Bishop Untener of Saginaw to begin treatment for a form of leukemia

Published: 2004-02-19

SAGINAW, Mich. (CNS) -- Bishop Kenneth E. Untener of Saginaw will soon be undergoing treatment for myelodysplasic syndrome, a life-threatening form of leukemia. The bishop, 66, announced that he found out Feb. 10 that he has the disease, which means his bone marrow cannot produce blood cells effectively and many of the blood cells that are formed are defective. He is still conferring with his doctors and his treatment has not been finalized. In a message read during weekend liturgies Feb. 14-15, Bishop Untener told the nearly 140,000 members of the 11-county diocese, "I feel a need to connect with you. We've been connected for a long time -- since Nov. 24, 1980 -- and we are all in this together, facing life and death, personal successes and failures, sin and grace." He was ordained Saginaw's bishop on Nov. 24, 1980. "I have always sensed your support, and I want you to know -- especially those of you who are facing serious problems -- that you have my support too. We are in this together," he added.

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