In December of 1994, after a complete health breakdown, Frank was diagnosed with celiac/sprue, a genetic disease.  Celiac disease causes the immune system to attack the small intestine in the presence of gluten in the diet and makes it malabsorbtive which can result in severe malnutrition and many other serious side effects.  In Frank's case he made slow improvement on a gluten and soy free diet, and by February of 1997 he was feeling a lot better, riding his bike 16 miles a day, working in the garden, building a greenhouse, and putting up new corrals where he planned to start a horse-training business.  Then in March he started a sudden decline.  He lost about 50 pounds over the next several months. 
      Through a series of small miracles we were led to the Mt. Carmel Hospital in Colville, Washington which turned out to be one of the top-rated rural hospitals in the nation.  He received care there from Dr. Mark Mendez-Vigo who is one of the best GI specialists in the country and has treated hundreds of celiac patients.  Dr. Mendez-Vigo really went out of his way to do everything possible to help Frank.  When Frank was first admitted to the hospital there it was discovered that he had ulcerations down the length of the small intestine and one of these had perforated.  They did not expect him to survive the surgery.  We had a special anointing service in the hospital led by Pastor Ed Dunne, along with Rob McClintock, John Worth, Dr. Bill Catelli and Don Harris.  Don, who was visiting from Chetwynd, B.C. had brought his guitar and we really had a special time together, singing and praying.  It meant a great deal to Frank in preparing him to face whatever the outcome might be.  We were all so happy when he surprised everyone and came through the surgery extremely well.  A biopsy at that time did not show any cancer.
      Frank seemd to be improving quite well over the next few weeks.  We were living in a basement apartment a few blocks from the hospital and he was coming into the hospital twice a day as an outpatient to receive his medications by IV.  He was eating well again and was gradually walking more each day.  Owen & Chauncey were attending the SDA school nearby and they were so excited the day that Dad was able to walk with them all the way to school!  He received so much encouragement and prayer support from the hospital staff, the churches in the area, and people all over.  Rob McClintock, a Naturopath who has a ministry near Colville called Healing Leaves, was especially helpful in sharing natural remedies that were of help to Frank.
    Unfortunately, in October Frank was back in the hospital with another perforation.  Again, he was not expected to survive the surgery but he pulled through.  On October 16 we received the results of the biopsy taken with this second surgery which this time showed lymphoma.  The doctors believed that he had had it for about the last eight months but it had just been missed on the first biopsy.  On the 18th they told us there was no further treatment they could do except to keep Frank going until all of his family arrived.  Frank's sister Zola Stearman, her husband, Mike, and boys, Blake & Neal were already with us.  Within a short time his younger sister Linda Prandl had arrived from Mali, Africa and other relatives had gathered as well:  Uncle Zan and Aunt Lotte Burgess,  Aunt Barbara and Uncle Bill Warner, my parents, my brother, and Richard Parker, a friend from high school he hadn't seen in years.  The hospital allowed 24 hour visiting privileges and for several days it was like one big party!  Frank was in his element, telling stories, sharing the latest things he'd been studying in preparation for writing a commentary on Daniel & Revelation, joking with everyone and amazing and inspiring all of us.    Many friends and relatives from all over called and talked with him, and he remarked many times about how overwhelmed he was by the love and support everyone had shown. 
    When Frank's parents arrived the hospital was ready to discharge and send him home.  The place he really considered "home" was Lower Frisco near Reserve in New Mexico, so after a family conference we decided to form a caravan and take him home.  Dr.  Mendez-Vigo gave him one last blood transfusion  on  Wednesday night, October 22, and on Thursday morning we were headed for New Mexico--Frank, his parents, his sisters, and I in an RV, my  brother and Owen & Chance in our Suburban pulling a 30-foot travel trailer, and my parents in their car.  We took turns driving so we could stay moving as much as possible and get home as quickly as possible.  Frank's spirit was still amazingly resilient!  Our first evening down the road he insisted on having us stop and treating everyone to a big Chinese dinner.  It was a wonderful meal, and a joyous time together that none of us will ever forget!  We'll especially
                           
                                                                                                                next page