Thank you again for all you’ve done for Tammy and me and we have some great news! This news will not, unfortunately, get us back to Burkina Faso, but we do believe it’s going to put an end to an enemy that has dogged us for more than four years now.
          After having already seen a Gastrointestinal and a Lung Specialist, we ended up in the office of an ENT (Ears, Nose, and Throat) Specialist on Tuesday March 2nd.
          A few minutes after having introduced ourselves to one another, the doctor sat down and began reviewing the CT scan of my head taken a couple of weeks back. As he read the scan he began shaking his head, laughing, and saying “this is bad”, “this is really bad”. Apparently Tammy and I didn’t look concerned enough because he asked: “hasn’t anyone explained these results to you?”. We explained that the Lung Specialist had informed us that I had Pansinusitis. He concurred, but then went on to explain that he was not looking at a simple case.
          He explained that the interior of my nose would have to be straightened, how severe the Pansinusitis was and that he was not at all surprised that I’d had Bronchitis so often and hadn’t been able to fight off the Malaria and Typhoid because my immune system had been so severely compromised. He then went on to explain that I have a condition occurring in about 1% of the population where the coratid artery is passing through a sinus chamber without the protection of bone. That being the case, he will do another CT scan next week in preparation for an image guided surgery so as to avoid touching the artery.
          We know it probably sounds crazy to you, but this has been one of the most exciting weeks we’ve had in a long long time. Just a few minutes with this particular doctor convinced us that he was, indeed, “The Man” (He knows what he’s doing). When I told him that the doctor in Burkina had just gotten frustrated because he couldn’t stop the cough and told Tammy that I had “just gotten used to coughing” indicating that it was all in my head, he laughed out loud and expressed his surprise that no one had ever even checked for this condition.
          We’re more convinced now than ever that nothing over these last several months has happened by chance, but that God, as a result of your faithfulness in praying in our behalf, has responded.
          We’re sorry to say that this will be our final printed report, but for those of you who would like to be informed concerning the results of my surgery and the next steps in our lives, you will find one final report online at this web site.  Watch for it regularly.
          I’ve taken more of your time than I have a right to, but Tammy and I both want you to know that you’re involvement in our lives, both on and off the field, has given us an entirely new perspective on the meaning of fraternal love. To say you’ve loved us like family would be an understatement. We’re certain that you will continue to change lives in the future, but we can say with absolute assurance that there are two lives that will never be the same because of the relationship the Lord has given us with you.

Partners,
John & Tammy Cooley