Maryanne

Hi Kathy, Wow, poor guy, he has really been through so much. My heart goes out to him and all of his family who is going through all this. But have confidence that they will get this all straightened out, and he will be able to continue his treatments again. He seems to have alot of family support. That is the key for him getting well. Mediatation prayers to you for strength, and your dad for health. Please take care Maryanne

Hi Lisa, So sorry you are going through such a hard time. First your mom then you grandma. That is too much for anyone to handle. You can vent here anytime, we are always here for you. Stay strong, you are a wonderful caring grandaughter. She is so lucky to have you with her. Maryanne

Hi Ry, Wow, please forgive me. Iam so sorry that I did not post to you before this. I just missed your post for some reason. There are so many post on this board, that its hard to keep up at times. Just want you to know that I am sorry for eveything that you guys are going through. I am really glad at least the bleeding stopped, so that is a good sign. There are so many posts to both of you, full of so many hopes and prayers being sent out. Keep those positive thoughts going.... I will be thinking of him on the 4th and sending out mediation prayers to him and strength to you. Please take care, Maryanne

Hi Karen, That was beautiful. Thank you for sharing that with us also. But Iam sure Dave knows how you feel. I am so sorry you guys are going through such a stressful time. But at least the love that has endured so much hardships, will help get you through these difficult times. I wish I could do something to help relieve your pain. I meditate for Dave and I will for strength for you too Karen. Please take care, Maryanne

Hi Summer, So sorry about your distressing news. I cannot help you with your question. I just want you to know that Iam thinking of your both, and hope this work out for him. Sending healing thoughts to you both. Maryanne

Hi Curtis, That was such a nice story. Thanks for sharing.... she is so precious you are both so lucky to have each other. Take care and I hope all is going well for you. Maryanne

Hi Melanie, So sorry you are going through such a hard time. I pray all works out for you. Maryanne

Hi Carrie, Sorry you had to come to this site. But you have the best people here. I really cannot answer your question, but their are a lot of people here who can. But you are going to have to give more information on your MIL condition. Even though she has stage IV it does not have to mean a death sentence. Do not get hung up on statistics as people here have beaten the odds time and time again. I am sure she is so depressed as her whole life has been turned around. To many changes, it must be so frightening for her. And also for you as I know you are doing your best to cope with this situation. She may just need some anti-depressants that will make her more comfortable. You will hear from many on this site that can help you better then me. So sorry for your situation. I really hope it improves for eveyone involved. Maryanne

Ahhhhhh that is soooooo sweet. What a great name. Congratulations on your new addition Cindi.. I love cats, especially their independance ..... Mine is named Kelsey and she 15 years young. She has the run of the house. She is really a wonderful cat. Have fun watching your kitty, Luna grow.... That is a great site, very creative, I love the butterflies since I collect Lenox butterflies... Hope all is going well for you. take care and enjoy your new baby!! Maryanne

Well Lucie & Don, you certainly made everyones day, here. All I have to say is: WHOOPIE......BENIGN... WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WORD.... Yo Cindi, Open up the bar.... Lucie and Don are coming in, even if just from some sparkling water.... I third what Ry and Debi said, its time to get some new clothes....be the best dressed on that cruise... Thank you guys for making my day!!! all around!!!!!!!!! Nighty Nite, Maryanne

Hi Val, I really do not know how to answer as I don't know what she is thinking. Hopefully with your insistance, she will come around and finally talk to you on the phone. Follow you heart, do what it tells you to do. I hope your mom feels better soon. Maybe she just feels guilty that she is not there for you, being pregnant with her grandchild and she is feeling so bad. Hopefully, once the baby is here she will have a change of heart. Babies have a way of doing that. Maryanne

Hi Carol, Shrinkage of any kind is good. Keep positive. The next round of chemo may shrink them to a point where he could have radiation. Take care Maryanne

Hi Kate, So many people have posted so many words of wisdom that should help you through your grieving. What's done is done. Could it have been changed, probably not. It probably just would have prolonged the inevitable. Try not to dwell on "what ifs" . Remember all the beautiful memories that you and your dad had together. That will keep him alive in you forever. He would not want you or your siblings to feel guilty in any way. That would make him very sad. When it is your turn to leave this physical plane, you will meet him again. He will always be there, in your heart and will hear you words through prayer and mediation. My heart goes out to you at this difficult time. You have nothing to feel quilty about. You were with him through all of this and have giving him so much love. That is what counts. Sending you strength through meditation. Maryanne

Hi Dave, So sorry you are having such a difficult time. Iam glad that the pain pills are helping you cope. I wish there was something I can do to help ease your pain. Take care, big guy and know that there are so many people pulling for you. Hang in there. Sending healing mediatation thoughts to you. Maryanne

Hi Nell, So sorry for the loss of your friend, My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends at this most difficult of times. You were such a good friend to him. He really appreicated all you did for him. Maryanne

Hi Maureen, Good news on the MRI, keeping my fingers cross that the Toxal works for you. Good vibes being sent your way. Maryanne

