Treebywater

Absolutely!

YEEEEHAW!!!!!! Celebrate good times come on! SOOO Excited for you!!!!

Jen. I don't know much about SCLC, but that sounds like a huge load of crap to me. From what I've seen from folks here--you CAN fight even if it's a recurrence... and you WANT TO KNOW as early as possible if you need to. If this is their attitude about a recurrence... well. Maybe you need to sit down and have a heart-to-heart with the doc. and tell her that YOU GUYS don't give up that easy and it's too bad that SHE DOES but you guys are going to fight. That is, of course, after making sure that is your Dad's feeling as well.

Praying for you all... It is a surreal feeling being torn between the new life of your child, and worrying about losing your parent. Wherever you are will be the RIGHT place. And if you can't be there for the 12 week scan, you will be there for other things. But I'm hoping that you will be there for the 12 week scan because your Dad will rebound from this.

I love the smell..... And I love crunchy leaves. And this year I am all excited about Halloweening with Carolyn. Melinda--I grew up close to The Spoon River Drive. Do you ever go to London Mills? Now I'll think of you and your Mom every time I hear it mentioned. ((((hugs)))) to you.

Jen... For me it is JUST starting to hit home that Mom is never coming back.... I had moments of it before--days even, but then my brain would go back into coping mode or denial mode and yeah. It is so hard... I know you loved your Daddy so very, very much. And it just hurts. And nothing helps the hurt. I'm sorry, Jen.

I feel better knowing it's not just me. I was wondering if maybe I've just been a lousy friend or something. I guess maybe it's just the nature of the beast.... It does stink though and it is hard not to be disappointed.

Has anyone else experienced the feeling of telling people that you feel you really know and love--and for family members--telling people who also knew your family member with LC--that you are walking, and having them give nothing.... but having people that you know as acquaintences or just through the internet be the ones who support you? I'm talking people who you might label your 'closest friends' or 'your family' coming through with nothing? I guess my expectations for my 'real life' friends are too high.... and I should have known better from who really was there when Mom was sick and after and who wasn't.... but it is disappointing. I guess it is one more reminder that even over a year after Mom's been gone I'm still part of a club that few people understand and nobody wants to be in.

((((Chris)))) When my Mom was diagnosed I lived 2000 miles away--not quite the same as having her on a different continent, I guess... but I felt so very far away from her. I called home everyday, but like you say... it doesn't give you the full picture of what is going on. And when you do get that full picture--whether you've been anticipating it or not--it is just quite a blow. I'm so sorry that things are stressful at work as well. Just keep plugging. Keep coming here when you need to vent. Know that we get it and we care. Val

Jodi--It is so very, very hard. Praying for you all at this time.

As if all the other worries when someone we love has LC weren't enough... then one of us caregivers gets sick and we just feel terrible. The first time I went back to be with my Mom, I came down with (or... had a recurrence of) a terrible, terrible bug. Here I was staying in their home and sick exposing Mom to all this stuff. I wrapped myself up like a hazmat guy when I was around her... and that was all I Could do til I got back on the plane. You can't help it. It happens. IT's great that you gave them a heads up. And... some way or another, it will work out ok. Don't beat yourself up. Val

(((((Gwen))))

(((((Don))))) You have supported us so very much. I hope that we can offer you some of the love and compassion and support back to you. You ARE such a dear friend to all of us.

(((((Kasey))))) I missed you... and I worried about you when all this bad news came down. I wasn't sure that those 'fun friends' would get it. We DO get it, and we love you and I am SO PUMPED that you've hit two years... Now here comes another holiday season, another snowy season, and then MORE FLOWERS. Love you, and thank YOU for being here too. Val

I'm just so sorry. She was a really, really lovely person.

Andrea--It's over a year now since I lost my Mom and I am STILL battling stress and fatigue that come from the hellish 18 or so months we lived through from Mom's diagnosis through husband's deployment. You've been through SO MUCH recently... on top of battling this with your Mom, all of the heartbreaks that you have had with your fertility treatments, and this with your Dad.... You've had a doozy of a time. Be gentle with yourself. It is normal. It is hard. It sucks.

Really?!!!! I LOVE Kathryn Joosten! That's awesome!

: Don--Lucie IS such a special lady. Thank you for sharing her with us... I hurt with you and for you and I am so very sorry that she can't be with us anymore.

NO..... I admired Jimben so much... He gave me so much hope... Always--when Mom was sick, after Mom was gone... I always, always said he is my hero.... And he still is my hero. I am just so sad.

"They Call Her Valerie" --The Monkees

I am just DELIGHTED!!!!!!! So, So glad for you Don and Lucie!!!!

((((((Lori))))))) I'm just so very, very sorry.

Grace--I don't understand it either..... It just hurts. I am so very sorry.

(((((Rochelle))))) I'm sorry you got such awful news... Praying that a second opinion and some sort of kick-butt treatment will bring some hope and help.

I am just so sorry...