A request.

I don't know how many people actually read this journal, but I'd like to ask those of you who do to please pray, meditate or simply think about my friend Natalia. Natalia is a thoughtful, gracious and beautiful 16-year-old who has been battling leukemia since January of this year.

In the past seven months, Natalia has undergone three (plus one) rounds of chemotherapy, as well as a bone marrow transplant.

Today a bone marrow biopsy revealed that Natalia has relapsed. This is a blow to the family and to everyone who loves them. And that's a big group of people. I'd like to make it bigger.

Please keep Natalia close. If you would like to send her a message of support, this is the place: http://www.carepages.com/carepages/lopeznatalia. You will have to register, but it would mean so much to her, and to me.

Thanks.