Joe Martin’s lymphoma situation

Arlene Kitchin Martin, who lives on Treasure Island, Florida with husband Joe Martin, Class of 1959, provides an update on Joe’s medical situation:

Joe Martin

“Joe needs all the prayers you have. We spent today at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. They have an impressive track record, and we feel good about using them. Joe will start a plan of treatment as soon as they can test for the type of lymphoma he has. The good news is: it is slow-growing. So, we are sure he will do well.”

Joe, a professional photographer, had strokes in March and lung surgery last month at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Florida. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph system caused by the body’s cells behaving abnormally.

Joe and Arlene, an artist, show up at the Monongah High Alumni Reunion/Sarasota at the home of Bill Meredith, Class of 1957, and wife Roleta, a Clarksburg Washington Irving High grad.

The third annual MHS Alumni Reunion at the Meredith home in Sarasota will be noon Friday, Feb. 6, 2015. There were reunions in 2012 and 2013, but none in 2014 while Bill recovered from surgery.

Bill and wife Roleta host at their home at 3201 Charles MacDonald Drive in Sarasota. If you'll be near Sarasota Feb. 6, 2015, let John Olesky know at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com so that Roleta will know how much food to have ready.

Paula and I will be staying in The Villages, Florida from January through March of 2015, except for heading down to Siesta Key and Sarasota Feb. 5-9 to take in the MHS reunion at the Meredith home and the Greek Festival at St. Barbara's Church in Sarasota Feb. 7.

If you're within a short day drive of The Villages in January through March 2015, call me at (330) 388-4466 and we'll have a mini-Monongah meeting there, too.

Meanwhile, let’s send a lot of Lions prayers to Joe and Arlene.