Hope….

It’s Magic and it’s free,
It’s not in a prescription,
It’s not in an IV.
It punctuates our laughter,
It sparkles our tears,
It simmers under our sorrows,
And dissipates are fears.
Do you know what hope is?
It’s reaching past today,
It’s dreaming of tomorrow,
It’s trying a new way.
It’s pushing past impossible,
It’s pounding on the door,
It’s questioning the answers,
It’s always seeking more.
It’s rumors of a breakthrough,
It’s whispers of a cure,
A rollercoaster ride,
Of remedies unsure.
Do you know what hope is?
It’s candy for the soul,
It’s perfume for the sprit,
To share it, makes you whole.

Author: Unknown

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TO READ ABOUT MY PROFILE (MY JOURNEY WITH LUNG CANCER - AS THE CHEMO DRIPS!) WITH STAGE IV LUNG (BAC) CANCER, DIAGNOSED MAY, 2002 / PROGNOSES TWO YEARS AND MY STORY PLEASE CLICK LINK BELOW.
http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewto ... 2155#72155

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR / HELPFUL LINKS:
http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewto ... 585#163585

You must, on your own, make the commitment that you will do everything in your power to fight your disease. -Advanced stage lung cancer survivor RA Block-

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.
-Buddhist Quote On Gratitude-

It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth -- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up, we will then begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.
-Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross-

We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, "Why did this happen to me?" unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way. -Author Unknown-

Top Ten Reasons Why I’m A Lung Cancer Survivor

10. Not going into funeral mode the day I was diagnosed. I never once thought this was it, that life was over or why bother. Lung Cancer is not a death sentence and one can be cured of it or still have a life living with it for many years.
9. Not dwelling on it. How I got it, why me, what if I did this/that or the blame game etc. It’s counter productive and wasted energy.
8. RESEARCH, RESEARCH and more RESEARCH. Knowledge is the key! The more one knows the better one can make decision with their doctor and better fight. Keeping it simple, does not really matter to me every little word on a report. Try to get down to the chase of what is going on and what needs to be done.
7. Living life to the fullest by making the best of it every day and by keeping busy. Life is short enough so why let a day go by.
6. I appreciate everything my family/friends do for me. I let them (especially Kathy and Tina) know how much it means to me and how much I love them.
5. Not making my disease about me. It affects my family/friends just as much if not more. My life has changed and I have to learn to adjust to the new normal. If I can’t do things or go places does not mean they can’t. It’s very important they have a life and go about it.
4. Keeping an open mind about treatments. Don’t know unless you try. Laughter, it’s the best medicine, does not have to be all doom and gloom. Exercise, it’s good for overall health and a great stress reliever. Healthy (common sense) diet, this one I need to improve on. I can eat in a coma.
3. Staying positive and having a good attitude. YES it does make a difference regardless of what adversity one faces. Have my days like anyone else but they are few and far in between.
2. All my doctors/nurses. I’m very blessed/fortunate to have a great medical team and great health coverage.
1. My wife.my daughter and my closest friend I love them the most and they mean the most to me. I owe it to them, there the ones who have stood by my no matter what and showed me the true meaning of family, life and love is all about. You can lead a horse to water but can’t get it to drink. Bottom line it’s up to me to be pro-active, to keep trying and to never never never give up!

Well said-hope keeps us going. I shudder at the thought of what it would be like to live in a world without hope. And am sad for those that exist without it. take care, Deb

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knowledge is power!!!

"Statistics describe a group, not the individual."

Dad has advanced NSCLC: diagnosed 1/02
brain mets treated with Gamma knife in 1/03. Started Iressa 1/03. It worked for a while.
Stopped Iressa 6/03, mets to liver; fluid drained from lungs in 7/03-talc procedure
started navabaline (1x a week) on 7/11/03
bone mets-switched to Gemzar 8/29/03 (2wks on/1off)
Radiation to bone met on shoulder blade (10 rounds in total)

December 23, 2003
Daddy left this Earth-and I will never forget how lucky I was to have him for a father. "Thank you, Daddy, I love you and will always miss you, but you will live always- in my heart and memory."


"What a grand world this would be
if we could forget our troubles
as easily as we forget our blessings..."


The secret of health for both mind and body
is not to mourn for the past,
worry about the future,
or anticipate troubles,
but to LIVE IN THE PRESENT MOMENT
WISELY AND ERNESTLY.---Buddha

Picture is of Daddy and me on the way to the church on 10/20/96.

just a little bump fora great post!! thanks Rich!!!

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April/03 My Wife Deborah, age 46, diagnosed adenocarcinoma NSCLC
1/20/2006 Admitted to hospital Respiratory distress
1/23/2006 Ran to the light and is waiting for us to be rejoined in the Kingdom Of Heaven Her journey is Over but mine lingers on for Now!!!
4/23/07 DEb is joined in Peace by her Puppy Dawg Daisy from Cancer
8/30/07 Got new Pup named Mocha!!

"No matter hnow much it hurts, No matter how alone you feel, Your friends will help you get through anything!!"
Scrubs!!!!Yes the comedy show!!!

The Reason I advocate
If you would like to see our family photos Click on this link!
http://deborah-wallin.memory-of.com/

My memory-of Link is good to go now if you want to see it!!