-mail at wtrue@mn.rr.com with the words MEALS FOR LYNN on the subject line.

3.) DONATE TO THE 3DAY – I am VERY touched and proud to say the TEAM TRUE LOVE walking club, which was named in honor of Lynn, raised nearly $40,000 last year to help in the fight against breast cancer! Well, we’re doin’ it again this year, too.

Please go to my fundraising page at to make a donation or—better yet!—join us on the walk in June! The team has already raised $3,000, but we still have a long way to go. PLEASE donate generously to this cause, so we can wipe out this disease and save other families from the havoc it wreaks on their lives.

4.) PRAY – Please keep Lynn in your prayers. Believe me when I say that we have felt the power of all they prayers and good vibrations sent our way from all over the world. Even more important, pray for peace and understanding and tolerance and healing in the world, for that is what Lynn is dedicated to. You can help her mission by talking to the man up stairs about it.

5.) VISIT LYNN – If you haven’t had a chance to see Lynn in a while, she would love it if you stopped over sometime. Each day or so, we will be posting when it’s a good day or a not-so-good day to stop by.

If you think you might like to pay us a little visit, it would be great if you could give me a heads up at wtrue@mn.rr.com and put VISITING LYNN in the subject line. That way, I can make certain everyone gets a chance to see her while not overwhelming her with visitors on any given day.

From here on out, we will be keeping Lynn’s CaringBridge website updated on a daily (or every other day) basis. Keep checking in for up-to-date information about Lynn’s condition and for information about other stuff that might help us out as we make our way through this time.

Again…thank you to you all! We love you, and we wish you all peace and happiness.

Take care, and God bless,

Bill, Lynn, Sydney, and Zachary
(…and Elvis, Minnie, and Hunter, too!)