Hi WFS, I really hope you will not need this site. My husband is the same age as you. He went for a routine physical and asked for a chest Xray ( he was feeling great), because he is a smoker. Well he went through everything that you are going through, when his chest Xray showed a shadow. He went through all the tests, including a needle biospy (did not hurt at all), he found out his tumor was cancerous. Because he did not have any signs, his tumor was stage 1B(B-because it was big) and they were able to operate and remove his top left lobe. He is now cancer free. He felt the same way as you did when he first found out there may be a problem. He was so scared, as he has so much to do before his time is up. He thought that if it is Cancer it is a definetely a death sentence. This is important for you to know. IT IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE... that is why they have this forum, these people are survivors of LC. They are amazing people, so caring, knowledgable and will help you (if need be) all they can. Do not believe in statistics, because most of the people here have beaten the odds and continue too do that. Anyway, if it is C, it seems like they may have caught it in an early stage as you had no signs. If it is operable, then you would be one of the lucky ones. But please do not jump to any conclusions Wait to see what the scans show. A good friend of mine, went through the same thing and hers was benign. Try not to worry so much, as it may be nothing major. Thinking of you, you are not alone. Keep us informed. Maryanne

Lucie & Don, Meditation prayers coming your way. Maryanne

Hi Don, Thinking of Lucie with a healthy smile and feeling great!! That is how I am picturing her in my mediatation sessions. I know everything will come out great, and she will be home with you real soon. Then you can plan on that cruise you guys are going to be taking. Tell Lucie I said "Peace be with you" and sending out healthy vibes. Maryanne

Oh Caroline, Iam so sorry for all the pain and suffering your mom and all of her family is going through. I feel that she is at a point where she just wants to be left alone, with no doctors, no more treatments. Just wants to be pain free. Just make her as comfortable as possible and be there for her. Tell her how much you love her, and you will respect her wishes. Hospice is a wonderful choice, they are so caring and they will take care of her to make the transistion as peaceful and pain free as possible. When it is time for her to leave, let her go. She will be in a much better place as far as leaving her sick, diseased body. When her soul leaves her body she will be flying free and smiling all the way up. And she will always be with you, in your heart of hearts. She will hear you through your prayers and meditation. When it is time for you to leave this physical plane, ( many, many, many years from now) she will greet you along with all your love ones who have passed. Too lose your mom at such a young age... my heart goes out to you Caroline... but know that you have to think of her feelings. Don't make her feel guilty if she does not want to go for a 4th opinion. Let her know that anything she decides is fine with all of you. . We are here for you, to vent, to cry to be frustrated. Why don't you tell us a little bit about you mom, so we could get to know her a little better in her glory days. Or just a few good memories... if you want to share that. Its okay if you don't. That might be to painful. Take care Caroline, I am thinking of you and sending you strength during my mediatation session. I am really so sorry. Your mom is so lucky to have you to love her so much. Don't you ever feel guilty.... the decision is hers you have to respect her wishes. Maryanne

Hi All, Just want to update you on Joel's condition since I last posted. This is week 2 since taking that radioactive iodine pill. Just to update you again, I told you he went to the Endocrinologist and found out he has Graves disease, which is an over-active thyroid. This caused him to lose 40 lbs, loss of appitite, a rapid heart rate and become so fatigued to a point where it was getting hard for him to walk. This all happened while he was going through his rehab for the LC operation. We were very worried at the time that maybe they did not get all the cancer. But thank G-d that that is turned out to he the thyroid, that is treatable. They gave him a radiation pill 2 weeks ago today to kill the thyroid and then it would become underactive which is treatable with medication. He will have to take the medication. everyday for the rest of his life. Anyway, he is doing wonderful. He can actually shower and shave the same day without getting fatigued. He even took me out to dinner and a movie last night. And has gained close to 10 lbs back already, in one week. He is eating me out of of the house!! Now we have to wait for him to get his strength back to a pretty normal level so he could finally go through chemo The only question I have is , he still is short of breath. He had the lobectomy on December 15. Will this pass? He has an appointment with his pulmonary doctor this Thursday. Is there any kind of rehab. places he can go too, to increase his breathing level ? Any suggestions. As always, thanks for taking the time to read my post. Maryanne

Hi Ella, Stay strong.... this too shall pass. Scream, yell, cry get it all out and you will feel better. Please feel better real soon. Thinking of you and hope you will feel like your old self again in no time. Maryanne

Hi Don, Keeping my fingers crossed that you will get good news from the surgeon. Please keep us infomed. This has to be such a stressful time as you will probably find out tomrrow what is to be done. Thinking of you and sending out healing meditation. Maryanne

Oh Kate, my condolences on the passing of your dad. My heart goes out to you as that must have been such a shock to lose him that way. Just remember that he left that sick physical body but his sole lives on and he is free of pain. He will always look out for you. You just have to talk to him in a prayer or meditation. Just cherish all those wonderful memories you had together. Peace be with you. Maryanne

Hi Carole, So sorry to hear about your husband. Its amazing how they sometimes find LC. My husband hurt his back went to the doctors (which we have not been to in 3 years) while we were there we asked for physicals as they were long overdue. My husband felt great, ( except for the muscle he pulled in his back) and just asked for a chest Xray because he is a smoker.... and wham.... a mass, that turned out to be cancer. Lucky for him they caught it early and were able to operate. It has been 2 months since the operation and he is doing fine. Will start chemo soon for preventive measures. I hope all works out well for you and your husband. This is an extremely scary and very stressful time. Just remember, and I always stress this to new comers.... do not get hung up on statistics. Statistics does not mean a death sentence. So many people here, if your read the posts have beaten the odds. You just have to believe and fight!! Never give up. take care and keep us inform... we are here for you, you are not alone. Maryanne