I recently visited our family doctor for the first time in a couple of years. I believe
our relationship with him extends back at least fifteen years and he watched over the
entire family, to include Patricia, for most or all of the children's lives.

     He remarked on my long absence and stated he assumed we had moved or entered
into some type of witness protection program. In fact, I think my family utilization of
healthcare services is more typical now as opposed to the years of my marriage.

     Patricia was a regular customer. I do not believe a month passed during the last
five years of our marriage where either her or one of the children were not seen by the
doctor.

     I will never forget Patricia advising my sister-in-law, Gina, on how to deal with
her cancer based on Patricia's own 'experience' with ovarian cancer as a teenager.  Our
beloved Gina, passed away from cancer in May of 2002.

     I simply cannot remember a day where health matters did not dominate, either
Patricia's or the children. Based on Patricia's representation, each child was diagnosed
with asthma and underwent two or three treatments each day – each. In addition to her
'experience' with ovarian cancer as a teenager, Patricia also allegedly suffered from
juvenile arthritis, and was treating herself for an auto immune disease when we separated.

     To be fair to Patricia, I do not doubt Montie's asthma as a toddler. Also, Patricia
can not be blamed for the time Jessica stuck a piece of foam rubber the size of a quarter
completely up her nose at the tender age of four.

     But, if one listened to Patricia, her and the children daily faced death due to some
illness or another.

     Her health concerns, according to Patricia, dominated her decision to end my life.
She tells the 'hit man' that I have caused her illness and that the doctors told her that if
she doesn't reduce the stress she alleges is caused by me; she will end up dying from this
illness (Grand Jury Proceedings minute nine and minutes forty-five to conlusion). She
brings this up again when she talks with the 'hit man' on the phone and during the
interview with him before her arrest.

     In her letter to Glen, Patricia states her long term mental health issue is
depression. Recent studies link depression to another disorder known as Munchausen
syndrome.

          "Munchausen syndrome is a psychiatric disorder in which those affected
           feign disease, illness, or psychological trauma in order to draw attention
           or sympathy to themselves. It is in a class of disorders known as factitious 
          disorders which involve "illnesses" whose symptoms are either self-
          induced or falsified by the patient. It is also sometimes known as hospital 
          addiction syndrome.

In Munchausen syndrome, the affected person exaggerates or creates
symptoms of illnesses in themselves in order to gain investigation,
treatment, attention, sympathy, and comfort from medical personnel. The
role of "patient" is a familiar and comforting one, and it fills a
psychological need in people with Munchausen's. "

     In the same letter to Glen where she compares prison to a girl's school, Patricia
only complaint is the quality of the healthcare " I have and continue to have more than
my fair share of health problems, but I am hanging in there, so far. Most days I'm in pain
most of the day but I do get by one day at a time!"

     Patricia has told people over the last couple of years that she has breast cancer.

     There are days, and this is one of them, where I worry that, for once, Patricia is
telling the truth and she is suffering from some serious physical health problem. Is this
why the Department of Corrections assured the Tribune that Patricia would not show up
at my doorstep?

     This makes me a bully, picking on a woman suffering from serious healthcare
issues, but until I know for sure I can only rely on my knowledge of Patricia's character
and personality – her health problems are part of her mental illness.

     They posted her probation picture on the internet this week. She has aged at least
a decade in the year since I last saw her and I wonder.