This year I received a tremendous gift from my nephew, my sister's son. Many years ago Maura had written a novel, but never thought it was good enough to attempt to have it published. My nephew found her manuscripts, and had her book bound in hardback form...Cover design...the whole works. He sent me a copy of it for Mother's Day. I'm not sure what was more emotional...His cover note to me, or seeing my beautiful sis pictured with her hubby and son on the back cover of her novel. She was an English teacher. She was amazing. She is truly missed.

_________________
picture of my beautiful sister & her terrific husband.

Sister age 57 non/never smoker
dx 6/06 stage IV nsclc
Nov. 27, 2006 - My wonderful sister and best friend reached for the light. We are separated for now, but will meet again in heaven

What a Gift. So happy you have this.

_________________
Lisa
Lost Mom(41) to LC 7/13/95
Lost Grandgather to LC 6/29/96
Lost Gram (75) to LC 3/13/05[/size]
MIL now fighting this BEAST.
Lost my beautiful Mom in law 12/19/09

the best kind of gift is created from the heart not the wallet!! Yeah Sis!!!!

_________________
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!!

A most excellent gift indeed!

_________________
Mom's timeline

[size=75]1996 - dx w/ Breastcancer
Bi lateral Mastechtomy. 17 lymphnodes removed and clear.
Aug 2006 - weakness and poor coordination in left hand and weak left leg.
Dr runs al types of blood tests.
Gets Nerologist appt for Mid OCTOBER!!
Sept 5 - Mom goes to ER to get tests done today. Multiple Brain lesions discovered
Sept 6 - Appt with GP who suspects breast or lung cancer
Sept 7 - Radio Onco wants to Radiate starting Sept 11, Mom begins taking Decadron
Sept 8 - Mom tells primary onco she is waiting until she knows everything before she treats.
September 9 & 10 a great weekend with mom and wife and mom's boyfriend. Mom makes eggplant parm!
Tues Sept 12 - Full body CAT shows Lung tumor with spots on liver and bones
Sept 14 - Pulminary dr walks through all cat scans with us. Shows the brain tumors...this was worse than I thought. Schedules lung Biopsy.
Sept 15 - Bone scan shows definite signs of lung cancer which had spread to the bones,
September 16 & 17 - Mom goes to Beach with my wife Keri and talks about being a parent. I build a railing for her to get up and down steps in the back yard for when she needs it. A fantastically fun weekend. Mom postpones biopsy. She says if she picks radiation, she'll do the biopsy then, because she'll already be in the hospital
Sept 22 Oncologiist is told mom will make a decision that weekend on treatment.
Sept 23-24 Mom decides to radiate but no chemo. Wants to treat the mind but chose to have her body go first. And then we got on with a great weekend and mom and Keri get there nails done and massages.
Sept 25 - mom gets mask for radiation done
Sept 26 - mom does radiation #1. Her word "piece of cake"
Sept 28 - My birthday, mom has a cake waiting for me, we brought her filet mignon. A great night.
Sept 29 - Oncologist says mom makes him laugh.
Oct 1 King crab legs for moms birthday, she's tired but enjoyed!
October 2 - Moms birthday, she is very weak and sleepy. But we spent it with her
Oct 3 - Mom is officially to tired to function. I tell her no more car. Tough conversation. But she agreed.
Oct 4 9:30 - Called mom, woke her up, told her I'd see her at 12:30 for appt.
Oct 4 12:30 - I arrive mom is confused and having trouble breathing.
Oct 4 5:30 - Mom is in Critical Care
Oct 5 7:00 - Sun shines on moms face during a sunrise one last time and she leaves us. Only 56 years old.

Today - we are not 100% and won't be tomorrow either. But notice, mom wasn't about focusing on the disease only, she was primarily about the good times!

2/25/08 Mom's granddaughter, Sophia Randilyn is born. Mom, I've already told her so much about you.[/size]

[img]http://www.freewebs.com/beansprouts2005/Nicksignature.jpg[/img]

2/11/11 Mom's grandson, Nicholas Thomas IV is born. We've already talked about how his Grammy would have just loved her little man.

Tears here! Such a beautiful gift indeed!

