Leave of absence

Hi Robert and the Saturday, 4:30 PM, Choir members,

I tried very hard to resume singing in the choir this month, but my ongoing lung condition is making it very difficult. While singing during Mass these past two weeks, I experienced a pronounced shortness of breath and the inability to appropriately support my voice...especially in the tenor range. It also causes considerable lung discomfort for several days after attempting to sing. I am being seen by a pulmonologist and he is starting treatment for me. However, at this early stage, he has not been able to definitively determine the cause. The initial diagnosis is potentially Interstitial Lung Disease. However, this is just a term for a whole group of lung diseases and they need to determine exactly what I have. I have had x-rays, CT Scans, and am being scheduled for other treatments, but as of today they have not been able to define a specific cause. My apologies for such a long winded note, but I wanted to let my dear choir member friends know why I can't be there for a while. Please keep me in your prayers and I will return as soon as I am healthy enough to sing again.