I write to post that I have been diagnosed with cancer and have begun a treatment program which holds the promise of extending my lifetime by 9-18 months.

I would be grateful for your prayers.

Thank you, Ross Rowland

Hello Ross, on behalf of all of us at ASR we are saddened to hear of your medical situation, and will of course keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers in the hopes your treatments result in a much better outcome. Best, Forrest

My prayers are with you Ross and wish you well with your treatments. Pay no attention to that 12-18 months. My aunt was told just that some 25 years ago and is still with us. If anyone can beat the odds and make great things happen we know it is you!

Prayers, thoughts, and good wishes to you Mr. Rowland. I pray for your good health and successful treatments. God Bless!

John Rembis

Hi Ross
My thoughts and prayers are will you, I do hope the treatment are helping.. I only met you once during the Erie Limited trips out of Hoboken, NJ. Pat.

Ross,

My prayers that you may find grace, hope, and healing join with those of all the others who wish you well.

Back in 2018, my surgeon completed a lung biopsy and said, "It's time to get your affairs in order - you have three to five years." With thanks for the Grace and the inspired care of my Pulmonologist, I'm already two years past my expiration date and continue to live independently.

With warm best wishes,

Paul.

Prayers sent to the Great Physician. 34 years ago, my wife and I were told that our unborn baby had less than a 10% chance of surviving the birth, and if she did, she would have a multitude of health problems. She not only survived the birth, but almost all of the health problems not only did not happen, but those that did corrected "themselves". Doctors know alot, but they are not the ones in control. Someone on here uses the saying "Hope Springs Eternal" I think you may know him.

My sincerest wishes and prayers for add longevity and recovery, Ross. You've done so much to extend some of the best experiences in steam railroading for all of us, not to mention the beautiful machinery as well. You continue to be a hero for most of us and uncountable thousands at trackside.
We, your many brothers and sisters, offer encouragement and warmth as you carry this burden.

Dick

As a 50 year plus C & O modeler & historian, I have always followed your decades long efforts with C & O 614 with great interest. Let us hope that you are one of those who responds to treatment very well. Will be thinking of you and wishing you the best longterm outcome.

I hope to hear good news next time for all of us who have followed your journey.

Ross, Godspeed.

I wish you and your family all the best possible under obviously devastating circumstances.

Best wishes and prayers to you and all people given this news.

I will keep you in my prayers. May you find some comfort as you fight the good fight, and may it bring you more quality time here with us. My grandfather was at death's door in the mid 80s with stage 4 prostate cancer with metastasis to the bones, I think similar to what President Biden was recently diagnosed with. He fought it into remission and gained 15 years of life before he passed in 1999. You never know, but I hope you can find some relief and even joy in the days and months ahead.

Treated for Colon Cancer in July 1996, Surgery, Chemotherapy and Radiation therapy seem to have arrested it. Had blood in my urine in 2020 and the Urologist found some cancerous polyps on my right kidney and on the interior of the bladder - the kidney was removed and the polyps in September 2021. Still kicking. See my urologist later this morning for a cystoscopy to examine the bladder for polyps again,

29 year Cancer Survivor and counting.

ROSS:    Here's your prayer, the "Priestly Blessing" from Numbers 6:24-26 
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

While I've shared this photo here before, I want to thank Ross for making it possible for the 19-year-old version of me to snap the attached image of one of the High Iron Company's trips with 759.  The scene is October 1970, westbound on the Erie Lackawanna, crossing the bridge over Brodhead Creek at Analomink, Pa. while climbing the grade to Mount Pocono.  Proving that no amount of prior planning will ever beat dumb luck, I clicked the shutter with the driving rod down and the connecting and eccentric rods parallel all while peering directly across the plane of the four rails on what was then a double-track main.    

/s/   Larry
Lawrence G. Lovejoy, P.E.

Ross,

As I communicated in my text to you this week, my wife, Lorie and I are praying for you to experience a complete recovery. It is certainly not impossible with all the new innovative treatments that are now available.

I will stay in touch.

God Bless you, Sir!

Bill Dennington

Ross,

My family and I will keep you in our prayers, and I hope that all of your treatments and procedures go well. You've touched the lives of many people in a positive way by bringing them the joy of mainline steam. For me it was with the 2101 on the Chessie Steam Special though my hometown in Washington, PA in 1977 when I was a young lad.