Dis Breast Cancer Survivors - GAGWTA!

[Pea-n-Me]

did you all see Professor Mouse's thread? about his partner's wife. she's had stage IV breast cancer for 8 years. they've had the financial resources to track down all the best care, the clinical trials, etc., but she's about to lose the battle.

I responded to that thread also. I was sad this morning about these women but did say a lot of prayers today.

Laura, my friend that has the lung cancer with brain mets has had the steriotactic radiation procedure several times. Hard because they have to put her into "halo traction" for the procedure and it leaves "holes" in her head. (Once it wasn't on correctly and they had to move it slightly ). Sad thing in her case is her lung cancer is practically in remission (on inessa ?sp) but the brain lesions keep coming back.

I'm sure we all just felt that huge stab in our hearts when hearing about Lisa needing to saying goodbye to her kids. When I feel afraid this is the thing that scares me the most, much more so than anything they could dish out to me as far as treatments go. My children turn 8 in the fall.

Merry, my cousin's wife just died of cancer in her tongue and throat. She also left 3 children. Prayers coming for your friends as well.

Boy, this has been a tough week.

 

[snappy]

Tough is the word for it. If anyone has an encouraging or upbeat story, please post it, we can use it.

 

[NHAnn]

Tough is the word for it. If anyone has an encouraging or upbeat story, please post it, we can use it.

I got this in an e-mail from my SIL this week~~~
I usually "don't do" the chain e-mail thing, but I did on this one. and I'll share with you all....

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in "Mom, let's run through the rain," she said.

"What?" Mom asked.

"Let 's run through the rain!" She repeated.

"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain,"

"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.

"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything!"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes

Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them. Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to also send it to the person who sent it to you. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them.

If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry.

Take the time to live!!!

Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need each other -- and don't forget to run in the rain!

GAGWTA

 

[MinnieM3]

for all.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Ann that is beautiful. Sometimes we all need to run through the rain! Thanks for sharing.

Wish I could think of something uplifting to share, but I'm a total blank right now. Guess I'll just close with a GAGWTA and a for all of you. It's nice to know that all of you are there for me and that I can be there for you too. Hang in there and keep your chins up. Go read a joke. Laughter is good medicine, even when you don't feel much like laughing.

 

[laurabelle]

GAGWTA everyone! I had a nice glass of wine last night and have been talking alot online with the rest of my group. Steroids, and thinking about my friend Lisa, have me awake here in the middle of the night! Here's something I wrote to them, talking about miracles:

You know, I'm absolutely NOT giving up on Lisa! I keep saying to everyone I tell about this, miracles STILL happen, not just in the Bible times! Look at Lance Armstrong, just look at him!!! And I say Lisa Porter sure would be a great candidate for a miracle too! But I also think of our other angels, and know that sometimes healings don't happen here on earth. God will bring her healing one way or another. People keep asking me about Hil and DanaM because they had brain mets too and how long it was for them. You know, NOBODY can say with certainty what will happen next, and knowing Lisa, ANYTHING could happen! But I also believe in tempering being positive and bold in my prayer, with being prepared to face what might not be what we want the outcome to be. And keeping the faith that if that happens, we will be comforted. Bill said he's told her that he and the kids will ultimately be alright if that happens. He just doesn't want her to suffer and hang on too long if it gets to that point. I can only imagine having these conversations with my hubby, and not just hypothetically, but realistically. And I think of our angel sisters talking to their hubbys about it, especially in light of Randy's recent engagement news. And I think of all our other stage IV sistas, who may have already spoken about these things with their families.
Nope, God's not finished with her family yet. As sterlie and cold as it looks, there's alot of love in that little room she's in...God's certainly doing some healing there I'm sure...

I'll keep you guys posted. Hopefully she'll be able to be taken off the vent and so much heavy sedation today. I talked to my sister (critical care nurse) about it and she helped me understand more of why they had her sedated so heavily and on the vent. And that Lisa will come out of this medically induced coma. It was hard to see her like that and not think she may not come out of the hospital. Some of us are going to visit her again on Sunday.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers for Lisa and her family. She's 32yrs old and was dxed with stage IV BC in Dec. Her kids are Katie age 4 and Andrew 2 yrs...