Hugs,
Sue

_________________
[size=84]husband, Mike, 59 years old
**2-01 dx'd Stage 1 nsclc-9cm tumor to right lung-no lymph node involvement...
**4-30-01 pneumonectomy right lung removed. No followup chemo or radiation , but scans and xrays were done
**1-28-04 dx w/recurrent stage IV nsclc tumor on stump of where right lung had been removed , lymph node involvement, tumor adrenal gland -lft side, **02-04-04- taxol & carboplatin 3 treatments-didn't work
**02-12-04- radiation 10 to lung for bleeding
**04-2--04-taxotere had 4 treatments. shrinkage had occured in all after 3.. continuing taxotere. making him very tired ... upper body swelling ..
** 08-01-04-in hospital
latest..
**08-02-04 had stent put in .. superior vena cava.. the vein was being blocked by pressure tumor.
**08-05-04-started 10 radiation treatments,
**08-30-04- started Navelbine on 3 weeks and off 1 Scan after 5 treatments show chemo Navelbine not working -slight decrease to lung mass, but slight increase to adrenal ....
**11-01-04-starting Gemzar ... had 3 treatments... too many side effects... Ct of chest and upper abdomen done on Dec. 2nd -results some shrinkage
**12-06-04-started Alimta Dec. 6th- first treatment went well Had 2nd treatment Dec. 27th ... developed a rash and is tired, but otherwise ok Scan Feb 7th, 2005 STABLE doing good continuing Alimta April 18th scans showed stable disease (after 6 Alimta treatments), but he now has pneumonitis... no more treatments until much better.. on prednisone and oxygen..
**05-31-05 Ct scan of chest showed pneumonitis resolved and stable cancer
**06-06-05-our 35th wedding anniversary... onc confirms everything resolving and stable -reccommends break continued til August
**6-15-05 to 6-18-05 in hospital due to mental confusion ..
had MRI-member empty head club

8-3-2005-Ct scans chest , abdomen and pelvic....Waiting and praying...
**8-8-2005-Ct results were that the chest area looked improved, but the adrenal area had increased and involved some lymph nodes.
Started Tarceva 150mg 8-16-2005-8-20-2005 stopped 2 weeks due to severe rash on 9-8-2005 started back on Tarceva at 100 mg now.. stopped again on 9-19-2005
9-30-2005 scans slight progression to nodes behind adrenal..
10-10-2005-Camptosar- CPT-11 started
10-31-2005- CPT-11
refused more CPT-11 made him extremely fatigued and nauseated
Dec. 6th -CTscans chest, abdomen & pelvic. shows stable but tumor compressing the esophagus..
Dec. 19th- had stent to trachea put in
Dec. 21st- he had stent to esophagus and feeding tube put in
Dec. 22nd.. he will ill put in hospital... vomiting and also coughing and congestion in for 4 days... home for Christmas Dec. 25th... still recouperating with antibiotics etc.
Continuing cough and numerous doctor visits.
*Jan 30th-Feb 4th- hospitalized again with cough ..
Still has cough , but controlled most of the time Hasn't been able to resume chemo

**My "prince charming", best friend, husband and soul mate,, Mike passed away March 2, 2006 after being a 5 year survivor and fighting a very courageous battle**
______________________
Mom- 78 yrs old..
nsclc diag May 2nd, 2007-surgery 2sm tumors removed in wedge section... lymph nodes clear
Tarceva as adjuvant started on June 23rd..quit July2nd.. side effects numerous... am waiting now til next appt. July 13th
July 20th... Mom NED.PET clear and normal .. will go back on half 75mg Tarceva... see how that works..
Stop Tarceva 8-25 too many side effects
Oct. 22nd- Mom surgeon visit, chest xray and results .. all clear, no sign of cancer...
Feb. 18th Mom's PET Scan
March 7th Mom's PET Scan results.. NED
Sept. 22, 08 Mom PET Scan
Sept. 29, 08 Mom PET results new nodule 3/4 "...here we go again.... :-(
*Updated*- Mom surgery- Oct. 30th.. surgeon removed top part of upper right lobe. Nothing showed malignant. She had pneumonia after surgery and a 3 week hospital stay, but she is slowly regaining her strength and is currently NED..

March 3, 2009 CT scan.... results showed some little things along suture line that the doctor believed was healing.. will wait til next scan and compare.

June 2, 2009- CT Scan.. results there is an area along suture line that has increased in size and thickening.. doctor thinks could be cancer... a needle biopsy will be done..

A quick update.. the results of the needle biopsy did confirm that it was cancer...

Cyberknife was done the first week in November..

Pet scan .. Dec. 8th...
Dec. 11th -results .. cyberknife worked and the rest of the scan is clean... YAY!!! Happy Birthday (Dec. 19th.. 81st) and Merry Xmas Mom!
Dec. 2010 NED!!!
June 2, 2011.. Pet Scan results .. NED!!!
Nov 3, 2011.. CT scan results.. NED!!!
Sept. 18, 2012 .. our loving mom has passed on ..Heaven received a most precious angel.


graphic by
http://www.maryslittlelamb.com[/size]