I'm hoping that the second hand information I'm getting is not as bad as it sounds.

My dear sister tends to have anyone at death's door if they have a hangnail. I hope that's the case here.

I spoke to Tina's sister, Angie (my other niece) and she said this started in April and she's been ignoring it for a long time. She had what sounds like a swollen lymph node in her neck the size of a golfball and there's a growth on the back of her tongue.

The doctors in Dixon said it was out of their level of expertise (but that it had spread from elsewhere) and one of them knew the specialist in Chicago so that's where she is today. They agreed to take her even knowing she doesn't have insurance.

These are the girls who lost their mom and dad in their teen years, so they really depend on each other. Weekend from next, Angie will be going to see Tina for the weekend and I'm planning on being there too if I can.