October 7, 2008
Posted by DaveDias in Dave's Updates

Winning Friends and Influencing Others

Winning Friends and Influencing Others

A happy heart makes the face cheerful
Proverbs 15:13a

The Aptos Starbucks started a Customer of the Month and who do you think is the first customer they want to honor…???  Irene, of course…!!!!!!!!!!

There she goes again …. ”Winning friends and influencing others” …. despite the circumstances Irene faces on her “Journey of Faith”.  The cheerful and gracious Starbucks crew tells me that they enjoy Irene’s quick smile and kind spirit …. and that she brings joy to each of them every time she enters the door.

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
2 Corinthians 9:6b

Thanks for caring.

Dave

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October 7, 2008
Posted by DaveDias in Well Wishes

Well Wishes From Joyce Sarkisian

Hi Irene,

We just got a copy of your book “Irene’s Journey of Faith”. As we left the hospital yesterday for a short break in treatment, the nurse came into the room and handed us a copy of the book and said she thought we would be interested in it.

My husband has been getting chemo treatments at UCSF since July. This is his second stint with cancer. The first (bladder cancer) was 5 years ago, and they told us that the 5th year of remission is a good sign that it won’t come back. Well, God had different plans. He was diagnosed in July with lymphoblastic lymphoma. The strange thing is that the bladder cancer is a smoker’s disease, but my husband has never smoked a day in his life. The lymphoblastic lymphoma is considered a childhood lymphoma…my husband will be 62 on the 22nd.

We both knew that this was God’s plan, even though we didn’t know what the plan was. My husband and I are with the Gideon’s. The first 3 weeks that my husband was in the hospital, he handed out 65 testaments; his personal record. When he gave one to a nurse, she said, I wondered when I would get one. All the other nurses had one, and she wondered why she hadn’t gotten one yet! (He had run out and I had to replenish his stock weekly).

As you know, it isn’t easy being stuck in the hospital, but we are making the best out of it. My husband’s doctor was so impressed with his progress that he would bring Stephen to other patients and show him off as a “model patient”. We still have months to go before the final treatment, but we have gotten so familiar with the staff and patients that going in has become a way of life.

I was the volunteer administrator for the San Francisco Prayer Breakfast for the last 12 years, and have been involved with Young Life, and Bold Assurance Ministries. I had to take a break from the prayer breakfast to care for my husband. As I thumbed through the

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October 5, 2008
Posted by DaveDias in Dave's Updates

The UCSF Nursing Team

The UCSF Nursing Team

According to Wikipedia, Florence Nightingale, (May 1820 – 13 August 1910), came to be known as “The Lady with the Lamp” and was a pioneering nurse, writer, and noted statistician.  And, arguably, Florence Nightingale is the most famous nurse in the world.

Casting her nausea aside, Irene and I drove to UCSF Medical Center today to visit two people who are currently admitted and who we deeply care about …. my Godmother, Ruth Perrine, and our faithful friend, Scott Halverson.

We make it no secret that we’re among the most committed “cheerleaders” of the UCSF nursing team …. especially at 11 Long, the Oncology Ward.  These amazing, committed professionals work 24/7, as a City on a Hill, quietly serving patients who are in critical need.  These nurses are running with the “vision baton”, passed on from Florence Nightingale to carry the tradition and profession of nursing to this generation.  They are a beacon of light and hope ….!!!!

As we were walking the serene, Sunday morning halls of 11 Long, all it took was for Irene to overhear nurse May’s voice and a flood of emotion and memories flowed.  Below is a photo of Irene with Byunga and May, capturing the moment.  Both Byunga and May are among the many incredible and caring nurses who faithfully attended Irene during her three month hospitalization.  And here they are again …. faithfully serving those currently in need of their knowledge and caring spirits.

We visited and prayed with our faithful and smiling friend, Scott Halverson, who is battling cancer.  Please pray for him.  To stay current with Scott’s medical updates, see http://halverson-family.com/.

Irene and I also visited my Godmother, Ruth Perrine.  Ruth is recovering from emergency back surgery which occurred last Friday.  She is very uncomfortable and significant amounts of pain medications are needed during this recovery period.  Please pray she will heal quickly!!!!

Dave and his Godmother, Ruth Perrine, photographed together in June, 2008

It was refreshing for Irene to be visiting and encouraging in-patients at UCSF rather than being one ….!!!!

We had to pause and savor the San Francisco skyline. 

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“Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” -Lamentations 3:22-23

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