 

[laurabelle]

Something that made me laugh this morning!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=885916&page=1&pp=15

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Funny, Ann, I got that same email the other day too.

Speaking of email, here's one that's pretty cute, made me chuckle.

http://www.softlab.ece.ntua.gr/~sivann/pub/swf/may02-smilepop-soapbox4.swf

 

[MinnieM3]

That was so funny! Just e-mailed it to 2 people....just 3 more go to.....can't have my hair falling out again!

 

[snappy]

Oh my goodness, those links are great, Pea-n-me and laurabelle, I am laughing out loud.

I read a hilarious column on the editorial page today by Dave Barry about cruising. I have only been on one cruise but he really skewered the whole experience. Let me know if you don't have this column, I'll post some of the funny parts, heck, the entire thing is funny, I'll have to post the entire thing.

I am off to bring DD9 and her seatmate in fourth grade to the pool.

I'll check in later.

 

[MinnieM3]

CHECK OUT MY NEW TAG!!! WHOOOO-HOOOOO!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Congratulations to you - and Laurabelle too!!

 

[snappy]

Very cool new tags, MiinieM3 and Laurabelle!!

Nice that the tag fairy noticed us girls.

Very good pick me up after yesterday's sad times.

The tag fairy knows now to chase the blues.

 

[laurabelle]

GAGWTA! Thank you tag fairy... I Love My New Tag!!!
Oooooohhhh...woudn't it be nice if everyone in our little club had the survivor tag???


I was planning to visit Lisa today and got a call last night that she won't be allowed visitors today. They took her off the ventilator yesterday, and will be bringing her out of sedation today. They'll only allow her hubby Bill to be around. She will not remember anything from the last couple of days and she will need time to adjust to everything that has happened and they want to keep the stimulation down to a minimum. The current plan is to move her over to the hospital where she gets her cancer treatment, where they'll talk about brain rads and other treatment options.

Before all this happened, our local group had plans to meet for lunch today, which we were cancelling to visit Lisa, but now lunch is back on. We really need to be together. Support is so crucial. I get alot of strength from my sistas.

 

[disneylizzy]

Oh my, I have not been checking back and I just wanted you to know, Laura, that I will be praying today for Lisa and her husband Bill and their children. Why is life so hard? What lesson is there in all this suffering?

Yesterday my mom told me that a very special neighbor of hers passed away 2 weeks ago. I wish she told me right away because I would have wanted to go to her services. I know my mom was trying to protect me, but Barbara was the first survivor to contact me and give me support when I was diagnosed.

I feel so sad today.

 

[NHAnn]

GAGWTA!! Hey, doesn't the one who made it up deserve the tag too?

Lizzy...I am so sorry

laurabelle....still praying for Lisa and family.......

 

[TigerCheer2009]

Hi, fellow friends. I haven't been here in a while and looks like I've missed a lot. Many hugs to all of you. I might have missed out on much of the convo about Lisa, but here's a vote that she stick around a little while longer. Prayer sent.

My mom had her 6-month a couple weeks ago...haven't heard the results yet.

Greetings and Good Wishes to All!!

 

[MerryPoppins]

Cool new tags. The tag fairy is awesome! GAGWTA!

I will keep Lisa and her family in my prayers. Hopefully you will get a call to let you know how she's doing. Enjoy your lunch today. You are right. You guys need to support each other.

Hi TigerCheer. Thinking positive thoughts for your mother's results.

And disneylizzy, I'm sorry. I'm sure your mom was just trying to protect you. Sometimes people just don't realize that protecting us can sometimes hurt too.

We're taking a day off from our usual church service today. Instead we are going to a camp reunion service at our cathedral this evening. It's an uplifting service with good camp music. All the kids who went to summer camp are invited, and they raise the rafters with their voices. My kids are hoping to see some of their buddies.

By the way, I keep a list of all of you going through tough times right now in my prayer book. I mention each of you out loud by name in our services. I really believe in the power of prayer, and I wanted you to know that I am praying for all of you.

 

[TigerCheer2009]

Thanks, MerryPoppins! Us too...

 

[laurabelle]

GAGWTA!! Hey, doesn't the one who made it up deserve the tag too?

Yes, yes, yes! I'm clapping my hands in hopes that the tag fairy will grace NHAnn with the GAGWTA tag!