Billy Wayne gets good news

We heard from Billy's doctor that all the cancer was removed and no further treatment will be needed. You may be able to hear the sigh of relief.

Thanks to all for prayers and words of comfort and thanks to God for manifold blessings.

Billy is recovering

Day two after surgery has a little more pain than last night. He has stayed quiet all day Friday and been careful not to exert too much effort.

He's surprised at how much pain he's in.

Billy Wayne had surgery yesterday

All is well. Dr. Thomas was able to do it in his office, but it was surgery just the same.

He's recovering at home and following the doctor's directions to take it easy.

The facts are, he was found to have melanoma again. Yesterday's surgery was to cut out the affected tissue and everything around it. Pathology will tell us in a week or so if it is completely gone.

You can reach him by e-mail at billgodwin@texoma.net.

We're keeping our fingers crossed that he won't have to have any further procedures and also won't have to have the interferon therapy again.

We'll keep you posted.

Back from Vegas

We arrived at Addison Airport Monday night after a fun-filled trip that included a night with Brooks & Dunn, a tour of Hoover Dam, the South Point arena, shopping at the Las Vegas Convention Center and a day at the spa.

Now, back to the real world and back to work.

Backstage with Brooks & Dunn

Brooks & Dunn Concert 12-6-08

More Midland folk

Who are these folks from Midland

Can anyone tell me who these people are from a reunion probably in 1992 or 93?

1st Sgt. Miguel A. Wilson

BONHAM — When 1st Sgt. Miguel Anthony Wilson, 36, said good-bye to his mother a month ago, he assured her he was happy in his job and proud of his missions and what he was doing in the military. He told her he knew there was danger and if something happened, he would want his family to celebrate his life and not mourn him.

But Friday, when a military detail, including a chaplain, came to her home in Bonham. The words they spoke to her seemed like a dream from which she thought she would awake any moment. They said her son died Friday in Abu Sayf, Iraq while he was rescuing another soldier. His mother learned later another soldier was drowning and her son jumped in to save him. “Later on we found out he did save him,” she said. “He didn’t take his gear off (when he jump in the water) which those back packs weigh 65 pounds. He just dived in and saved his fellow soldier and the weight of that back pack kept him under and then the current, they said, was strong and he drowned.”

Wanda Wilson said, the whole time the chaplain was speaking to her she just kept saying “no, no, no, no.” And, even now, though in her head she understands what happened, a little part of her still doesn’t believe it. “I don’t think it will become real to me until I go to the viewing and I know that is going to be hard for me,” she said.

First Sgt. Wilson was a 1990 graduate of Bonham High School where he was a member of the Warriors football team. His stepfather Vincent Neal says 1st Sgt. Wilson played corner back and running back. His father Michael Cooke, of Denison, remembers that Miguel stood out in soccer, played a little basketball and also ran track.

Wanda said through her tears, “Today, I’m fine. I’m not sad. I’m a very proud mother.”

His memorial service will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Fort Hood’s 19th Street Chapel with interment at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen at 3 p.m.

A second memorial service will be held in Bonham at 3 p.m., Dec. 2 at the First Baptist Church of Bonham. The Patriot Guard Riders will serve as escorts for the family.