Yeah, Gunny at one point was considering moving over there, didn't sound like the move was impending but rather a future option.  Given the situation over there, I would suspect there's a better chance of family coming to see (or live with) he and his wife.

Topa sure sounds like he was having a rough go, I hope there was a definitive diagnosis and he's enduring successful treatment now, as wishful as that might be, I suspect the truth is more dire.