Called for a recount - no hanging chads, we swear

JIM HAS RECEIVED 929 CARDS!

In our wildest dreams, we never expected that he'd receive so many cards. Jim's heard from people all over the country, in other countries, and right in our own backyard. As long as I live, I'll never forget the generosity that people have shown us. We've received cards from schools, church groups, relatives, relatives of relatives, friends, friends of friends, pets of friends, sorority sisters, and people we can't figure out how they found out.

Jim's father recently wrote to one of the little local papers, The Sheboygan Sun. Because of that article, we've heard from the hospital nurses, friends, and other colon cancer survivors that live in Sheboygan.

How will we ever thank the community?
How will we ever repay the relatives and friends that have given us so much?
How will we ever thank all the people who took a moment to pray for us and send us a card?
These are questions I ask myself every day. I wish I could write to everyone that has sent us a card, said a prayer, babysat, cooked a meal, or called. People have reached out to us in a plethora of ways.

Here's the article that Jim's Dad wrote to the paper. I think he sums it up best when he notes that he believes the reason we were meant to move to this community was for the wonderful support network and quality of care. I believe we can beat it.

A Big Thank You to the Community

Early this fall my son at 37 years old, who is now living in Kohler, was diagnosed with a stage 4 colon cancer. A young father, wife Kate, and two young children Rachel, age 3, and Jake, 4 months. Questions and concerns raced through my mind. Cancer, that dreaded word. Why him, why us, what about the kids, what next?

Jim and Kate moved from the Atlanta area to Kohler, Wisconsin, late last year. Where is Kohler? What is Sheboygan? How do I get there from Rochester, New York, conveniently? Before I could hop on a direct flight on AirTran from Rochester to Atlanta relatively cheaply, now what? Then the “Cancer”. The phone call... the plans, how do we get to Kohler quickly, let’s drive, we need a car there to go to and from the hospital.

We arrived at the Sheboygan Hospital and were so pleased with the care and concern the nursing staff exhibited during his operation and stay. The reports he has given us of the concern for his well-being by the VLCC staff. The Kohler community and their support of Jim and his family. The Lord moves in mysterious ways and now I know the reason that they moved, that God knew for Jim to beat his cancer he was sent to a place that would provide that support. Jim has had 6 weeks of extensive chemo treatments with a lot more to go but the latest report is that the tumors have started to shrink.

Thank you Kohler and Sheboygan for your support for my son.

Jim Marventano
West Henrietta, N.Y.