I think an update is in order ...long overdue. Thank you for your well wishes rose friends :-) I am doing so well weight wise - have lost 110 pounds and I am getting in better shape every month, by running, biking, swimming and weight training. I have had no complications from the surgery what so ever (Yet?) - I take my vitamin supplements and I eat very healthy - smaller portions than before. I just do not tolerate sugar - it makes me really sick (metabolic dumping syndrome - heart races - I sweat and get nausea - so I stay clear of foods with too much sugar). But loosing weight has also made me regain myself or discower new sides of myself. I have had to work hard on healing years of sexual and physical abuse as a boy - since I have become more in touch with my feelings - my core self - and it has been rough and not always pretty as roses in may. I was assaulted and it retraumatized me and gave me anxiety problems and the court case was tiresome ...to have him sent to jail. For a while I coped by drinking way too much - so I had to bite the dust and admit - that I had to quit drinking - that it was no way to cope with emotions running up and down ... it has taken and still take some therapy ...but I feel better and stronger and more grounded. I am looking for a bigger house ... so I am in between gardens - At least I will be able to keep my rented allotment gardens I use for cutting roses, propagation and veggies/herbs. It is spring so I work my butt off preparing the soil, building raised beds - but it is nice. Most new roses I buy this year I will grow in pots - so I can take them with me to the new house and garden (When I find one I can afford) and I hope that the garden will not be too shaded ...since it will limit the number of roses I can grow. I really look forward to the spring flush - 8 weeks and the roses will start blooming and 10 weeks - peak bloom! Ahh ... (hope the weather behaves the 3-4 weeks they peak!). I do the last pruning and weed these days ... I have not blogged about roses and gardening ... I have had to prioritize and work on the issues I mentioned. Roselvr: Yes - it is important to find a good surgeon that specializes in WLS surgery. And yes there is a risk of complications - but the chances of of improwing life quality is much better - and far out-weighs the risk of complications - most of which can be managed. But all surgery has risks of complications ... Doug - How blessed I was - to be able to meet you in Iowa. I often think of you and your wife and hope you are doing well - and that your rabbits do not eat all your roses. Hugs! Ingrid: If you have read this far - you probably understand why I have not posted much - but just read and lurked here on the forums the last year. The reason you have not seen pictures of me as a big guy - was that I was very good at avoiding camera lenses :-) I will post a before and after picture - this summer. Alida - Sure I remember you! I hope you and Gerbe are doing well - even though I must say that rose does not repeat well - I still love the scent of the flowers.

From Bradley's Carepage: From dad: I was praying with Angie's favorite Priest up here and in the middle of praying Bradley said "mom"! He actually opened his mouth and said mom. I said, "did you hear that" and as I was asking, "did you hear that" he said it again, "mom". I grabbed my phone and started to call Angie and he said it again.The nurse, the Priest, and myself all heard him say it so I'm not crazy, well......not about this anyways.Angie and I shared some tears before I let her go. He has showed some miracles improvements over the last couple of days, he truly is a miracle! Other news doesn't seem as important, but it is.His cat scan looked great, so they will be installing his shunt sometime on Wednesday.I will be here for that.No way am I going to be gone for any more surgery's!He also got to ride in a stroller(hospital type stroller) and the physical therapy people made him make some decisions on where to go and what to do while they were pushing him along.Today has been AMAZING! I would be....inconsiderate to say the least if I were not say thank you to all of you wonderful people out there praying for him.YOU and GOD are truly making a miracle, so....KEEP IT UP! Please and thank you. Sincerely, Dad P.S. I love all of you! They do have bracelets and T-shirts for fund raisers...besides the big chili supper and silent auction/raffle on March 5. Patti...I understand your feeling, and agree. But, they do have 3 other young children. They have vehicle and mortgage payments plus normal bills that still have to be made also. Angie has been off since this all started over 3 weeks ago. She is only putting in the minimum hours so they can keep the medical insurance. She is waiting to use the Medical Family Leave (I believe that is what it is called) for further down the road. Here is a link that might be useful: Bradleys-story.com T-shirts & bracelets

I don't always respond to your posts about Bradley, because I just don't know what to say. But I do keep him in my night prayers and now, I'll pray for the surgeon, too. Bless him for not giving up on the little guy.

They had a webcast with our local TV station and it aired at 10....I had to grab a kleenex!!! They don't have the video cast up on their website yet...but here is the written report: MEMPHIS, TN - Chris and Angie Allen of Ankeny believe in miracles. We first introduced you to their son, Bradley in January when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Today, that tumor was removed at Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital in Memphis. "As hard as it is, I mean it's more tears of happiness and joy than anything," Chris Allen says as his wife adds, "Because this is huge. I know that he has the best chance of recovery after this" This was a very dangerous operation, especially for a child. The Allen's braced for the worst--everything from their son losing his hearing to becoming paralized--even dying. But the surgery exceeded their highest hopes. we spoke with Bradley's mom after she touched her son for the first time---minutes after the surgery. "I was trying to hold his hand and I was giving him a little foot massage," Angie says smiling, "At first I was told he would stay asleep. Don't expect him to do anything. Then he started opening his eyes and started to sit up." That means--no paralysis. "I was excited to see him going. See him moving his hands. A little bit of his legs," Angie says, "So that's awsome news for us. There was a chance he could be quadriplegic or paraplegic after this and I'm thinking he just proved he wasn't gonna be." The allens say they have their friends, family and thousands of complete strangers who offered support and prayers to thank. "Hopefully their lives have been touched and changed in a positive way like ours have with all this good news," Chris says. Angie adds, "There's been so many helpful people at home. We have three other kids at home and I know our neighbors have stepped up and...are with them when we can't be. And that means a lot." You can follow Bradley's progress and help his parents with expenses by logging on to: http://www.bradleys-story.com/